As Bayer Leverkusen look to secure a top-eight finish in the league stage of the Champions League, it took just eight minutes for 21-year-old Folarin Wirtz to turn around Tuesday’s game against RB Salzburg. Wirtz scored from the penalty spot before winning a free kick that Alejandro Grimaldo scored for a 2-0 lead in what would end up being a 5-0 victory. Wirtz didn’t have to wait long to secure a brace with a beautiful run and finish in the 30th minute for his fifth UCL goal this season.
A top-eight finish is crucial for Leverkusen to advance directly to the last 16 and Wirtz is doing everything he can to achieve this while putting together one of the best seasons a player aged 21 or younger has had in the UCL since. 2019. Erling Haaland has been the kind of young player who found the back of the net in the Champions League, scoring 10 goals twice for Borussia Dortmund before turning 22, but Wirtz has the third-best number for a young player along with names like Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo.
Young players are rising to stardom faster with guys like Lamine Yamal at 17, but that can’t take anything away from Wirtz’s exploits. Most of the players who have scored at this rate ply their trade further up the pitch than Wirtz, while the German also takes the creative reins for Leverkusen. He added an assist against RB Salzburg in his first UCL game. All this adds up to four goals and three assists in the Bundesliga.
After being instrumental in Leverkusen winning their first Bundesliga title last season with 18 goals and 20 assists in 49 appearances, the young midfielder has taken a step forward this season despite defenses focusing more on stopping him. It’s a step forward that has Wirtz on the radar of teams around the world like Bayern Munich, but there is a lot of work to do in Leverkusen first.
The only trophy Leverkusen failed to claim during their illustrious season was a European title and, despite their lopsided defeat to Liverpool during the league stage of this UCL campaign last time out, this is a team that can cause a stir in later rounds. If Leverkusen can secure a place in the last 16 by finishing in the top eight, it will be important to avoid being surprised and that is when this is anyone’s tournament.
The struggle of standard powerhouses like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City has created a power vacuum that budding European teams like Leverkusen and Atalanta can exploit in later rounds. Wirtz is doing everything he can to ensure Levekusen is there when everything calms down.
