The German champions confirmed the setbacks on Thursday, ruling both players out for approximately three weeks.
Mukiele, a 27-year-old French defender on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, sustained a muscle tear in his left calf. The versatile right-back, who has made eight starting appearances for Leverkusen in 2025, expressed frustration but remained optimistic about his recovery.
"It's a tough moment, but I'll work hard to come back stronger," Mukiele said, as posted on X by Bayer Leverkusen's official account.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Argentine striker Sarco, a winter signing from Velez Sarsfield, suffered a muscle strain in his left thigh. The young forward, yet to make his Bundesliga debut, has been limited to Under-19 matches but was seen as a promising prospect for the first team.
The injuries come at a critical time for Leverkusen, who are eight points behind league leaders Bayern Munich after a frustrating 1-1 draw against St. Pauli on April 19.
Manager Xabi Alonso acknowledged the setback but urged his squad to stay focused. "We wish Nordi and Alejo a speedy recovery. The team must adapt and keep pushing forward," Alonso said, according to a club statement on X.
).
Leverkusen return to action on Saturday, when they host Augsburg at the BayArena. With only four matches left in the season, the absence of Mukiele and Sarco tests the squad's depth as they aim to close the gap at the top.
Despite the challenges, Leverkusen remain determined to fight for every point in their quest to defend their Bundesliga crown.
Bayern Munich face a potential selection headache ahead of their Bundesliga showdown with Mainz 05 on Saturday, with Thomas Muller and Jonas Urbig sidelined from Wednesday's training session due to illness.
Fiorentina have reportedly intensified their pursuit of Bayern Munich icon Thomas Muller, while Bayern are actively looking to part ways with defender Sacha Boey, with Galatasaray circling for a potential return.
Bayer Leverkusen's stalwart defender Jonathan Tah has confirmed he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season.
Bayer Leverkusen have revealed a "gentleman's agreement" that could pave the way for their head coach, Xabi Alonso, to join Real Madrid this summer, intensifying speculation about a dramatic return to his former club.
