Bundesliga
25-Second Wonder: Nathan Tella opens season account in Leverkusen’s Win over Dortmund
Nigeria international Nathan Tella made a spectacular impact as Bayer Leverkusen triumphed 3-2 over Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling Bundesliga encounter at Signal Iduna Park, marking a sensational start to their 2025 campaign.
The game kicked off with breathtaking intensity, and Tella wasted no time in announcing his presence, scoring just 25 seconds after the whistle.
A misjudged clearance fell to him at the edge of the box, where he struck a sensational volley past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, registering his first Bundesliga goal of the season.
Leverkusen quickly followed up Tella’s opener with two more goals from Patrik Schick within the first 19 minutes, putting them in control.
However, Dortmund responded with a goal from Jamie Gittens in the 15th minute, who finished off a deflected cross with a delicate chip over Lukas Hradecky. Dortmund’s comeback hopes were further boosted when Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty in the 79th minute, his seventh goal of the season.
Tella’s goal was his eighth for Leverkusen since joining the club from Southampton, further cementing his growing status as a key player in Xabi Alonso’s squad. Substituted in the 74th minute, Tella received a warm ovation from the traveling fans for his pivotal role in the victory.
With the win, defending champions Leverkusen closed the gap to just one point behind league leaders Bayern Munich, staying firmly in the Bundesliga title race.
In a related development, injured Super Eagles teammate Victor Boniface closely followed the intense clash, eagerly watching the thrilling contest between Leverkusen and Dortmund.
