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Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface were in action as Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen kicked off preparation for the new season.
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have kicked off their preparations for the new season, with Nigerian duo Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface both featuring in their opening pre-season friendly.
Former Southampton winger Tella was the standout performer as Leverkusen defeated Rot-Weiss Essen 2-1 in front of 10,000 spectators, outshining his more popular international teammate Boniface.
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Tella and Boniface on the move
The Red and Black, who lifted their first-ever Bundesliga title last season without a single defeat, continued their dominant form as they brushed aside their third-tier opponents.
Tella opened the scoring for Leverkusen in the 44th minute, with Patrik Schick, who replaced Boniface in the second half, doubling their advantage in the 71st minute after being set up by new signing Aleix Garcia.
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Leonardo Vonic did manage to pull a goal back for Essen late on, but it was not enough to prevent Xabi Alonso's side from securing a comfortable victory.
Both Tella and Boniface, who enjoyed his holiday in Nigeria after quest appearance in a comedy series, featured for over an hour before being substituted, with 2,000 of the 10,000 fans in attendance being Leverkusen supporters who had travelled to watch their champions in action.
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Leverkusen's dominant start was highlighted by their early possession and high pressing, with Boniface almost creating the opener when he played the ball through to Arthur, who in turn found Adli, only for his effort to go just wide.
But it was Tella who broke the deadlock, latching onto a flicked-on pass from Tobias Kraulich to slot home the opener.
The former Saints man had another chance to extend Leverkusen's lead, but his effort from a tight angle went just wide, while Adli was also denied by Essen goalkeeper Jakob Golz.
Schick then came off the bench to net the second goal, finding the right corner with a glancing header from Garcia's cross, before Vonic's late consolation strike for the hosts.
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Leverkusen will now head to the Black Forest for their training camp, where they will prepare for a friendly against RC Lens on August 3rd.
As for Tella and Boniface, their performances will have given Alonso plenty to think about ahead of the new season, with the Nigerian duo, especially Boniface hoping to cement their places in the Werkself's starting lineup.
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