LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Benjamin Sesko is showing in the Champions League why clubs like Arsenal, AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United have been pursuing him as a transfer target.
The 6-foot-5 (1.95-meter) Leipzig forward raised his tally to three goals in two games of the revamped competition with an impressive strike in the first half against Juventus and then a penalty kick in the second half on Wednesday.
Sesko stuck his right leg up to control a pass then used his left foot to smash the ball in off the underside of the crossbar to put Leipzig ahead 1-0. Then he sent Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin the wrong way from the penalty spot to restore Leipzig's lead and make it 2-1 after Juventus had been reduced to 10 men.
Juventus, however, went on to win 3-2 courtesy of a brace from Dusan Vlahovic and a late winner from substitute Francisco Conceicao.
In Leipzig’s opening 2-1 loss at Atletico Madrid, Sesko scored four minutes in with a header.
The 21-year-old Sesko had been linked to a possible transfer after last season but the pursuit ended on the eve of the European Championship when he extended his contract with Leipzig.
Before moving to Leipzig in a 24 million euros deal ($25.8 million), the basketball-loving Slovenian was at its sibling club, Salzburg, at the same time as Erling Haaland.
He was valued at 50 million euros ($55 million) by transfermarkt.com in May but his worth could be well beyond that now.
Last month, Sesko scored a hat trick for Slovenia in a 3-0 win against Kazakhstan in the Nations League.
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The Associated Press
