It was an eventful Tuesday night for Super Eagles star Nathan Tella in front of their home fans as he delivered his first assist of the season to propel his side Bayer Leverkusen to victory in the German DFB Pokal.
A huge moment for Tella as he led the defending champions to a commanding 3-0 victory over Elversberg in the DFB Pokal round of 32.
What does this victory mean for Tella's future with the squad?
Having struggled for playing time this season with only 92 minutes across four appearances, Tella was given a starting role at the BayArena.
The 25-year-old quickly made his mark, showing off what he can bring to the Xabi Alonso side after making a vital contribution.
Nathan Tella shines in the DFB Pokal
This win was particularly significant for Leverkusen, who were looking to break free from a series of disappointing results, including two consecutive draws.
Just two minutes into the match, Tella deftly set up Patrik Schick, who skilfully navigated through defenders to net the opening goal.
Seven minutes later, Schick struck again, capitalising on a rebound to extend Leverkusen's lead. Before halftime, Aleix Garcia scored from a free kick, solidifying a comfortable advantage for the home side.
Tella played 69 minutes in the match, contributing significantly with 40 touches and 26 successful passes, including two key passes into the attacking third.
His defensive efforts were notable as well, with two tackles, six recoveries, and five ground duels won.
His compatriot Victor Boniface also made an appearance, joining the action in the 79th minute.
With this impressive performance, Nathan Tella will now aim to secure his position in the starting lineup for the upcoming fixture against VFB Stuttgart.
Bayer Leverkusen's victory marks a crucial turning point in their 2024/25 campaign as they look to retain the title.