Bayer Leverkusen well beaten by UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain

Bayer Leverkusen remain without a win in this season's UEFA Champions League league phase following a heavy home defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-7 Paris Saint-Germain
Goals: 0-1 Pacho 7' (assist: Nuno Mendes), 1-1 García 38' (assist: Kofane), 1-3 Doué 41' (assist: Kvaratskhelia), 1-3 Kvaratskhelia 44', 1-4 Doué 45'+3 (assist: Hakimi), 1-5 Nuno Mendes 55' (assist: Vitinha), 2-5 Garciá 54' (assist: Grimaldo) 2-6 Dembélé 66' (assist: Barcola), 2-7 Vitinha 90'
Sent off: Andrich 32', Zabarnyi 37'
Missed pen: Grimaldo 25'

Leverkusen went into the game in flying domestic form, but still searching for a first win in the 2025/26 Champions League after draws with PSV Eindhoven and Copenhagen.

Their prospects of flipping the trend weren't helped by an early goal from former Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho, who headed in after Bayer failed to fully deal with a corner.

Claudio Echeverri won a penalty for a foul by Illia Zabarnyi as Leverkusen were presented with a chance to level from the spot, but Alejandro Grimaldo's effort came back off the woodwork.

The goal-frame denied PSG's Senny Mayulu soon after, before Robert Andrich received his marching orders after catching Désiré Doué with a stray elbow. Initially a caution, the card was upgraded to red upon VAR review.

In keeping with a mad-cap first half, Leverkusen levelled with 38 minutes gone. Zabarnyi, who was already on a yellow, was shown a straight red for bringing down Christian Kofane in the box, with Aleix García making no mistake from the ensuing penalty.

Parity was short-lived, though, as Doué scored twice  either side of a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike, to leave Kasper Hjulmand's team with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Aleix García's first of two goals on the night gave Leverkusen a brief foothold in the game. - FRANCK FIFE

Leverkusen shipped a fifth goal within five minutes of the restart as Nuno Mendes raced clear and beat Mark Flekken with a cute finish.

García gave the home fans a glimmer of hope with a thunderous long-range strike, but there was to be no great comeback.

Ex-Dortmund forward and recently-crowned Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembéle added a sixth PSG goal, before Vitinha got in on the act to puntuate a chastening night of continental football for Hjulmand's charges.

Die Werkself return to European action on 5 November, when they travel to Portugal to face Benfica.

Match stats

• Leverkusen were unbeaten in their last nine home European home games, before the PSG loss (W7, D2).
• The defeat ends Hjulmand's unbowed start at the Bayer helm (previously W4, D3).
• García scored the first brace of his senior career.
• Dembélé made 50 competitive appearances for Dortmund.
• Pacho did not score a single goal in 44 competitive outings in Frankfurt colours.

Teams

Leverkusen: Flekken - Badé, Andrich (c), Tapsoba - Arthur, Fernández (Mensah 81'), García, Grimaldo - Poku (Ben Seghir 63'), Echeverri (Maza 46')- Kofane (Belocian 52')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Lomb, Izekor, Culbreath
Out: Palacios (groin), Quansah (knee), Schick (hamstring), Tape (thigh), Tella (knee), Tillman (thigh), Vázquez (muscular)
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

PSG: Chevalier – Hakimi (c), Pacho, Zabarnyi, Mendes – Mayulu (Lee 63'), Vitinha, Zaïre-Emery (Ndjantou 76') – Kvaratskhelia (Dembélé 63'), Barcola (Mbaye 72'), Doué (Hernández 46')
Unused subs: Safonov, Marin, Beraldo, Marquinhos, Ramos
Out: Ruiz (muscular)
Coach: Luis Enrique

As it happened!

2 - 7

(1 - 4)

Leverkusen

FINAL

Paris

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 3 League phase, Matchday 3 BayArena

Full-time: Leverkusen 2-7 PSG

So, it's the Champions League holders PSG who hand Kasper Hjulmand his first defeat as Leverkusen boss. The Parisian outfit did not rest on their laurels after emerging for the second half with a 4-1 advantage, quickly adding a fifth through Nuno Mendes. An Aleix García rocket reduced arrears, but PSG had another two goals in them, with Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha adding to their haul before the final whistle.

© FRANCK FIFE

Full-time

90'

+ 3

Mensah shoots

The youngster gets high up the left flank and, isolated, he opts to go it alone, curling an effort towards the far corner. However, it's straight at Chevalier, who plucks it out the air.

90'

+ 1

Stoppage time

Three additional minutes are indicated.

90'

Cherry on top

The ball pings around the edge of the Leverkusen box before dropping to Vitinha. The Portuguese midfielder strikes first-time, rifling the ball into the bottom left corner for PSG's seventh.

90'

Vitinha

GOAL!

2:7

Best of the bunch

The goals may not be coming as thick and fast as they were earlier, and Leverkusen may be 6-2 down, but García can take some consolation in having scored arguably the best goal of the evening with a long-ranged rocket.

© Alex Grimm

81'

Mensah wins a corner

The 17-year-old immediately gets in amongst things, driving at the PSG backline and winning a corner. García takes, but Leverkusen don't manage to make anything of it.

81'

Substitution

Jeremiah Mensah

Ezequiel Fernández

80'

Straight at Flekken

The young substitute Ndjantou looks to make an impact, cutting in off the left flank and hitting a powerful low effort. It bounces just in front of Flekken, forcing the Dutchman to spill it, but the keeper recovers to pounce on the loose ball.

76'

Substitution

Quentin Ndjantou

Warren Zaïre-Emery

75'

Wayward

Hakimi plays a low cross to the edge of the box from the right flank. Mbaye dummies, leaving it for Dembélé, whose first-time effort is high and wide.

73'

Barcola withdrawn

The only player of PSG's starting front three to leave the field without a goal is replaced by youngster Mbaye.

72'

Substitution

Ibrahim Mbaye

Bradley Barcola

Smart finish

Dembélé scores a first goal on his return to PSG, after suffering an injury which has had him sidelined since August.

© INA FASSBENDER

66'

Didn't take long for Dembélé!

The Frenchman had only been on the pitch for three minutes. Barcola is down the left flank. He bursts into the box and picks out Dembélé at the far post, who manages to put the ball between Flekken's legs for PSG's sixth.

66'

Ousmane Dembélé

GOAL!

2:6

Kvaratskhelia departs

The Georgian winger added PSG's third just before the break.

© FRANCK FIFE

64'

Changes on both sides

Luis Enrique makes a double alteration as he brings on Lee and Ballon d'Or winner Dembélé for Mayulu and Kvaratskhelia. For Leverkusen, Ben Seghir replaces Poku.

63'

Substitution

Eliesse Ben Seghir

Ernest Poku

63'

Substitution

Ousmane Dembélé

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

63'

Substitution

Kang-in Lee

Senny Mayulu

61'

Mayulu's shot blocked

Kvaratskhelia dances past two Leverkusen defenders before teeing up Mayulu on the edge of the box. The youngster hits a powerful effort, but it's blocked by Badé.

60'

Nearly for Poku!

The youngster puts PSG goalkeeper Chevalier under pressure and very nearly wins the ball back off the French keeper. Poku would have had an open net there...

García's first

The Spaniard got his - and Leverkusen's - first of the evening with a well-taken penalty before unleashing a wonder-strike in this second half.

© FRANCK FIFE

54'

What a hit!

García gets his second of the evening with a stunning strike from range. He picks the ball up about 30 yards from goal and nonchalantly rifles it into the top right corner. Chevalier could go nowhere near it! However, given the scoreline, his celebration for such a strike is understandably muted.

54'

Aleix García

GOAL!

2:5

52'

Substitution

Jeanuël Belocian

Christian Kofane

51'

Not far away

Kofane reads a sloppy aerial pass at the back from Leverkusen and manages to head it goalwards, his effort flashing narrowly wide of the post.

50'

Mendes makes it five!

It Leverkusen had expected PSG to take their foot off the gas in the second half, they were very much mistaken. Vitinha turns in midfield and powers up the pitch before slipping Mendes through, who beats Flekken at his near post.

50'

Nuno Mendes

GOAL!

1:5

46'

Back underway!

PSG get the ball rolling again for the second half here. Both managers elect to make changes at half-time, with Kasper Hjulmand replacing Echeverri - who was on a yellow card - with Maza, and Luis Enrique bolstering his defensive options with Hernández, who replaces Doué.

Kick-off!

46'

Substitution

Lucas Hernández

Désiré Doué

46'

Substitution

Ibrahim Maza

Claudio Echeverri

Half-time: Leverkusen 1-4 PSG

And breathe! A mental first half ends with PSG heading in at the break 4-1 up. It's been a first half chock full of drama, with both sides down to 10 men after both Andrich and Zabarnyi were dismissed. PSG flew to an early lead, but Leverkusen had the opportunity to level things shortly after through Grimaldo from 12 yards. The uncharacteristic spok-kick miss from the Spaniard was rectified minutes later by García, but three PSG goals inside eight minutes at the end of the half ensured the Champions League holders went in at half-time with a three-goal cushion.

© FRANCK FIFE

Half-time

45'

+ 5

Yellow card

Edmond Tapsoba

45'

+ 3

Doué makes it four!

PSG show their attacking quality again as they win the ball back in the middle of the park and instantly counterattack. Hakimi drives forward, playing it out left to Doué, who cuts inside and curls a precise finish into the far corner.

45'

+ 3

Désiré Doué

GOAL!

1:4

45'

Stoppage time

Four additional minutes have been indicated.

44'

Kvaratskhelia adds a quickfire second!

That one will sting Leverkusen as the Georgian gives PSG a two-goal cushion before the interval. He receives the ball out wide on the left, cuts inside, and shoots. His initial effort is blocked, but the ball drops right back to him, and he takes the rebound first-time, curling it into the top left corner. The ball clips off the inside of the post and past a helpless Flekken.

44'

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

GOAL!

1:3

43'

Echeverri booked

The youngster sees yellow for a late challenge on Kvaratskhelia.

43'

Yellow card

Claudio Echeverri

42'

Doué restores PSG's lead!

They didn't let Leverkusen's leveller knock their confidence for long. A clever Vitinha backheel kickstarts a slick PSG move. Doué plays a one-two out to the left from the edge of the box before picking it back up inside the penalty area, and slotting it past Flekken.

41'

Désiré Doué

GOAL!

1:2

Grimaldo redeemed

He may have missed a penalty earlier to level the scores, but Spanish compatriot García spared his blushes by converting his spot-kick.

© Pau Barrena

38'

Lifeline for Leverkusen!

Crazy scenes at the BayArena! Minutes after going down to 10 men themselves, Zabarnyi - who was already on a yellow card - fouls Kofane inside his own box as the last defender and is shown a straight red card! This time, García steps up to take it, calmly opting to go the same side that Grimaldo went when he missed his earlier penalty, but this time, the Spaniard slots it home to equalise!

38'

Aleix García

GOAL!

1:1

Penalty

38'

Penalty!

Taker:

Aleix García

37'

Red card

Illia Zabarnyi

34'

Andrich dismissed!

Following a VAR check, the referee is advised to review Andrich's challenge. Leverkusen's captain is judged to have elbowed Doué in the face, and his card is upgraded from yellow to red. Leverkusen are down to 10 men and have seemingly moved to a back four, with Grimaldo slotting in at left-back.

34'

Red card

Robert Andrich

30'

Side netting!

Badé wins the ball back high up the pitch on the left flank. He slips it to Poku at the edge of the box, who opens his body up but shoots towards the near post, firing into the side netting at the near post.

29'

Woodwork!

It's PSG's turn to hit the right post up the other end. After a slick passing move, Barcola chips a ball over Tapsoba for Mayulu, who takes a touch before smashing it at the near post, off of which it deflects behind for a goal-kick.

26'

Grimaldo misses!

It's heartbreak for the Leverkusen fans as Grimaldo's penalty kick ricochets back off the right post! Chevalier had dived the right way too, but didn't get anything on it.

25'

Penalty missed!

Taker:

Alejandro Grimaldo

25'

Penalty to Leverkusen!

Echeverri manages to bundle his way into the PSG box, where he's tackled by Zabarnyi, who is judged to have handled the ball on his way to the ground. After a lengthy VAR check, the spot-kick stands.

24'

Yellow card

Illia Zabarnyi

21'

Curious

García takes the corner, finding Grimaldo on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard collides with the referee and a drop-ball is given.

20'

Echeverri!

The young No.9 is getting involved in the game now. First, he orchestrates a move which results in Leverkusen's first corner of the game. He takes the set-piece, playing a short one-two with Grimaldo before driving at the PSG goal, but his attempted cut-back is blocked behind for another corner.

19'

Off target

A really tidy move started by Mendes and Doué down PSG's left finds its way to Kvaratskhelia, who lets fly from the edge of the box, however, his powerful effort flies well wide of the left post.

16'

Promising counter

An Andrich tackle is the catalyst that starts a Leverkusen counter-attack. They work it to Poku, who beats his man and plays a one-two on the edge of the box with Kofane. The No.19 then tries to slip it back through for Kofane, but his pass is intercepted.

The opener in retrospect

Former Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho rose highest to head home the opener for PSG here.

© Alex Grimm

12'

And breathe!

Flekken tries to sell Barcola with a dummy at the back for Leverkusen, but the French forward is alert to it and picks the goalkeepers' pocket. It falls to Kvaratskhelia, but the Georgian can't bring it down to get a shot away and Leverkusen's keeper can breathe a sigh of relief.

10'

Just overhit

From another PSG corner, Leverkusen win the ball back. They work it to Tapsoba, who spots the run of Poku in behind and the centre-back tries to release him. It's a good ball, but he just puts too much on it and Mendes manages to recover to snuff out the danger.

7'

Pacho heads in the opener!

The resultant corner is taken short by Mendes, who gets the ball back and curls a teasing cross towards the far post. It loops over the head of Badé, behind whom Pacho sneaks in and heads past Flekken to make it 1-0 with his first ever PSG goal.

7'

Willian Pacho

GOAL!

0:1

6'

Taken short

Andrich concedes a foul on the right side outside the Leverkusen box. Vitinha takes, teeing up Mendes, whose effort from the edge of the box is deflected behind for a corner.

4'

Statement of intent?

PSG have enjoyed a lot of possession in the opening minutes here, though they're yet to fashion a chance. On the other hand, Leverkusen seem content to sit off them, but when they win the wall back, they're looking to launch quick counter-attacks - something Grimaldo and Poku just demonstrated down the left but to no avail.

1'

Peeep!

It's hosts Leverkusen who get the ball rolling under the lights of the BayArena this evening.

Kick-off!

Warm-ups complete...

...the action is about to begin!

© INA FASSBENDER

No Schick, no problem?

In the absence of their first-choice striker Patrik Schick, who is sidelined with a hamstring issue, 19-year-old Christian Kofane will be leading the line. The Cameroonian has been in good form for Leverkusen, with three goals in his last three appearances. Additionally, he also became the club's youngest ever goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, aged 19 years and 67 days old, when he found the net against PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 2.

© IMAGO/Jerry Andre

Out for revenge

The only time these sides have met prior to this evening in a UEFA competition was back in 2013/14, when PSG knocked Leverkusen out of the final 16 by an aggregate 6-1 scoreline. They may be billed as the underdogs this evening, but many around Die Werkself may well feel there's a score to be settled here.

The BayArena boost

Leverkusen are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run at home in all competitions. Additionally, on the European stage, they have lost just one of 17 encounters here. Champions League holders PSG won't have it all their way here as they are so often used to...

© IMAGO/pepphoto / Sascha Weiz

More on that Leverkusen side

By contrast, Kasper Hjulmand makes just the one change to his XI that beat Mainz 4-3 away in a seven-goal thriller. Echeverri starts in place of Hofmann as the only change. The latter doesn't make the bench for he was not included in Leverkusen's Champions League squad.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

More on that PSG side

Luis Enrique makes five changes to his side that drew 3-3 with Strasbourg over the weekend. There are returns to the starting line-up for Hakimi, Pacho, Mendes, Vitinha, and Kvaratskhelia. Veteran defender Marquinhos and Ballon d'Or winner Dembélé return to the squad after shaking off injuries, but only make the bench.

Leverkusen starting XI

Flekken - Badé, Andrich (c), Tapsoba - Arthur, Fernández, García, Grimaldo - Poku, Echeverri - Kofane

Leverkusen subs

Blaswich, Lomb, Ben Seghir, Mensah, Maza, Izekor, Culbreath, Belocian

PSG starting XI

Chevalier – Hakimi (c), Pacho, Zabarnyi, Mendes – Mayulu, Vitinha, Zaïre-Emery – Kvaratskhelia, Barcola, Doué

PSG subs

Safonov, Marin, Beraldo, Marquinhos, Ramos, Dembélé, Lee, Hernández, Ndjantou, Mbaye

1:06

Watch: More from Hjulmand on 'top-notch side' PSG

Luis Enrique on facing Leverkusen

"We'll look to play how we usually play, to win the game and to do so having deserved it, even though it'll be tough. Leverkusen have signed 20 new players as well as a new manager, so they're a difficult team to analyse. They've got the quality and the ability to score goals, and they can also defend well in a fairly low block and apply significant pressure."

© IMAGO/Julia Rahn

Loïc Badé on facing PSG

"It will be a special game for me. I come from the Paris region and it will be nice to play against this team. We want to bring everything to the pitch and get the three points."

© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

Kasper Hjulmand on Leverkusen's progress

"We are on the right track. The team needs games and time to find each other, but we are making good progress. After every game, I analyse what we've learned and what we need to improve. I clearly see the possibilities and the potential of this team."

Kasper Hjulmand on facing PSG

"PSG are perhaps the best team in the world. They have won five trophies in this calendar year. We have a lot of respect and it will be a difficult task, but we're also looking forward to it, because Champions League matches are always great. We’re at home and are determined to show our qualities. We'll give everything to win."

© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

10:07

Watch: All of Grimaldo's Bundesliga goals and assists - EVER!

Check out all of the Spaniard's goal contributions in Germany's top flight to date.

Something of a rarity

PSG come into this one off the back of some uncharacteristically mixed form, with two consecutive draws. In fact, the French side currently sit in second place in Ligue 1, one point behind league leaders Marseille, who beat the Parisian outfit back in September.

1:08

Watch: Highlights from Leverkusen's last match

Still unbeaten

Since Kasper Hjulmand took over the reins at Leverkusen, Die Werkself have remained unbeaten. They welcome PSG to the BayArena off the back of a 4-3 away win at Mainz on Matchday 7 of their Bundesliga campaign.

0:59

Can Grimaldo do it again?

A special European night sometimes calls for a special moment. Leverkusen's free-kick master Alejandro Grimaldo has already taken his superb Bundesliga set-piece taking ability into the Champions League, netting an equaliser in Leverkusen's opening league stage match of the season in Copenhagen.

Mixed memories

Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 at Bayern Munich in last season's league phase, before returning to Munich to demolish Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.

© IMAGO/Davide Elias

No Tape reunion

Leverkusen's 18-year-old central defender Axel Tape joined the club in the summer from PSG, but a thigh injury means he will sit out the encounter. Former Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho and ex-Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembélé could feature for the visitors.

© IMAGO/Laci Perenyi

How things stand

Two draws so far (against Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven) leave Leverkusen just outside the play-off places in 25th in the league stage table. There is a long way to go until the end of January, but a result against a PSG side that have won both their opening encounters (most recently winning 2-1 in Barcelona) would boost the Bundesliga side's campaign.

© IMAGO/Anke Waelischmiller/Sven Simon

Welcome along!

Hello, and thank you for joining us for live build-up and coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 encounter at home to Paris Saint-Germain this Tuesday.

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