Linked with Benfica, striker scores a hat-trick... of penalties

On matchday 7 of Ligue 1, Estéban Lepaul once again demonstrated why he is on the radar of several European clubs—including Benfica, who have reportedly sent scouts to monitor him live. Facing Paris, the Rennes forward scored a hat-trick of penalties to take his tally to seven goals for the season.

The 26-year-old striker, last season's Ligue 1 top scorer, scored all of Rennes' goals from the spot, but his side still slumped to a 4-3 defeat after conceding a 97th-minute penalty converted by Lassine Sinayoko. 

In an incredibly tight Ligue 1 race, Paris moved up to 14 points and into joint-top spot alongside PSG, Monaco, and Lille. Rennes sit just one point behind and missed a golden opportunity to take the outright lead. 

Monaco squandered the same chance as Rennes, suffering their first league defeat of the season in a 1-0 loss away to Lorient. 

Lepaul's treble takes him to the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts with seven goals. Lassine Sinayoko follows closely with six, while former Benfica forward Casper Tengstedt—who has netted five for Toulouse—and Marseille's Amine Gouiri round off the top three.