Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen kicked off their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen, featuring Nigerian players Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface.
Tella, formerly of Southampton, was the standout performer for Leverkusen, scoring the opening goal in the 44th minute. Patrik Schick, who replaced Boniface in the second half, added a second goal in the 71st minute with an assist from new signing Aleix Garcia.
Leonardo Vonic scored a late goal for Essen, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Leverkusen from securing the win. Both Tella and Boniface played for over an hour before being substituted. The match drew 10,000 spectators, including 2,000 Leverkusen fans who traveled to support their team.
Leverkusen, who won their first-ever Bundesliga title last season, continued their strong form with an early display of possession and pressing. Boniface was involved in a key moment, setting up a chance for Arthur, who then found Adli. Adli’s effort was narrowly off target.
Tella’s goal came from a flicked-on pass by Tobias Kraulich, and he nearly added another goal but was thwarted by the tight angle. Schick’s header from Garcia’s cross secured the victory, and Vonic’s late consolation was the only response from the hosts.
Leverkusen will now head to their training camp in the Black Forest, where they will prepare for a friendly against RC Lens on August 3rd. Both Tella and Boniface will look to build on their performances as they aim to secure places in the starting lineup for the upcoming season
