Bayer Leverkusen endured a frustrating 2-0 defeat to Augsburg on Saturday, a match highlighted by tension both on and off the ball. 

Substitute forward Nathan Tella found himself at the center of two crucial moments, with captain Robert Andrich stepping in to prevent potential disciplinary trouble.

The first flashpoint came when Augsburg midfielder Kristijan Jakic had his arm in the face of Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman, sparking a brief scuffle. 

In the heat of the moment, Jakic shoved Tella, who quickly lost his temper and appeared on the verge of retaliation. 

Both players were shown yellow cards. It was at this juncture that Andrich acted decisively, pulling Tella away from the confrontation while delivering loud, clear instructions to calm him down.

Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes said, “I also did that as captain and pulled teammates away from the fray to save them from doing something stupid,” as quoted by Bild.

Tella’s afternoon on the pitch continued to be eventful. In the 75th minute, he had a golden opportunity to pull one back for the Werkself but misfired from close range, sending the ball crashing against the post from just two meters out. 

Andrich, moments later, again prevented Tella from committing a foul, reinforcing his role as both a protector and a guide for younger teammates.

Wale Adejumo