Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella will undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability for the team’s DFB Pokal semi-final clash against Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday.
Tella, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks due to a muscle injury, was also forced to miss Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. In his absence, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle called up Gent defender Jordan Torunarigha as a replacement.
After missing Leverkusen’s last two matches, Tella is now nearing a return to action. However, head coach Xabi Alonso is set to make a final decision on his fitness after today’s training session.
“Nathan feels much better. We are training now, and if everything goes well, he will be included in the squad for the match against Bielefeld,” Alonso told Werkself.
A victory for Bayer Leverkusen would secure their spot in the DFB Pokal final for the second consecutive year.
Tella enjoyed a standout season last year, contributing to Leverkusen’s triumph in both the DFB Pokal and Bundesliga titles. The club secured its first-ever Bundesliga championship after finishing as runners-up five times previously.
So far this season, Tella has made 20 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring two goals and providing two assists. In the DFB Pokal, he has registered one goal and one assist across four matches.
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