Bayer Leverkusen received a lesson on Tuesday evening against defending champions Paris St. Germain in the Champions League. In a crazy game with sending-offs and sometimes fantastic goals, the Werkself were mercilessly inferior – and were partially demonstrated by eager Parisians.
In the 2:7 (1:4) defeat, Aleix Garcia (38th and 53rd minute) scored both goals for the Werkself. Willian Pacho (7th), Desiré Doué (41st and 45th + 3), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (44th), Nuno Mendes, Ousmané Dembélé (66th) and Vitinha (90th) ensured Paris’ big away win. Leverkusen was clearly inferior for long stretches, while Paris coldly took advantage of the hosts’ mistakes.
Captain Robert Andrich was sent off on the Leverkusen side after an elbow (32′), but the Parisians also finished the game with only nine field players – Illia Zabarnyi also saw red in the first half for an emergency stop (37′).
Leverkusen is still waiting for its first win after two draws at the start of the premier class. For coach Kasper Hjulmand it was his first competitive defeat in his eighth game as Bayer coach. Paris, on the other hand, took their third win and at least temporarily took the lead in the table.
Wild game in the first round
The first half of the game offered enough spectacle for three games combined. The Parisians showed from the start why they are considered one of the favorites in the competition this year. Doué, Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Co. swirled, circulated the ball and pinned Leverkusen on defense. The opening goal came early after a standard: PSG played the corner kick briefly, Nuno Mendes crossed razor-sharp towards the far post, where Pacho was allowed to head in unhindered – Bayer defender Loic Badé jumped past the ball.
The French stayed on the accelerator even after the goal, but Bayer, somewhat surprisingly, had a great chance to equalize. Claudio Echeverri bravely went into the penalty area, Zabarnyi only knew how to help himself with a handball – a penalty. Alejandro Grimaldo, who was safe from the point in the win in Mainz (4:3) at the weekend, stepped up but put the ball flat on the right of the post. But things got even worse for Leverkusen: Andrich threw his elbow against Doué completely unnecessarily in a duel, and after VAR intervention the Bayer captain had to leave the field with a red card.
Bitter evening: Andrich (r.) flies with red and hands Grimaldo the captain’s armband
Paris punished Leverkusen’s mistake coldly
Less than five minutes later, the indisposed Zabarnyi ensured a tie on the pitch again – both in terms of the number of players and the result. Christian Kofane cleverly positioned himself in the penalty area, Zabarnyi took a moment too long and brought down Leverkusen’s striker. Referee Jesús Gil Manzano gave the Ukrainian, who had already been warned, a red card, and Garcia safely converted the penalty.
Two goals, a missed penalty, both teams with ten men – and yet this first half was far from over. Because: Now Paris was really turning up the heat. Within eight minutes, Doué, Kvaratskhelia and Doué again gave the merciless Parisians a 4-1 half-time lead. Despite all the quality of the guests, which was evident in the sparkling clean counterattacks: the goals came from ball losses and mistakes by the Bayer team. Ernest Poku, Grimaldo and Arthur lost the ball decisively and conceded three goals shortly before half-time.
Outstanding Mendes scores, Garcia responds with a dream goal
The task was extremely difficult in the second half against an extremely self-confident Parisian team. The guests always found playful solutions and immediately followed up after a few minutes. Vitinha strolled through midfield and sent left-back Mendes, who crowned his strong performance with Paris’ fifth goal.
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand reacted quickly, bringing on defender Jannuel Belocian for striker Kofane. The idea behind it was easy to see: the goal was to prevent further goals being conceded, the offensive was no longer the order of the day. And yet Bayer scored just two minutes after the break – and how. Garcia shot from distance almost from a standing start and the ball hit a fantastic right angle.
Penalty and dream goal: Bayer midfielder Aleix Garcia
Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé also scores
PSG coach Luis Enrique also changed, bringing in world footballer Dembélé, among others. The winger, recently sidelined by a thigh problem, immediately chipped in with a goal. Dembélé shot Barcola’s cross pass from a tight angle to the near corner. The pitiful Mark Flekken in the Leverkusen goal was there, but could not prevent the sixth goal conceded.
From then on, the Parisians remained in control of the situation and let the ball and opponents run. Vitinha was finally allowed to: the Portuguese hit the ball flat into the corner from a central position. It was the end of a clear demonstration of the strength of the defending champions.
Leverkusen now under pressure in the Champions League
Leverkusen continues their home game against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday. In the Champions League, the Werkself will play at Benfica Lisbon on matchday four, Leverkusen urgently need three points if they want to maintain a realistic chance of reaching the next round.