The Nigeria winger says the club’s unbeaten run to the 2024 final still inspires the squad as Leverkusen visit Poland on Thursday.
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Nigeria winger Nathan Tella says Bayer Leverkusen want to build on their memorable Europa League run as they prepare to face Lech Poznan on Thursday. As reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng, the 27 year old spoke ahead of Matchday Two of the 2026/27 league phase.
Leverkusen visit the Poznan Stadium in Poland, with kick-off at 17:45 Nigerian time. They won their opener 2-0 against NK Celje, while Lech lost 4-0 at Crystal Palace.
Tella looked back fondly on the 2023/24 campaign, when Leverkusen went unbeaten all the way to the final in Dublin. He described those nights as magical and said the team wants to build on them.
A Competition With Personal Meaning
The competition is special to Tella because it was where he made his European debut. “This competition means a lot to me,” he told the club’s official website.
He scored his first Leverkusen goal in the Europa League, in a 2-1 win over Molde on October 5, 2023. He had joined from Burnley earlier that year.
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Learning From The Dublin Heartbreak
That 2024 run ended with a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the final, in which Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman scored a hat trick.
It’s a painful memory for Leverkusen, but Tella’s words suggest the squad draws motivation from it. Is that the right attitude? Probably, because dwelling on the final would help nobody, while the run itself shows what the club can do.
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A New Look In Leverkusen
Leverkusen are now coached by Carles Martínez. The last time they played in this competition, in 2023/24, Xabi Alonso was in charge.
The Bundesliga side started their league campaign with a 3-2 defeat at Elversberg, then won four and drew one of their next five games. That form gives Tella and his team-mates some momentum.
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For Tella, Thursday is another chance to add to his European memories. For Leverkusen, it’s a chance to show they’ve kept the spirit of Dublin.
📌 Did You Know?
- Leverkusen’s only European trophy is the 1988 UEFA Cup.
- This is Leverkusen’s first trip to Poland in more than 30 years.
- Lech Poznan are the reigning Polish champions, winning the title for the 10th time last season.
- Lech forward Patrik Wålemark has scored 10 goals this season.
- Leverkusen defender Facundo Medina scored in the 2-0 win over Celje on Matchday One.
