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Paris Saint-Germain send Champions League warning after annihilation of Bayer Leverkusen

PSG celebrate one of their seven goals against Bayern Leverkusen
PSG celebrate one of their seven goals against Bayern LeverkusenČTK / imago sportfotodienst / PAPON BERNARD

Paris Saint-Germain travelled to Germany and a Champions League date with Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, looking to protect their 100% start to this season's competition in defence of their title.

With Leverkusen unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions, having scored in all of their last 15 matches and also flying high in the Bundesliga just two points behind second-placed RB Leipzig, this was expected to be a reasonably tough test for the French giants.

Youngest starting XI in this season's UCL

It was the first meeting between the two teams since March 2014, a match in which PSG emerged triumphant with a slender 2-1 victory, and one in which the hosts arguably needed a morale-boosting victory given that two points from their opening three UCL games in 2025/26 placed them way down in 25th position at the start of proceedings.

In a sign of Luis Enrique's confidence in his team, he fielded the youngest starting XI in the Champions League this season, with both Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia returning after missing the win against Barcelona last time out.

Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG - Starting XIs
Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG - Starting XIsFlashscore

The writing was on the wall for Leverkusen as early as the seventh minute after Nuno Mendes - who'd already had a chance himself - set up Willian Pacho for his first-ever PSG goal with a truly special assist. 

Complete domination from the visitors continued throughout the opening 15 minutes, and their 82.1% possession during that time clearly riled the home support.

Two red cards in four minutes

PSG saw a handful of chances come and go before the hosts were awarded a penalty after Illia Zabarnyi handled.

Alejandro Grimaldo could only find the base of the upright, and perhaps that was the shape of things to come for Leverkusen.

Their captain, Robert Andrich, initially yellow carded for an elbow on Doue, saw it upgraded to a red after a VAR intervention, but incredibly just four minutes later, Zabarnyi joined him for an early bath after a professional foul.

A second spot-kick of the night was dispatched by Aleix Garcia to put Leverkusen back on level terms with nine minutes of the first half remaining.

Nine minutes during which PSG ended the tie as a contest.

Devastating goal blast from PSG

Doue (two) and Kvaratskhelia scored the goals that saw the visitors go in 4-1 up at the break, as Leverkusen were left chasing shadows in what was a stunning spell of attacking football from the Ligue 1 champions.

With almost the entire PSG starting XI enjoying pass completion stats in the 90%+ range, the hosts needed to curtail the influence that Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha, in particular, were having on proceedings.

By the end of the game, the Portuguese had posted a stunning 98.4% completion stat. That in itself deserved plaudits, but much more so when one considers it came from his successful 126 passes from 128 attempted - the most from any player on the pitch and at least 84 more than any Leverkusen starter.

Vitinha’s heat map vs Bayer Leverkusen
Vitinha’s heat map vs Bayer LeverkusenOpta by Stats Perform

The flurry of goals had given PSG a total of five in the last 15 minutes of a first half in the competition this season, more than any other team, suggesting that the French side at often at their most potent when opponents are already winding down and getting ready for the break.

No slowing down in the second half

If Leverkusen thought that Luis Enrique's side would ease off the accelerator after half-time, they were quickly reminded why PSG remain favourites to retain their title as Mendes broke forward to finish with aplomb.

That was one of five touches that the full-back had in the box, the joint-third most of any PSG player on the night. 

Given his two successful dribbles from three attempted, three one-on-ones completed successfully from five attempted and six clearances made, his was another all-action performance to sit alongside his man-of-the-match showing against Barcelona.

With 54 played, Garcia arrowed a blockbuster of a shot into the top corner, which had PSG keeper, Lucas Chevalier, rooted to the spot.

That last action of note from any Leverkusen player was arguably the best of the night, and Garcia's attacking performance - including an xG of 0.83 - saw him as the most likely to trouble the visitors.

Dembele back with a bang

A ray of light amongst the enveloping gloom, PSG soon restored balance and 71.4% possession in the opening 15 minutes of the second half suggested they were just toying with their opponents.

Certainly, though there was no real urgency at that stage, the gulf in quality between the two sides was cavernous, and Vitinha's 100% pass completion to that point simply underscored the fact.

​Still PSG poured forward and, just three minutes after coming on as a substitute, Ousmane Dembele added his name to the scoresheet on his return from injury.

The recently-crowned Ballon d'Or would go on to be a thorn in Leverkusen's side in his 30-minute cameo, managing four touches in the box and three shots at goal - the joint most of any PSG player in the game.

Vitinha bookends a super performance

Leverkusen offered nothing by way of attacking intent, whereas Bradley Barcola, Hakimi, Dembele, Ibrahim Mbaye and Quentin Ndjantou all peppered Mark Flekken's goal in the final stages of the game.

The final word belonged to Vitinha, who smashed home a long-range effort to complete the scoring with his first UCL goal since February.

Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG - Momentum shift
Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG - Momentum shiftOpta by Stats Perform

Stoppage time saw another three shots at goal from the visitors in an astonishing total of 24.

Leverkusen's six by comparison was a sure sign that the Germans were completely outplayed in every aspect, and that will be a huge disappointment to manager Kasper Hjulmand.

That they've scored in all three UCL games this season will be of no consolation whatsoever to the Dane.

PSG dominated Leverkusen in every aspect

The win gave PSG a sixth in a row in the competition, which is their longest streak since at least 2004/05.

Bayer Leverkusen v Paris Saint-Germain - Match Stats
Bayer Leverkusen v Paris Saint-Germain - Match StatsOpta by Stats Perform

777 passes to 315, 70.9% possession to 29.1%, 469 passes in the Leverkusen half compared to just 121 from the Germans and an xG of 2.86 all point to this becoming another vintage season for the Parisiens.

On this form, who is going to stop them...

Jason Pettigrove
Jason PettigroveFlashscore