Nigeria international Nathan Tella has expressed his delight after netting his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 victory over Sparta Praha at the BayArena, Soccernet.football reports.

The Super Eagles forward struck in the 64th minute, sealing the win for Xabi Alonso’s side after Florian Wirtz had given them a first-half lead. It was Tella’s first career goal in the Champions League and it also ensured Leverkusen’s progression to the knockout stages of the competition.

Despite his joy, Tella admitted he was frustrated by the chances he missed during the match.

“We had to try our luck. We knew that it was in our hands. If we won, we would automatically be in the top eight,” Tella told Bayer Leverkusen’s official website.

“I felt that we played good and missed a lot of chances, but I was frustrated that I missed more than I should have expected. But I am happy that I was able to score, and qualifying is the main thing.”

With Leverkusen flying high in the Bundesliga, Tella has turned his attention to their crucial showdown against reigning champions Bayern Munich this weekend. A victory could further strengthen their title credentials in what is shaping up to be a fierce title race.

“Feeling confident. It’s always nice to win, especially in big games, and tonight was another big game, where we were able to get a good win in front of our fans and progress to the next round,” he added.

Tella has stepped up admirably in the absence of fellow Nigerian Victor Boniface, proving to be a vital asset for Alonso’s squad. Earlier this month, the former Burnley winger scored the decisive goal in Leverkusen’s DFB Pokal triumph over Bayern Munich.

At 25, Tella is hitting his stride at the perfect time, and with Leverkusen competing on multiple fronts, his form could be crucial as they chase both domestic and European glory.

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