Ousmane Dembele scored on his return from injury as defending champions Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday, with both teams finishing with 10 men.
Ballon d’Or winner Dembele struck PSG’s sixth just three minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in early September. Desire Doue bagged a brace, while Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha also found the net at Leverkusen’s BayArena as PSG sent a strong message to their European rivals.
“We are a team that always wants to win everything. This season, we want to win everything again,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “That will be difficult but we have the confidence we gained last year. We want this title again.”
Aleix Garcia scored both of Leverkusen’s goals, while PSG’s Illia Zabarnyi was sent off in the 37th minute after conceding a second penalty. Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich was also dismissed minutes earlier for elbowing Doue.
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand admitted to Amazon Prime that his side “lost it in seven minutes before halftime,” adding, “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, despite an injury-hit and inconsistent season, dominated once both sides were reduced to 10 men. Their bid to retain the European crown will face sterner challenges than the rebuilding Leverkusen, who started six new summer signings.
The French champions showcased their attacking depth and resilience, qualities that defined their treble-winning campaign last year.
Dembele and captain Marquinhos, both recovering from injuries, started on the bench as PSG took the lead within seven minutes. Mendes’ cross found Pacho, who headed in at the far post.
Leverkusen missed a chance to level when Alejandro Grimaldo’s penalty hit the post after a Zabarnyi handball. Moments later, Andrich’s foul on Doue earned him a red card, and Zabarnyi soon followed after conceding another penalty converted by Garcia.
Rather than losing control, PSG surged, scoring three goals in eight minutes through Doue, Kvaratskhelia, and again Doue to lead 4-1 at halftime. Mendes extended the advantage early in the second half before Garcia pulled one back with a long-range strike.
Dembele added a sixth with a tight-angle finish, and Vitinha completed the rout, sealing an emphatic night for the French champions.
What you should know
Ousmane Dembele’s return from injury couldn’t have been more impactful, scoring within minutes and reigniting PSG’s attacking rhythm.
The defending champions displayed both flair and discipline, reaffirming their status as Europe’s team to beat.
