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Nathan Tella was the hero for Bayer Leverkusen as his 69th-minute header secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal Round of 16 at the Allianz Arena.
The Nigerian forward came off the bench to break the deadlock, converting a pinpoint cross from Alex Grimaldo with a glancing header that flew past Bayern’s substitute goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
The match was shaped early on by a pivotal moment in the 17th minute when Bayern’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was sent off for a reckless foul on Jeremie Frimpong.
Rushing out of his area to confront the surging Leverkusen winger, Neuer collided with the Dutchman, earning a straight red card and leaving Bayern down to 10 men.
Despite the numerical advantage, Bayer Leverkusen struggled to capitalize for much of the game. However, Tella’s introduction in the second half proved decisive, as he delivered a moment of brilliance to propel Xabi Alonso’s side into the quarter-finals.
Reflecting on his crucial goal, Tella expressed his delight in the post-match press conference:
“It was a great cross from [Alejandro] Grimaldo – and I’m happy with my goal. But it’s more important that the team won. We played well,” he said.
“The coach wanted me to make runs in behind and today I had the chance and scored.”
This was Tella’s first goal of the season for Leverkusen, adding to his two assists in 14 appearances across all competitions.
The 25-year-old has struggled for consistent game time since joining the German club, which has affected his standing with the Nigerian national team.
Rumors have surfaced linking Tella with a potential move away from Leverkusen due to limited opportunities. However, this decisive performance could help him earn more trust from manager Xabi Alonso and potentially revive his season.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, who were missing injured talisman Harry Kane, created several chances but failed to find the back of the net, ultimately succumbing to a resilient Leverkusen side.
The defeat ends Bayern’s DFB-Pokal campaign prematurely, while Leverkusen march on, inspired by Tella’s game-changing moment.
