Nathan Tella made his mark on the UEFA Champions League, scoring his first goal of the competition as Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a convincing 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague at the BayArena on Wednesday night.

The Nigerian forward scored on a rebound to double his side’s lead, sealing a dominant display against their Czech opponents, footballrover reports.

Leverkusen’s control too much for Sparta Prague

Leverkusen took control in the first half, breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute.

Florian Wirtz coolly finished off a Jeremie Frimpong cutback after a blistering counterattack, giving the hosts a deserved advantage.

Sparta Prague, featuring Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji, struggled to create clear-cut chances against Leverkusen’s organised defence.

Nathan Tella shines as Leverkusen dominates Sparta Prague

Tella’s big moment came in the 64th minute. After Olatunji fouled Wirtz, Aleix Garcia’s free kick forced a diving save from Peter Vindahl.

The rebound fell kindly for Tella, who reacted sharply to smash home his third goal of the season.

He was later substituted in the 83rd minute, while Olatunji made way in the 67th.

With this win, Leverkusen secured their top-six place in the Champions League league phase.

Meanwhile, Sparta failed to convert their limited opportunities, struggling with an xG of just 0.75 compared to Leverkusen’s 1.57.

Tella’s breakthrough Champions League goal sees him continue his impressive form at the Bundesliga club, and Leverkusen’s relentless form signals their intent in Europe.

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Last Updated on January 29, 2025 11:30 pm by Sir Kris