Wirtz hurt as Leverkusen blows chance to close gap
Bayer Leverkusen missed the chance to close the gap to Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich after a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Werder Bremen.
The defending champion remains eight points behind the leader, which was also beaten 3-2 at home to Bochum on an intriguing day in the German top flight.
Werder Bremen had lost its previous five matches before travelling to Leverkusen, but took a surprise lead in the seventh minute when Romano Schmid capitalised on a defensive error from the hosts to slot home.
Aleix Garcia came closest to an equaliser in the first half when his free kick bounced off the crossbar in stoppage-time.
But things went from bad to worse for Xabi Alonso's side in the second half when Florian Wirtz picked up an ankle injury nine minutes into the second half and had to come off.
Despite pressing for an equaliser, the breakthrough never came for the home side in a frustrating encounter. It would get even worse for it in the 94th minute, when Justin Njinmah made it 2-0 and sealed the win for the visitors.
The result lifts Werder Bremen to 12th on the table on 33 points, 13 above the relegation play-off place.
For Levekusen, meanwhile, it hosts Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg next as it attempts to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first leg.
