Super Eagles forwards Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella were unable to secure victory for Bayer Leverkusen as they played out a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich in a thrilling Bundesliga encounter at Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Boniface, who recently staked his claim to the African Player of the Year award, started the match and put in a solid 78-minute shift before being replaced by his compatriot Tella.
Despite their best efforts, the Nigerian duo couldn’t help the defending champions find a winning goal on the road.
The result meant both teams maintained their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season, with Bayern Munich in pole position of the table on 13 points from five matches, while Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen sit third, three points adrift.
Robert Andrich opened the scoring for Leverkusen in the 31st minute with a crisp first-time finish into the bottom corner after a clever pass from Granit Xhaka. Bayern’s response was swift and spectacular, with Aleksandar Pavlovic unleashing a stunning 25-yard strike that nestled in the top corner just eight minutes later.
The second half saw both sides create chances to claim all three points. Bayern’s Serge Gnabry came agonisingly close to putting the hosts ahead two minutes after the restart, striking both the post and crossbar in quick succession from Harry Kane’s inviting cross.
Kane, who has been enjoying a rich vein of form since his high-profile move to Bayern, was forced off in the 86th minute with an apparent ankle injury following a challenge from Amine Adli. The England captain’s substitution will be a concern for manager Vincent Kompany ahead of upcoming fixtures.
As the game wore on, both teams pushed for a winner. Bayern’s Alphonso Davies sent a shot wide from the edge of the box, while Konrad Laimer’s effort narrowly missed the target.
At the other end, Boniface and later Tella posed a constant threat but couldn’t find the decisive breakthrough.
The draw marks a continuation of the intense rivalry between Bayern and Leverkusen, with the latter having ended Bayern’s decade-long stranglehold on the Bundesliga title last season.
Both sides have started the new campaign impressively, setting the stage for what promises to be another closely fought title race.
As the Bundesliga season progresses, all eyes will be on how Leverkusen’s Nigerian contingent can help the defending champions in their bid to retain their title against a Bayern side determined to reclaim their crown.