Can Wirtz prove the difference in Leverkusen's title bid? | OneFootball

Can Florian Wirtz prove the difference in Bayer Leverkusen's title bid?

Bayer Leverkusen have missed opportunities to catch Bayern Munich in recent weeks, a period which has coincided with the injury to star man Florian Wirtz. With the Germany international back in their ranks, however, there is renewed optimism that the reigning champions can overhaul the six-point gap to Bayern Munich and successfully defend their title.

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Without a fully-fit Wirtz to call on, Xabi Alonso’s defending champions not only exited both the DFB Cup and the UEFA Champions League, but struggled to significantly reduce the gap to leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race.

Their first game without Wirtz in the side was a European last-16 second-leg defeat to Bayern, confirmed by a considerable 5-0 aggregate defeat. Three matches later, last season’s domestic double winners were stunned by third-tier Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Cup semi-finals. Last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Union Berlin – which marked Wirtz’s return in the form of a second-half cameo – then blew a golden chance to reduce the deficit to Bundesliga leaders Bayern to four points.

Wirtz was originally injured just moments after coming off the bench in an eventual 2-0 defeat to Werder Bremen on Matchday 25. That result in itself was a missed opportunity for Alonso's side as Bayern were beaten 3-2 at home to Bochum.

Three league victories out of four have followed since Wirtz was sidelined but three defeats in seven across all competitions - including the Bremen loss - compares to just four defeats in 44 prior to Wirtz’s lay-off. While any team would struggle without the presence of a player as talented as Wirtz, Leverkusen’s overreliance on him has been telling in his absence. Simply put, they’re a different beast without Wirtz in the side.

On average, Leverkusen score 1.6 goals per game without the Germany international – down from 2.3 when he’s on the field. Fans also see a fall in the average number of big chances created (2.1 per game down to 1) and shots at goal (15.8 to 13) when Wirtz is missing.

The term ‘talisman’ can sometimes be overstated but, in the 21-year-old’s case, it’s completely warranted. With 19 Bundesliga goal involvements this campaign (nine goals, 10 assists) he’s made a greater contribution than any other Werkself player, and the fourth-most across the entire top-flight. He looks on course to beat his own record (last term’s 11 goals and 11 assists) on both fronts.

Only Bayer winger Michael Olise can match Wirtz for assists this league campaign, while nobody boasts more than his five crosses leading directly to a goal. Wirtz is in the top 10 in the division for chances created, the top two (behind Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri) for one-twos played with team-mates, and the top two again (behind national team-mate Jamal Musiala) for successful dribbles.

In addition to his attacking prowess, Wirtz isn’t afraid to put the hard graft in for a side often praised for their discipline and tactical nous. The playmaker covers roughly 11.6km per 90 minutes and has made 714 sprints, the 11th-most in Germany’s top-flight. What’s more, no player across the entire division has won more than Wirtz’s 342 duels. These stats indicate that the Leverkusen schemer is just as much of an asset to Alonso from a defensive standpoint as he is in attack.

Leverkusen may have exited from the cup competitions, but the Bundesliga title is still up for grabs, with 15 points to play for over the coming weeks and Bayern dropping seven points across the previous seven matchdays.

If they are to seal back-to-back Meisterschale, Leverkusen will clearly need a slice of luck along the way, but welcoming Wirtz back into the fold for that run-in could prove the difference.

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