PLAYER RATINGS | Bayer Leverkusen 2-7 PSG: Doué scores twice in chaotic thrashing in Germany | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain continued a perfect start to their continental title defence with a thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany on Tuesday evening, in a chaotic fixture that saw 9 goals, 2 penalties, and a red card apiece.

The match

After staggering through an injury crisis mostly unscathed, the Paris Saint-Germain were able to line up in Germany on Tuesday night with a few more starters in comparison to their trip to Catalonia at the start of the month. Luis Enrique’s matchday squad notably featured Ousmane Dembélé on the bench, as the French international made his return from an injury sustained at the start of September.

As they did against Strasbourg a few days beforehand, the Euopean champions wasted no time in taking the lead. After a short corner, Nuno Mendes would whip in a cross from the right wing to the back post, with Willian Pacho beating Loïc Badé to the ball to head in his first goal for PSG from close range.

While Les Parisiens dominated the ensuing possession, the hosts did mount a handful of promising counter-attacks. Ernest Poku in particular appeared to cause Ilya Zabarnyi some issues one-on-one, while Claudio Echeverri made a few forays into the PSG box.

The Agentine would eventually draw a penalty, with Gil Manzano pointing to the spot after a handball on the ground from Zabarnyi. Alejandro Grimaldo would see his spot-kick saved by Lucas Chevalier, with the French international conjuring a timely response to recent criticism. Matters would worsen for Leverkusen just minutes later, as Robert Andrich was sent off for elbowing Désiré Doué while looking to bring a long ball down.

PSG were down to ten just minutes later, though, as Zabarnyi once again conceded a penalty. This time, an apparent lack of communication between the Ukrainian and Pacho let Christian Kofane through on goal, with the Cameroonian brought down by Zabaryi in front of goal. This time, Chevalier was unable to parry the spot-kick from Aleix García.

PSG’s reaction to going down to ten, however, was sensational. Minutes later, Désiré Doué would finish off an incisive team move which carried the team from their own half to the Leverkusen box within seconds. Kvaratskhelia, who assisted Doué’s goal, doubled PSG’s lead soon after with a shot that bounced off both posts before floating over the line.

Just before the break, Doué would double his own tally with a curled effort from the left wing. An impressive half’s work for the 19-year-old, only just returing from injury no less, who was replaced by Lucas Hernandez at half-time.

The Parisian onslaught didn’t stop in the second half, though. Nuno Mendes would break through down the left wing five minutes after the restart, played through by Vitinha, and score his third goal of the campaign and beat Flekken at his near post. Leverkusen would pull one back through Aleix García soon after, with the Spaniard unleashing an impressive long-range shot into the top-right corner for his second of the game.

Just as PSG appeared to be letting up, Ousmane Dembélé came on to restore the four-goal lead. With Barcola setting him up for an open-goal finish, the Ballon d’Or winner celebrated both his return from injury and his centenary of PSG appearances fittingly.

Luis Enrique’s men did eventually take their foot off the gas for the final quarter of the match, though. Vitinha, the unsung midfield hero of the night until then, would power in a last-minute goal to emphasise the scoreline, securing PSG’s spot at the top of the continental league table (for tonight, at least).

PSG player ratings

Lucas Chevalier, 4

Achraf Hakimi, 5

Ilya Zabarnyi, 2 – A disastrous showing from the central defender, who conceded two penalties and saw himself sent off before half-time.

Willian Pacho, 4

Nuno Mendes, 7

Warren Zaïre-Emery, 6

Vitinha, 8

Désiré Doué, 8 – Another confident display, for his second match since returning from injury. While he was somewhat misfiring against Strasbourg, tonight the 19-year-old had greater clarity of purpose on the ball, and his double was crucial in changing the momentum of the match after Zabarnyi’s sending-off Replaced by Lucas Hernandez at half-time.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 7

Senny Mayulu, 5

Bradley Barcola, 5

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from Leverkusen