Leverkusen vs Sparta Prague: Tella scores first-ever Champions League goal in 2-0 win

Derin Ajayi
2 Min Read

Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella netted his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal to help Bayer Leverkusen secure a 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague, earning automatic qualification to the round of 16.

It was a case of “seventh time’s the charm” for the former Burnley striker, who scored in Leverkusen’s final group stage match.

Needing a win to guarantee their spot in the knockout stages, Leverkusen took control of the game early, with German midfielder Florian Wirtz putting them ahead in the 32nd minute.

In the second half, Tella capitalized on a mistake by Sparta’s goalkeeper, who failed to fully clear Álex Grimaldo’s free-kick, to double Leverkusen’s advantage in the 64th minute. The hosts maintained their high tempo throughout the match to see out the win.

Leverkusen vs Sparta Prague: Tella scores first-ever Champions League goal in 2-0 win
Tella

Tella made way for Robert Andrich in the 83rd minute. The Nigerian forward will likely be hoping for more playing time, especially with rumors swirling about his national teammate, Victor Boniface, who could soon make a move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.

With this win, Leverkusen joins the likes of Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid, and Lille in the list of teams to secure automatic qualification for the round of 16.

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