Dembele spurs PSG’s thrashing of Leverkusen in UCL

Dembele scores on return as PSG thrash Leverkusen 7-2 in Champions League, showcasing strength and depth despite playing with 10 men

Dembele PSG Champions League return proved spectacular as the French champions dismantled Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 at the BayArena on Tuesday, despite both teams finishing with ten men.

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Ousmane Dembele marked his first appearance since an early September hamstring injury with a swift goal three minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, scoring PSG’s sixth in a commanding display.

Desire Doue bagged a brace, while Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha also found the net, underlining PSG’s attacking prowess.

Coach Luis Enrique emphasised the champions’ hunger for more glory, stating, “We are a team that always wants to win everything. This season, we want to win everything again. That will be difficult but we have the confidence we gained last year. We want this title again.”

Despite the loss of centre-back Illia Zabarnyi to a 37th-minute red card — which also handed PSG a second penalty — the visitors’ dominance remained unquestioned.

Leverkusen’s captain Robert Andrich was similarly dismissed for a reckless elbow on Doue shortly before.

Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand reflected on the game’s turning point, explaining, “We were level but we wanted too much… We were too open and made too many mistakes in that seven-minute period. We met the best team in the world right now. They’re very strong.”

PSG’s resilience shone through as they continued to press home their advantage following the sending-offs, cruising to a comprehensive victory that sent a clear message to their European rivals.

Notably, Dembele and captain Marquinhos, both recently fit, bolstered PSG’s squad depth, with Dembele’s goal a timely boost after a challenging injury spell.

The visitors raced ahead with Nuno Mendes assisting Pacho’s early header, while Leverkusen’s penalty attempt was denied when Alejandro Grimaldo hit the post.

PSG capitalised on Leverkusen’s defensive errors, piling on three quick goals before the break. Doue’s brace and Kvaratskhelia’s spectacular strike propelled PSG into a commanding lead.

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Second-half goals from Mendes, Dembele, and Vitinha ensured the scoreline reflected PSG’s European ambitions as they look to defend their Champions League crown.

David Okere