On March 8, 2025, Bayer Leverkusen faced off against Werder Bremen, but the match became overshadowed by the unfortunate injury of their rising star, Florian Wirtz. Despite being teammates until 2021, the tension of rivalry flared as Wirtz, once hailed as one of Leverkusen’s brightest talents, had to leave the field on crutches after suffering from a harsh tackle from Bremen's Mitchell Weiser.
The game ended with Bremen securing a surprising 2-0 victory against Leverkusen, and the home team's pain was compounded by Wirtz's injury, raising concerns about his availability for their upcoming Champions League match against Bayern Munich on March 11, 2025. Wirtz's injury occurred just after halftime; he had only entered the match at the start of the second half. Unfortunately, he was substituted after 14 minutes due to Weiser’s aggressive challenge on his ankle, which saw Wirtz rolling on the ground and requiring immediate medical attention.
According to reports, Wirtz’s right ankle twisted during the incidence, and after failing to recuperate on the field, he was escorted off, leaving the BayArena with the aid of crutches and a bandage around his ankle. "He will be examined, and I do not want to speculate on the extent of the injury," stated Bayer's sporting director Simon Rolfes after the match.
Weiser, reflecting on the incident, expressed his regret, saying, "I’m sorry. I hope it’s not too serious." He received only a yellow card for the foul, which provoked mixed reactions from his teammates and officials alike. Teammate Jonathan Tah was particularly vocal, asserting, "It was a clear red card," criticizing the match's officiation and the VAR’s lack of interference.
Bayer’s coach, Xabi Alonso, refrained from assigning blame but critiqued the overall performance of his team, mentioning, "We were too hasty and lacked control," after they failed to secure any rhythm throughout the match. The team's previous four losses certainly added to the anxiety surrounding the result and Wirtz’s injury.
Despite being pressured to perform well after their previous defeats, the game turned out to be one of Leverkusen’s weakest outings. Earlier opportunities to pressure Bayern Munich were squandered, and the night fell heavy on the team as they headed to the locker room amid disbelief and frustration.
The match saw Bremen’s goals from Romano Schmid and Justin Njinmah, who struck late to seal the win. Although Leverkusen attempted to create scoring opportunities, they failed to convert. The discontent among players was apparent as they sought solace from their fans after the game ended.
"Today was bad—everything was bad," lamented Alonso, reflecting on the loss and the impact on their season goals. The unavailability of key players like Wirtz could significantly alter their chances against Bayern, especially considering the 0-3 deficit from the first leg.
For Werder Bremen, this win served as a much-needed boost, snapping their own series of disappointing performances. The victory restored confidence and provided them with momentum as they gear up to face Borussia Mönchengladbach next. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Michael Zetterer stated, "We felt we could take advantage of their distraction, especially with headspace around Champions League games."00000000000000
With Bayer needing to regroup quickly, they face uncertainty heading to the Allianz Arena to tackle Bayern with their Champions League aspirations hanging by a thread. Alonso’s squad must find strategies to compensate for Wirtz’s absence, should he miss out—something Rolfes acknowledged would be severely detrimental for the team. "We need to adapt and overcome, but the fear is palpable when you lose such pivotal players before major matches," expressed Rolfes.
Wirtz’s condition will remain under scrutiny as tests are conducted to ascertain the severity of his injury, clearing the air on whether he will have any chance to play the pivotal return leg. The urgency is felt across the board with the focus now lying heavily on their next match against Bayern.
All eyes will be on the medical updates related to Wirtz’s foot injury after reports indicate he will be recovering and undergoing assessments. With the weight of expectation on his shoulders and uncertainty surrounding the injury, Leverkusen’s forward strategy will need to adapt rapidly, compelling other players to step up as they seek redemption against Bayern next week.
Despite the grim outlook for their star midfielder, both the club and fans hope for the best outcome possible, needing Wirtz to rebound quickly as thoughts shift toward reclaiming form and confidence as they prepare to meet the Bundesliga giants yet again.