Bayer Leverkusen could be without Nigerian forward Nathan Tella for their upcoming Bundesliga clash against Holstein Kiel, as manager Xabi Alonso remains uncertain about his availability.
The 25-year-old has been a key figure in Leverkusen’s campaign, featuring in 18 of their 22 league matches this season, contributing a goal and two assists. However, after playing 85 minutes in the goalless draw against Bayern Munich last weekend, Tella picked up a hip injury that now puts his participation in doubt.
Speaking ahead of the match, Alonso provided an update on Tella’s condition.
“We’ll assess Nathan in training and see how he feels,” Alonso said. “It’s not a serious injury, but he’s experiencing some discomfort in his hip. We need to check if he’s ready to play.”
With Leverkusen currently in second place, trailing Bayern by eight points and maintaining a five-point lead over third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, Alonso will be hoping to have Tella fit as they push for a strong finish to the season.
Meanwhile, sporting director Simon Rolfes expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, where they are set to face Bayern Munich once again.
“We know we can beat Bayern, and they know that too,” Rolfes stated. “It will be a high-level match, and we are prepared for it. Our goal was to reach the Round of 16, and now we want to showcase our quality.”
As Leverkusen prepares for their clash with Holstein Kiel, all eyes will be on Tella’s fitness status and whether he will recover in time to feature in the crucial fixture.
