Nathan Tella’s goal in the 69th minute was enough to send Bayer Leverkusen through to the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal, as they defeated Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich 1-0 at the Allianz Arena.
The victory came in a dramatic game that saw Bayern reduced to 10 men early on, following a red card for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Despite the numerical advantage, Leverkusen had to wait until Tella’s timely strike to secure the win.
Early Drama as Bayern Munich’s Neuer Sees Red
The match took an unexpected turn in the 17th minute when veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was sent off for a reckless challenge.
As Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong raced toward the Bayern goal, Neuer rushed out and collided with the Dutch full-back, earning himself a straight red card.
With the hosts down to 10 men, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany was forced to make an early substitution, bringing on backup goalkeeper Daniel Peretz in place of Leroy Sané.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Bayern Munich had a solid start to the game. They were in the ascendancy early, with Leverkusen coming close to breaking the deadlock in the 11th minute.
Florian Wirtz intercepted a poor pass from Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano and fired a shot from the edge of the box, but the ball sailed wide of the target.
Bayern’s first real chance came on the half-hour mark when Konrad Laimer made a dangerous run into the box following a quick one-two with Jamal Musiala.
However, Laimer’s shot hit the side netting. Then, on the stroke of halftime, Bayern’s Leon Goretzka had a header from Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick saved by Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar, keeping the score level.
Tella’s Goal Sends Leverkusen Through
In the second half, the game remained cagey, with Bayern cautious as they tried to adjust to playing with 10 men. The breakthrough for Leverkusen came in the 69th minute.
Alejandro Grimaldo delivered a perfect cross into the box, which was met by Nathan Tella, who made a clever first-time header that flew past substitute goalkeeper Peretz to give Leverkusen the lead.
Tella’s goal was a product of the tactical instructions he received from manager Xabi Alonso, who had brought him on as a substitute just after the hour mark.
Reflecting on the goal, Tella shared his thoughts in the post-match conference:
“It was a great cross from [Alejandro] Grimaldo – and I’m happy with my goal. But it’s more important that the team won. We played well,” said Tella.
“The coach wanted me to make runs in behind – and today I had the chance and scored.”
With the game nearing its conclusion, Kompany threw on Serge Gnabry and Mathys Tel in an attempt to bolster Bayern’s attacking options.
Despite their efforts, Leverkusen held firm, and it was Xabi Alonso’s side who emerged victorious, securing their place in the quarter-finals.
A Trophy That Continues to Elude Harry Kane
For Bayern Munich, the defeat marked another trophy that slipped through the fingers of their star signing, Harry Kane, who was sidelined with a thigh injury.
The England striker’s absence left a significant gap in Bayern’s attacking line, and despite some promising moments, they were unable to convert any of their chances.
Kane’s frustration was evident as he watched from the sidelines, and the loss meant that the striker’s wait for his first German Cup title continues. It was a bitter blow for Bayern, who have not won the DFB-Pokal since 2020.
Tella’s Growing National Team Aspirations
Before the match, Nathan Tella also spoke about his ongoing ambitions with both Bayer Leverkusen and the Nigerian national team.
Six months after his last appearance for Nigeria, the 25-year-old revealed that he was eager for a return to international duty, but acknowledged that his focus must remain on performing well at club level.
“It’s an honour to represent your country, but I have to play here more to get the recognition to play with the country,” Tella said in a recent interview.
“I think it’s all about baby steps, keep getting better, keep improving and if I continue to do the right things, I hope Nigeria will call me back.”
“Yeah, of course, I’m an attacker. I always want to score, and be a part of the goals for the team, but I’ve had a bit of difficulty this season. In the last two games, I think we’ve shown character and I hope it continues like this.”
Tella’s goal against Bayern was his first of the season for Leverkusen, having previously registered two assists in 14 appearances across all competitions.
