NO BONIFACE, NO PROBLEM!

•Tella bags assist in Leverkusen rout

Bayer Leverkusen showcased their attacking prowess with a commanding 5-2 victory over Heidenheim in the Bundesliga, with Nigerian forward Nathan Tella registering his first league assist of the season in the emphatic rout.

Tella, who replaced Jeremy Frimpong midway through the second half, made an immediate impact, setting up Granit Xhaka for the final goal of the match. The assist capped a stellar display by the 24-year-old, whose precision and energy helped maintain Leverkusen’s relentless momentum against their resilient opponents.

The match, held at the BayArena, saw Leverkusen initially struggle without their top scorer, Victor Boniface, who is sidelined with a thigh injury sustained during international duty. Heidenheim capitalised on Boniface’s absence, taking a surprising 2-0 lead within 21 minutes.

However, Patrik Schick emerged as the hero of the night, delivering a scintillating hat trick to overturn the deficit and inspire Leverkusen’s comeback.

After Exequiel Palacios pulled one back for Xabi Alonso’s men, Schick levelled the score before the break and added two more goals in a dominant second-half display, including a thunderous header to seal the win.

Tella, who joined Leverkusen last summer, has now tallied one assist in seven Bundesliga appearances, alongside another in two DFB Pokal matches. Last season, he recorded five goals and two assists in 24 league games.

Beyond his assist, Tella showcased his versatility and work rate with impressive stats: a 90% pass accuracy, one chance created, and a perfect tackle success rate. His contribution, alongside Schick’s hat trick, highlighted Leverkusen’s depth in attack, which will be crucial as they navigate the remainder of the season without Boniface.

Boniface, who has been instrumental with six goals in the league, is expected to be out until next year. His absence places added responsibility on players like Schick and Tella to step up as the club aims to defend their Bundesliga title and close the gap on leaders Bayern Munich.

With this victory, Leverkusen not only secured three vital points but also sent a strong statement about their resilience and adaptability, even in the face of significant challenges.

Tella’s growing confidence and ability to deliver in crucial moments could prove invaluable as the season progresses, just like last season in the winter season when Boniface was out injured and the winger provided a bright spark to aid their domestic double success.