PSG Dominates Bayer Leverkusen in Champions League Clash
Paris St-Germain showcased a formidable attacking performance, overwhelming Bayer Leverkusen with a 7-2 victory, securing their third consecutive win in the Champions League.
Desire Doue netted two goals, while Willian Pacho and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia contributed to a commanding 4-1 lead by halftime. Nuno Mendes, Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, and Vitinha added further goals in the second half, completing the rout.
The scoring began in the seventh minute when defender Willian Pacho connected with Nuno Mendes' enticing in-swinging cross to head PSG ahead. Leverkusen earned a penalty 16 minutes later after Illia Zabarnyi fouled Claudio Echeverri in the box.
Alejandro Grimaldo's penalty kick struck the post, and shortly after, Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich was shown a red card by VAR for elbowing Doue in the face.
PSG's advantage was short-lived, as Zabarnyi received a straight red card for a foul on Christian Kofane in the box just five minutes later.
The BayArena crowd erupted when Aleix Garcia converted the penalty, but the celebration was brief.
Within a span of five minutes, Doue scored with a precise finish, Kvaratskhelia's first-time shot found the net after hitting both posts, and Doue capped off a swift counter-attack with a curling effort.
The second half began with similar intensity, as Vitinha navigated through Leverkusen's midfield and set up Mendes, who fired past goalkeeper Mark Flekken at the near post.
Garcia managed to pull a goal back for the hosts with a stunning 30-yard strike into the top right corner, but Dembele, returning from a hamstring injury, quickly restored PSG's lead by tapping in their sixth goal just three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Vitinha capped off the scoring with a low shot into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.
Despite injury setbacks and having won only one of their last four Ligue 1 matches, which saw them lose the top spot to Marseille, PSG's European form remains unblemished.
Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.