Nathan Tella Scores as Bayer Leverkusen Beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2

Nigeria’s Nathan Tella scored a fantastic goal in the opening seconds of the match, helping Bayer Leverkusen secure a thrilling 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in their first game of 2025.

Tella, often overlooked in the Super Eagles squad, made a big impact by scoring just 25 seconds into the game. His powerful shot from the edge of the box took advantage of a defensive mistake by Dortmund, marking his first Bundesliga goal of the season.

Leverkusen quickly added two more goals within the first 19 minutes, with Patrik Schick scoring both. Despite the early pressure, Dortmund fought back. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens pulled one back for Dortmund, and Serhou Guirassy scored a penalty in the 79th minute, bringing the score to 3-2.

Guirassy’s goal took his season tally to seven goals and one assist, continuing his strong performances in his first season with Dortmund.

The match was a hard-fought battle, but Leverkusen held on to their lead, moving just one point behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga standings.

Tella’s impressive start to the year highlights his importance to Bayer Leverkusen as they push for the title. His quick goal and all-round play proved crucial in the win.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles teammate Victor Boniface, who is still recovering from injury, watched the match closely. Boniface shared his excitement on social media after Tella’s early goal, posting a message that read, “Happy new year ” before following it up with another post after the match.

Tella’s performance, along with Guirassy’s for Dortmund, shows just how important they are to their teams as they prepare for the busy second half of the season.