Bayer Leverkusen ended up not only losing a crucial Bundesliga match on Saturday afternoon , but two key players as well. Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand provided injury updates on attacker Nathan Tella and keeper Mark Flekken at the post-match press conference after the 1-0 away defeat at Hoffenheim . Hjulmand unfortunately had bad news to report.
Tella came on as a substitute in the 74th-minute, yet almost immediately had to exit proceedings in the 81st-minute after injuring his ankle. Flekken twisted his knee whilst making a save in the 52nd-minute. Though the Dutchman was initially able to play through the pain, Flekken eventually signaled for a subbing off at the hour mark.
" It doesn't look good for either one of them, " Hjulmand noted at the post-match press conference.
" They will both be examined thoroughly tomorrow, " Bayer sporting director Simon Rolfes added in the mixed zone.
A bout with a knee contusion has limited Tella to just 10 Bundesliga appearances this season. The Nigerian international remained one of the few holdovers from Leverkusen's massive summer exodus , in part because he wished to serve in his more natural forward attacking role. Previous B04 head coach Xabi Alonso, to Tella's public discontent, used him mostly as a wingback.
Regrettably, things haven't worked out at all for Tella at Germany's red company team this season. The injury led to him missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of nationals and h e was even being shopped for a transfer during the current January 2026 transfer window. The latest injury news surely means that he'll be remaining put.
Leverkusen's decision to bring Flekken back to German football proved an immense success. The Westphalian club maintained so much confidence in Flekken that they had zero problems parting company with both long-time captain Lukas Hradecky and their supposed "keeper of the future" Matej Kovar.
Everything worked out perfectly. Flekken excelled while logging maximum minutes across all three competitions. The 32-year-old even raised his game to another level in the Champions League. Flekken will be missed as Leverkusen attempt to catch up in the race for the 2026/27 Champions League slots in the table.
Fortunately for Leverkusen, the B04 front office did well to secure the services of former RB Leipzig keeper Janis Blaswich to back up Flekken this summer. Blaswich made a name for himself filling in for Peter Gulacsi at Leipzig over the course of two seasons between 2022 and 2024.
After making his Bundesliga debut at the age of 30, Blaswich quickly accumulated 47 Bundesliga appearances deputizing for Gulacsi. The now 34-year-old has earned several late career German national team call ups.
