Champion League
UCL: Nathan Tella opens Champions League goal account for Bayer Leverkusen
By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigeria international Nathan Tella marked a milestone in his UEFA Champions League career by scoring his first goal in the competition as Bayer Leverkusen sealed a 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague, securing their place in the knockout stages.
The match was tightly contested, with Florian Wirtz having given Leverkusen the lead with a stunning first-half goal.
However, the match remained delicately poised at 1-0 until the 64th minute when Tella struck.
After Sparta Prague’s goalkeeper had parried a shot, Tella pounced on the rebound from close range, smashing the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0 and ensure Leverkusen’s qualification for the round of 16.
Tella had been a constant threat throughout the match, coming close earlier with a header and a right-footed shot that tested the Sparta goalkeeper.
His overall performance was impressive, completing 21 of 22 passes with 95% accuracy, registering 42 touches, and executing one successful dribble out of three attempts.
The 25-year-old’s goal was his third of the season, and his performance further demonstrated his growing influence in Leverkusen’s attack.
