Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz Out for Weeks With Ankle Ligament Injury

The 21-year-old midfielder's absence impacts Leverkusen's Bundesliga title defense and Champions League campaign.

Florian Wirtz suffered a medial ligament injury in his right ankle during Leverkusen's 2-0 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday.
The injury rules Wirtz out of Tuesday's Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Bayern Munich, where Leverkusen faces a 3-0 deficit from the first leg.
Wirtz, who has scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists this season, is expected to miss several weeks, including Germany's Nations League quarter-final matches against Italy later this month.
Leverkusen, currently eight points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, will also compete in the German Cup semi-finals without their star midfielder.
Club officials remain optimistic about Wirtz's return for the final stretch of the season, though contract extension talks with the player remain unresolved.