Sorloth must keep his radar on

Leipzig – After finally breaking his goal drought for RB Leipzig, the pressure is on Norway striker Alexander Sorloth (right) to hit the net again in today’s Champions League clash at home to Manchester United with a last-16 berth at stake.

Having failed to score in his first 10 games for Leipzig, Sorloth struck a last-gasp winner in the crucial 4-3 victory at Istanbul Basaksehir last Wednesday, to his huge relief.

Sorloth came on for the last 25 minutes and his low drive sealed the away win which kept Leipzig’s hopes of reaching the knock-out stages in their own hands.

“It’s always important to score your first goal for a new club – I am incredibly happy and relieved,” Sorloth beamed in Istanbul.

“In an exciting and balanced group, it was a very, very important victory.

“Now we have a final against Manchester United that we definitely want to win.”

Only victory tonight will assure either club a last-16 spot.

Going into the final round of matches, Leipzig, Man Utd and Paris Saint-Germain are all on nine points in Group H.

To add extra spice, Leipzig have a score to settle from October’s 5- 0 thrashing at Old Trafford when United striker Marcus Rushford scored a hat-trick.

Backed by energy drink giants Red Bull, RB Leipzig want to be a permanent fi xture in the Champions League and build on last season’s run to the semifinals.

Bowing out in the group stage would hurt the ambitious club from Germany’s east.

Leipzig paid Palace €20 million for Sorloth in September to replace Timo Werner following the Germany striker’s move to Chelsea.

While Norway national teammate Erling Braut Haaland has sent Bundesliga records tumbling at Dortmund since his January transfer from Salzburg, Sorloth has not found the move to Germany so easy.

Despite sealing the win over Basaksehir, Sorloth is likely to start on the bench having often struggled in front of goal this season and another goal in Europe would boost his standing. –