Injured Victor Boniface Faces Challenge from Nathan Tella at Bayer Leverkusen

Victor Boniface’s injury has opened up a chance for his teammate Nathan Tella to take on a bigger role at Bayer Leverkusen.

Boniface, a key player for Leverkusen, is out for the rest of the year after suffering a muscle tear while playing for Nigeria. This injury comes shortly after he was involved in a car accident, which has made his recovery even harder. Coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Boniface will be out until at least January 2025.

With Boniface sidelined, Nathan Tella has been given a chance to step up. Normally a right wingback in Leverkusen’s 3-4-2-1 formation, the 25-year-old played as a central striker in a recent match against St. Pauli. Tella played for 87 minutes, helping Leverkusen win 2-1. He was close to scoring, but a VAR decision ruled out his goal. He was also the most fouled player on the pitch, showing his ability to create space and draw defenders.

Tella’s strong performance in attack could pose a challenge for Boniface’s position when he returns, especially with another striker, Patrik Schick, also injured. Schick had been in great form, scoring six goals in five games, but now joins Boniface on the injury list.

With Tella proving his skills and adaptability, he could become a key player for Leverkusen as the team continues its unbeaten run and tries to close the gap with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.