Leverkusen star Wirtz 'out for several weeks' with ligament injury

Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz will be sidelined for "several weeks" after suffering a ligament injury in his right ankle, the Bundesliga champions said on Monday in a statement, Report informs via dpa.

The midfielder will therefore miss the second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against fellow Germans Bayern Munich on Tuesday, in a big blow for Leverkusen.

The German champions trail 3-0 after the first leg last week.

Wirtz was brought on for the second half of the 2-0 Bundesliga defeat to Werder Bremen on Saturday, but limped off the pitch after only eight minutes following a foul from Mitchell Weiser.

"The loss of Florian obviously hits us hard in this phase of the season but we will compensate for him with a strong squad," Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes said.

"We know Florian and also know he will come back as soon as possible. Everybody will support him in that. We are assuming he will be fully fit again for the end of the season run-in," Rolfes added.