Nine goals in Leverkusen
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Thanks to Felix Nmecha, Borussia Dortmund put the defeat in the Bundesliga classic behind them and maintained their strong record in the Champions League. Thanks to a strong final spurt, coach Niko Kovac’s team clearly won 4-2 (1-1) at FC Copenhagen led by former BVB professional Youssoufa Moukoko in the evening and has seven points after three match days. Bayer 04 Leverkusen experienced a different world of emotions in the home game against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. The Werkself were defeated 7-2 (1-4) and never had a chance during the game.
In front of 35,058 spectators, double goalscorer Nmecha (20th minute/76th), Ramy Bensebaini (61st/penalty) and Fábio Silva (87th) scored the goals for the top German club, which showed a decent performance three days after the 1-2 defeat at FC Bayern. An own goal from Waldemar Anton (33′) only briefly rocked BVB. Viktor Dadason’s goal (90th + 1) for the Danes came when the game was already decided.
After a 4:4 at Juventus Turin and a 4:1 against Athletic Bilbao, Dortmund is heading for the all-important top eight placement, with which they can save themselves an additional knockout round in the spring in the new mode. Kovac reacted three days after the 2-1 defeat at FC Bayern with five changes. Julian Brandt and Jobe Bellingham, who were recently frequently used as jokers, were given a chance from the start. Kovac praised the duo and reported to DAZN about his words to the 20-year-old Bellingham: “You are playing today because you can and because I have the utmost trust in you.”
In fact, Bellingham made a winning contribution to the BVB game early on. After a pass from Serhou Guirassy, the Englishman passed it nicely to Nmecha, who scored a dream goal to give Dortmund an early lead. Much to the delight of the away fans, who were represented in large numbers in Denmark’s capital despite the boycott by several ultra groups.
Although the Danes had the first chance early on (6th) thanks to Viktor Claesson, Dortmund initially set the tone in the European Championship stadium, which was the scene of Christian Eriksen’s dramatic cardiac arrest in 2021. The axis around Bellingham and Nmecha controlled the center, where the hosts sorely missed ex-Dortmund player Thomas Delaney, who was missing due to injury.
But because BVB missed an early second goal, the game ended after about half an hour. In a central role for Copenhagen: Moukoko, who played for Dortmund from 2016 until this summer and was once considered a child prodigy. The 20-year-old striker received Jacob Neestrup’s trust for the game against his former club – and Moukoko did not disappoint.
The ex-Dortmunder had previously scored the equalizer, which was considered an Anton own goal. Moukoko was also active and busy away from the goal, and he also tested the confident Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel with his shots. The draw at half-time was fair, with Moukoko the most striking player of the first 45 minutes.
After that, Copenhagen became more offensive – and the game became more hectic. Moukoko fell on the edge of the penalty area, but there was no penalty, much to the displeasure of the Danish champions’ fans. When Nmecha scored for the second time a little later, the game was decided. In the end it happened in quick succession: New signing Silva scored for Dortmund to make it 4-1, and Dadason shortened the score again. Then it was over.
After the substitution, the youngest German World Cup player could have even become a goalscorer, but Bensebaini came in time with his tackle. A few minutes later, the Algerian also took responsibility up front: After Guirassy’s jersey was pulled in the penalty area, Bensebaini grabbed the ball and coolly converted to take the lead again.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen falls under the wheels against Paris Saint-Germain
Nine goals, two sending-offs and two penalties – in a wild and spectacular game, Bayer Leverkusen suffered their first defeat under coach Kasper Hjulmand and were clearly defeated in the process. On the third matchday of the Champions League league phase, the Werkself were clearly defeated by defending champions Paris Saint-Germain 2:7 (1:4).
In front of 30,210 spectators in the sold-out Leverkusen Stadium, Willian Pacho (7th minute), Désiré Doué (41st/45th + 3), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (44th), Nuno Mendes (50th), Ousmane Dembélé (66th) and Vitinha (90th) scored for PSG. Aleix García (37th) had equalized for the Werkself by converting a penalty and then shortened the score with another goal in the second half (54th).
After two draws from the first two games, Bayer 04 still only have two points in the Champions League after three matchdays and are coming under increasing pressure, while PSG is at least temporarily taking over the lead in the premier class.
Before the game, Hjulmand described the opponent as “perhaps the best team in the world”. Initially, Luis Enrique’s team, which had been welcomed by their supporters with a blue-white-red choreography, only needed one standard to take the early lead: after seven minutes, ex-Frankfurt Pancho effortlessly converted a corner with a header into the left corner.
Despite the unfortunate start, the Werkself showed courage, but initially mainly ran after the game and waited for counterattack situations. The chance to equalize came in the 24th minute: after a handball by lIlya Zabarny in a duel with Claudio Echeverri in the penalty area, a penalty was awarded. But Alejandro Grimaldo, who was so dangerous recently, failed at the right post.
Despite this setback, the Werkself found their way into the game better and better, but were suddenly stopped: Captain Robert Andrich unfortunately hit Doué in the head, initially saw yellow and was sent off with a red card after a VAR check (31st). But the visitors’ majority only lasted for a short time, as PSG saw Zabaryani red just five minutes later for an emergency stop (37′).
Aleix Garcia confidently converted the penalty that was due into the bottom right corner – outnumbered and behind became the equalizer and a ten-on-ten. But the game remained turbulent and Paris responded ice cold. The defending champions added three goals in just seven minutes and showed their extra class.
After the break, the guests continued their strong game: After a precise pass from Vitinha, the advanced Mendes hit the near corner and celebrated PSG’s fifth goal. However, Leverkusen and especially Aleix Garcia showed themselves unbroken: from around 25 meters, the Spaniard hammered the ball perfectly into the right corner of the cross from almost a standing position, reducing the score to 2:5.
But the next goal finally pulled the plug on the combative Leverkusen team: just three minutes after being substituted, world footballer and former Dortmund player Dembélé scored the eighth goal of the game in his comeback after around six weeks of injury. After that, the offensive fireworks noticeably died down, but shortly before the end PSG scored the final point to make it 2:7.