Nigeria forward Nathan Tella returns from injury as Bayer Leverkusen survive seven-goal Mainz thriller

Nathan Tella made his Bundesliga return on Saturday as Bayer Leverkusen held off FSV Mainz 05 to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory at the MEWA Arena after recovering from a back injury that had sidelined him for the opening four league matches of the season.

The Nigeria international came off the bench in the closing stages as Leverkusen protected their advantage in a pulsating encounter that produced seven goals, with both sides showing their attacking quality.

Tella’s return provides a timely boost for Leverkusen, who have been without the versatile forward since the beginning of their league campaign.

Tella ends Bundesliga absence

The Hale End Academy graduate had missed Leverkusen’s first four Bundesliga fixtures while recovering from a back problem, limiting his involvement in the early stages of the season.

His only previous appearance this term came in the DFB-Pokal, where he featured for the final 25 minutes of Leverkusen’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Wehen Wiesbaden.

The three-week international break offered Tella an opportunity to regain full fitness and work towards a return to competitive action.

His progress earned him a place in Leverkusen’s matchday squad for the trip to Mainz, marking the first time he had been included in their Bundesliga plans this season.

With the visitors leading 4-2, manager Carles Martínez introduced the Super Eagles forward in place of Afonso Moreira with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

Although Tella had limited time to influence the contest, his appearance marked an important step in his recovery as he looks to establish himself in the team.

Leverkusen withstand Mainz fightback

Leverkusen made an impressive start and appeared to have taken control after Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick found the net to give the visitors a two-goal advantage.

Mainz, however, responded strongly through Anthony Caci, whose first-half brace brought the hosts back on level terms and ensured the contest remained finely balanced at the interval.

The visitors regained control after the restart, with Jarell Quansah and Moussa Diaby scoring to restore Leverkusen’s two-goal cushion.

Mainz refused to surrender and continued pushing for a way back into the match, but Benedict Hollerbach’s late strike proved insufficient to prevent defeat.

Leverkusen ultimately held on for a 4-3 win in an entertaining encounter that tested their ability to manage pressure in the closing stages.

The victory also provided a positive outcome for Leverkusen after a match in which their defensive resilience was repeatedly challenged by the hosts.

Boniface watches from the bench

Another Nigerian forward, Victor Boniface, was also named among Leverkusen’s substitutes but did not feature against Mainz.

His unused status meant Tella was the only one of the two Nigerian attackers to see action, giving the returning forward valuable minutes as he continues his comeback.

With his back problem now behind him, Tella will hope to build on the appearance and compete for a more prominent role in Leverkusen’s upcoming fixtures.

The 26-year-old’s ability to operate across the attack could offer the Bundesliga side additional options as the campaign progresses.