Heavy pack in Leverkusen
Bayer embarrassed themselves against PSG, BVB celebrated a landslide victory
October 21, 2025, 10:54 p.m
In the first 45 minutes alone, the spectators in Leverkusen saw five goals, two penalties and two red cards. In the end, the Werkself lost heavily to Paris Saint-Germain, probably the best team in Europe. BVB is rehabilitating itself after Bayern’s bankruptcy in Copenhagen.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Paris Saint-Germain 2:7 (1:4)
Pack against Paris: Bayer Leverkusen received a bitter lesson from the defending champion’s ripped off ball artists. In a wild exchange of blows with Paris Saint-Germain, coach Kasper Hjulmand’s team, which was overwhelmed at times, lost 2:7 (1:4) – the pressure on the Werkself is growing in the league phase of the Champions League.
Leverkusen is still waiting for success due to the painful setback against PSG. Ex-Frankfurt player Willian Pacho (7th), young star Désiré Doué (41st/45th +3) as well as Chwitscha Kwarazchelia (44th), Nuno Mendes (50th) and Vitinha (90th) scored the goals for the cool champion. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, who celebrated his comeback after a six-week injury break, was also able to celebrate (66th). Despite the red card for Illja Sabarnyj (37th), Paris celebrated their third win in the third game.
And Bavarian? Little went together for the German runner-up: Alejandro Grimaldo (25th) missed a hand penalty, and captain Robert Andrich (32nd) also saw red for an assault according to video evidence. At least Aleix Garcia (38th, penalty kick/54th) scored the consolation goal for the Rhinelanders, who are now in tough away duels against Benfica Lisbon (November 5th) and Manchester City (November 25th).
Pacho punished the sleepy Bayer defense early and headed in unchallenged from a short corner. The Leverkusen team, who had to do without numerous regular players such as Patrik Schick and Jarell Quansah, only slowly fought their way into a game that took numerous crazy turns against ball-confident hosts.
In focus? Especially Sabarnyj. The PSG professional initially caused the hand penalty, which Grimaldo hit the post. After Andrich had earned himself a completely unnecessary sending off by elbowing Doué, Sabarnyj knocked down Christian Kofane on the other side and was shown red – this time Garcia converted safely from the spot. Paris nipped the Bayer fans’ hopes of a coup in the bud. The title holder’s entire class flashed when final hero Doué, who had only returned the previous week after an injury break, scored a brace and Kwarazchelia practically decided the game within a few minutes shortly before half-time. Bayer’s resistance was broken.
Mendes added shortly after the break. Leverkusen scored another goal thanks to a remarkable long-range shot from Garcia and kept the damage limited – not least because Paris slowed down a few gears. In the final phase, all eyes were on Dembélé, who crowned his return with a goal. Vitinha took care of the final score.
FC Copenhagen – Borussia Dortmund 2:4 (1:1)
Top game frustration was followed by premier class desire: Borussia Dortmund got back on the road to success in the Champions League three days after the 2-1 defeat in the Bundesliga classic at Bayern Munich – and spoiled the reunion of former BVB prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko. With the long-fought 4:2 (1:1) at the Danish champions FC Copenhagen, Dortmund underlined their ambitions for a direct qualification for the round of 16.
Double packer Felix Nmecha (20th/76th), Ramy Bensebaini (61st, penalty kick) and Fábio Silva (87th) scored the guests’ goals against the still winless Danes. Waldemar Anton scored an own goal (33′), in which ex-Dortmunder Moukoko played a major role. Substitute Viktor Dadason (90th) shortened the score shortly before the end. For BVB, who are still unbeaten, it was the second win in the third game of the league phase of the premier class.
The favorites had a hard time in the first half – although Nmecha cracked the opposing defense in a fantastic way early on. After a pass from Jobe Bellingham, the midfielder took out his opponent with an outstanding ball transfer and then, in an almost outrageous, uncompromising manner, smashed the ball under the crossbar from 17 meters.
Maximilian Beier almost doubled the lead after half an hour, but instead the goal came after his missed shot on the other side. Moukoko, who had recently been weak in Copenhagen after a good start to the season, brought the ball dangerously in front of the goal after a corner – where he flipped around uncontrollably before jumping off Anton’s leg and into the goal. Shortly afterwards, Junnosuke Suzuki even missed Copenhagen’s lead (37th), and the agile Moukoko also tried again from distance without success (42nd).
The newly formed Dortmund team also struggled at the start of the second half. Bensebaini was happy to accept the penalty gift from Lukas Lerager, who knocked down Serhou Guirassy after a corner. Shortly afterwards, Guirassy aimed just wide from a good position (66th), Bellingham failed with his good long-range shot past keeper Dominik Kotarski (73rd).
Copenhagen still played the game on an equal footing. Moukoko, who was only able to keep his big promise for the future at BVB at the beginning of his career, was a constant source of danger. But Dortmund now appeared to have been ripped off. The outstanding Nmecha shot again from outside the penalty area, this time a mediocre finish was enough, as the shot – still slightly deflected – could not be saved by Kotarski, even from low in the middle of the goal.
