Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella scored in each half to steer the Bundesliga leaders to a 2-0 victory at Darmstadt 98 on Saturday and keep them two points clear at the top ahead of next week’s summit clash with champions Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen went in front in the 33rd minute when Alejandro Grimaldo curled in a cross from the left to the far post and unmarked Tella heading in.
The visitors should have added at least one more goal in the first half, missing several good chances including one for new signing Borja Iglesias.
Nigeria international Tella sealed victory in the 52nd minute, thundering home a shot from a Florian Wirtz layoff for his fourth league goal.
“For us it was a very good win and an equally good result,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, whose success at the German club this season has seen him attract the interest of major European clubs.
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“It is not easy winning in this stadium. We showed a good performance and had control of the game although Darmstadt had spaces in the first 20-25 minutes,” he said.
“We fixed that and did it better. It was a respectable performance from us and our attitude was good.”
Leverkusen, unbeaten in all of their 29 matches so far across all competitions this season, are top on 52 points, two ahead of Bayern, winners 2-1 over Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Alonso’s team have already collected more points this season than in the entire previous campaign (50).
Darmstadt equalled its club record from the 1981-82 season with a 13-match run without a win to remain in last place.
