The Champions League returned with a bang, and PSG made sure everyone noticed. Their 7–2 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen was not just a victory, it was a declaration of intent from the reigning champions. From the first whistle, they controlled the tempo, dictated the rhythm, and punished every defensive lapse with clinical precision. This was the kind of performance that separates contenders from passengers, a reminder that even after last season’s treble, they’re hungry for even more success. Luis Enrique named a strong lineup with Chevalier in goal, Hakimi and Mendes at full-back, and a front three of Barcola, Doué, and Kvaratskhelia. Ousmane Dembélé, recently back from injury, started on the bench. Leverkusen lined up in their usual 3-4-2-1, with Andrich anchoring the defense and Flekken in goal. What looked like an even contest on paper quickly turned one-sided, as PSG’s intensity and precision tore through Leverkusen’s structure. It was a performance that reasserted PSG’s authority in Europe.
The warning signs were there for Leverkusen as PSG took the lead after just 7 minutes through William Pacho after he headed home Nuno Mendes’ great cross, the first of Mendes’ two contributions on the night. PSG continued to dominate proceedings but Kasper Hjulmand’s men managed to stay in the game and in the 24th minute, against the run of play, they fashioned an opportunity to equalize from the penalty spot after Illia Zabarnyi was adjudged to have handled in the box but Grimaldo stepped up to take it and sent his shot wide of the target. Leverkusen didn’t lose hope though and they kept pushing, Ernest Poku who looked lively throughout the night shot wide in the 29th minute before the match took a turn for the worst from Leverkusen’s point of view as captain Robert Andrich was sent off for serious foul play after an elbow to Desire Doue’s face.
After the red in the 33rd minute, it looked like PSG would run away with the match and while that might have eventually happened, it didn’t come as quickly as everyone thought as PSG themselves were reduced to 10 men and Leverkusen got another penalty in the 38th minute that Aleix Garcia took this time and converted. It looked like the sides would become more evenly matched after both were reduced to then but Leverkusen quickly realized that that was not the case as PSG regained the lead in the 41st minute through Desire Doue, who got the shot off quite quickly in the box under considerable pressure. By half-time, it was 4-1, after goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Doue again, both goals were of high quality as Kvaratskhelia fired one into the top corner after an attempted clearance from the Leverkusen defense and Doue curled the ball in from outside the box, cutting in from the left hand side and burying the shot after a pass from captain Achraf Hakimi on a transition.
The second half picked up right where the first half stopped as it continued to look like PSG still had 11 men and Leverkusen didn’t. Just 5 minutes after the restart, it was 5-1 from a Nuno Mendes goal after a truly delightful pass from midfield maestro Vitinha to free the left back in behind for his second goal contribution of the night. Kasper Hjulmand then tried to shore up his defense to keep the scoreline down as he sent on defender Jeanuel Belocian in place of striker, Christian Michel Kofane.
An attacking breakthrough was however made in the 54th minute as Alex Garcia found the net with a scorcher from distance that was in the net before Lucas Chevalier even had the chance to attempt a save, a second for Garcia and Leverkusen but they were playing for pride at that point and any faint hope of an already improbable comeback was put to bed in the 66th minute after Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele scored on his return from injury just 3 minutes after he was subbed on in place of Kvaratskhelia, a cool finish from a tight angle.
PSG continued to stamp their authority and numerous chances to add a 7th went begging until Vitinha placed one into the bottom corner in the 90th minute for his second goal contribution of the night to wrap up the scoring on the night.
Both sides will take distinct lessons from this match. For PSG, the 7–2 win proved their resilience as much as their firepower. Even after going down to ten men, they kept their shape, managed the tempo, and scored almost at will. Their finishing was ruthless, their confidence evident, and their balance across the pitch impressive. For Leverkusen, the game was a harsh reminder of how small mistakes spiral at this level. Andrich’s red card was a turning point, but it was their defensive disorganization afterward, not the dismissal alone,that opened the floodgates. The missed penalty and loss of focus made a difficult night disastrous.
This was not a win inflated by circumstance, it was a show of control and conviction. PSG punished errors, stayed clinical even under pressure, and defended well despite their own red card. It reflected a squad with depth, confidence, and tactical flexibility, traits of a true contender. Leverkusen, meanwhile, will need to rediscover composure and structure before their next outing. For PSG, the message was loud and clear: they’re not just winning games, they’re imposing their authority on the competition.
