Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive unbeaten run after former Burnley star Xabi Alonso gave them another three points in the Bundesliga.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen went top of the Bundesliga after remaining unbeaten thanks to former Burnley star Nathan Tella’s goal against Darmstadt on Saturday. The Spaniard impressed at the BayArena as the club chased their first Bundesliga title. Dubbed the ‘almost man’ of German football, Leverkusen were runners-up four times between 1997 and 2002 and again in 2011, but this could be their year. Die Bergself are two points ahead of league leaders Bayern Munich.
Alonso’s men have won 16 of their 20 league games so far, drawn the other four and are unbeaten in 29 games in all competitions this season. They have won all six of their Europa League group games and remain in the DFB-Pokal, where they will face Stuttgart in the quarter-finals on Tuesday (February 6).
The 42-year-old was replaced as Liverpool manager at the end of the season after the German announced he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season despite complaints from Jurgen Klopp over his future. He was the star of a much more unpopular Premier League team that received the plaudits. Following his £23million move from Southampton to Leverkusen in the summer, Tella looks to have arrived after making his first Bundesliga start of the season in his 11th appearance. The 24-year-old scored his third goal of the season in the first half and added a fourth in the 45th minute.
Despite seeing only limited minutes in the league, Tella started all six of Leverkusen’s Europa League matches, scoring and helping Molde maintain a 100% record in the league, and was unbeaten by Alonso when he assisted in a 2-0 win against Darmstadt. I become a player.
Tella, who made his debut for Nigeria last November, missed the AFCON with the Super Eagles but his absence from the tournament could have boosted his Bundesliga career.
The former Saints youngster exploded on loan at Burnley last season, scoring 17 goals in 39 appearances as the Clarets progressed to the Championship. Tella scored one goal in three appearances for Southampton earlier this season but eventually secured his place before the transfer window closed.
