Leverkusen Held Florian Wirtz Returns, But Title Hopes Dim With Draw

Berlin, Germany — Bayer Leverkusen‘s title hopes took another hit on April 12, 2025, as they drew 0-0 with Union Berlin at home, despite the return of star player Florian Wirtz. This match further widened the gap between Leverkusen and the league leaders, Bayern Munich, who are now five points ahead.

Wirtz made his comeback in the 56th minute to a warm welcome from fans after recovering from a knee injury that had sidelined him for over a month. Despite his return, Leverkusen struggled to capitalize on their chances throughout the match. “With Flo, we are a better team,” said Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen’s sporting director, prior to the match, highlighting Wirtz’s influence.

Throughout the first half, Leverkusen dominated possession but were unable to convert it into goal-scoring opportunities. The best chance for Union came from a disallowed goal by Andrej Ilic in the 14th minute due to an offside call, a moment that left Leverkusen fans relieved.

As the match progressed, Wirtz injected some creativity into the Leverkusen lineup, but Union’s organized defense thwarted all efforts. After spending the last month recovering, Wirtz’s frustration was palpable as he clashed with the referee over a foul called against him in stoppage time. “It’s tough to not get the result we wanted, especially since we had the support of our fans,” Wirtz said post-match.

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “We need to improve creating chances. It’s not enough to dominate possession if we can’t convert it into goals.” Alonso’s team had to endure a second consecutive lackluster performance after a narrow victory over Heidenheim the previous week.

Meanwhile, Union Berlin’s coach Urs Fischer praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We came here with a plan, and the players executed it perfectly. We are still in the race to secure our spot in the league.” The point earned by Union keeps them comfortably above the relegation zone.

Next, Bayer Leverkusen will face a crucial battle against Borussia Dortmund, where they will need to showcase improvement if they hope to keep pace with Bayern. For now, their dreams of retaining the Bundesliga title appear to be fading.