Leverkusen stay top as Tella brace secures win at Darmstadt

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Nathan Tella scores again to double Leverkusen's lead

Nathan Tella scores again to double Leverkusen's lead

Updated: Feb 3, 2024, 06:08 pm

Bayer Leverkusen's Nathan Tella scored in each half to steer the Bundesliga leaders to a 2-0 victory at Darmstadt on Saturday and keep them two points clear at the top ahead of next week's clash with Bayern Munich.

Leverkusen went in front in the 33rd minute when Alejandro Grimaldo curled in a cross from the left to the far post and an unmarked Tella heading in.

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The visitors should have added at least one more goal in the first half, missing several good chances including one for new signing Borja Iglesias.

Nigeria international Tella sealed victory in the 52nd minute, thundering home a shot from a Florian Wirtz layoff for his fourth league goal.

"For us it was a very good win and an equally good result," Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said.

Nathan Tella scored twice to give Bayer Leverkusen a comfortable win against Bundesliga strugglers Darmstadt.
örg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images

"It is not easy winning in this stadium. We showed a good performance and had control of the game although Darmstadt had spaces in the first 20-25 minutes."

"We fixed that and did it better. It was a respectable performance from us and our attitude was good."

Leverkusen, who are still unbeaten in all of their 29 matches so far across all competitions this season, are top of the Bundesliga on 52 points, two ahead of Bayern who beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 on Saturday.

Alonso's team have already collected more points this season than in the entire previous campaign (50).

Meanwhile, Darmstadt's 13-match run without a win equalled their club record from the 1981-82 season and they remain in last place.