Holders Paris Saint-Germain delivered a footballing masterclass on Tuesday night, dismantling Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 to maintain their flawless start in the Champions League group stage.
The French champions were irresistible from the outset, combining fluid passing with clinical finishing to overwhelm their German hosts at the BayArena.
Desire Doue led the charge with two goals, while Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, Ousmane Dembele, and Vitinha all found the net in a statement victory.
PSG opened the scoring in the seventh minute when defender Willian Pacho rose highest to head home Nuno Mendes’ curling delivery. Leverkusen had a chance to respond soon after when Illia Zabarnyi fouled Claudio Echeverri in the box, but Alejandro Grimaldo’s penalty struck the post, letting the visitors off the hook.
Tensions escalated as Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich saw his yellow card upgraded to red following a VAR review for elbowing Doue. However, PSG’s man advantage was short-lived—Zabarnyi was dismissed moments later for hauling down Christian Kofane, leading to Aleix Garcia’s successful spot-kick.
Leverkusen’s equaliser only seemed to awaken PSG’s attacking fury. Within five minutes, the visitors netted three times—Doue’s precise finish restored the lead, Kvaratskhelia’s first-time strike ricocheted in off both posts, and Doue added another with a curling effort after a rapid counterattack.
After halftime, PSG showed no signs of mercy. Vitinha sliced through the midfield and slipped a perfect pass to Mendes, who slotted home to make it 5-1.
Garcia momentarily lifted Leverkusen spirits with a stunning 30-yard strike, but substitute Ousmane Dembele, returning from injury, tapped in from close range just minutes after coming on.
Vitinha capped off the rout in the 90th minute, driving a low effort past Mark Flekken to seal a memorable night for Luis Enrique’s side.
Despite their domestic struggles, where they have surrendered top spot in Ligue 1 to Marseille, PSG’s European form remains imperious. This emphatic victory—three wins from three—reinforces their status as strong contenders to defend their Champions League crown.
Desire Doue was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance, showcasing maturity and composure beyond his years. With confidence soaring, PSG now look ahead to their next fixture, hoping to carry this momentum back into Ligue 1 competition.