Nathan Tella delivered a moment of magic just 25 seconds into Bayer Leverkusen’s thrilling 3-2 triumph over Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, earning high praise from German football legend Michael Ballack.

The Nigerian winger, who had been struggling for form, ended his goal drought in emphatic style. Tella capitalized on a precise header from Robert Andrich, unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box that left Dortmund’s goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, with no chance.

Ballack, a former Chelsea and Germany midfielder, hailed Tella’s decisive play and clinical finishing. Speaking to Sports1, Ballack remarked, “The whole team moved up. The ball was intercepted, and Tella didn’t hesitate. An outstanding finish, with full confidence into the near corner. Unstoppable.”

The goal was Tella’s first in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, snapping a frustrating run of 11 league games without finding the net. With Victor Boniface sidelined due to injury, Tella stepped up to help Leverkusen close the gap at the top of the Bundesliga table. They now trail leaders Bayern Munich by just one point, with 35 to Bayern’s 36.

While Tella’s overall stats for the season—two goals in 21 appearances—remain modest, this performance could mark a turning point. The 24-year-old will look to build on this momentum as he eyes a potential return to the Super Eagles, having last featured in friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March 2024.