Super Eagles star, Nathan Tella, endured a frustrating evening in the Champions League as Bayer Leverkusen fell 2-1 to Atletico Madrid, despite being handed a rare starting opportunity.
Tella struggled to leave his mark on a game that saw dramatic swings in fortune.
Bayer Leverkusen seized the initiative in a tense first half, eventually benefiting from a key decision that left Atletico Madrid down to ten men.
Pablo Barrios was shown a red card following a VAR review in the 25th minute.
With the numerical advantage, Leverkusen broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time, courtesy of a well-taken goal from full-back Piero Hincapie.
However, Atletico Madrid roared back after the break. Julian Alvarez delivered the equalizer just seven minutes into the second half, reigniting the contest.
The game took another twist as Hincapie, Leverkusen’s first-half hero, turned villain when he picked up a second yellow card, leveling the playing field.
The stage was set for a dramatic finale, and Alvarez stepped up once more.
The Argentine forward netted his second goal of the night right on the 90-minute mark, securing a vital win for Atletico Madrid and leaving Leverkusen to rue their missed opportunities.
