PSG Tops Champions League Standings

LEVERKUSEN, WEDNESDAY — Defending champion Paris St Germain successfully topped the temporary standings of the Champions League after demolishing Bayer Leverkusen with a score of 7-2 at BayArena, Leverkusen, Wednesday (22/10/2025) early morning WIB. The match between the two teams was marked by "chaos" with the issuance of two red cards and two penalties.

PSG scored four goals in just seven minutes during the first half, before adding three more goals in the second half. Both teams had to play with 10 players for nearly an hour.

Forward Desire Doue scored two goals for PSG, which successfully topped the standings of the Champions League group stage after three matches with a maximum of nine points. The second position is occupied by Serie A club Inter Milan, which defeated Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise with a score of 4-0.

Premier League club Arsenal is in third place after a 4-0 victory over La Liga club Atletico Madrid. Inter and Arsenal are only separated by goal difference from PSG.

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele contributed a goal in his first match after a long absence due to injury. This result marks PSG's sixth consecutive victory in the Champions League, including last season, equaling their previous record of six consecutive wins.

The victory also allowed PSG to break Leverkusen's record of nine unbeaten matches against European opponents. "The feeling is very positive because we played very well. We had clear chances and we deserved to win," said PSG Coach Luis Enrique.

The superiority of PSG began with a header from William Pacho in the seventh minute. What transpired after that goal was chaos as both teams had to play with 10 players, and Leverkusen was awarded two penalties. Leverkusen's captain, Robert Andrich, received a red card following a video review (VAR) for elbowing Doue in the 33rd minute.

However, PSG then had to play with 10 players after center-back Illia Zabarnyi fouled Christian Kofane. This was a poor match for Zabarnyi, which also resulted in PSG receiving their first penalty.

"It is somewhat strange because with the removal of a player, the match becomes different with ten players against ten players. It is difficult to play away. There are many things you cannot control, but we have done our homework, as usual. We are proud of this team," said Enrique.

The red card received by Andrich was a significant blow to the home team, while PSG benefited from their squad depth, even though Zabarnyi also had to leave the field.

Although they managed to equalize through a penalty by Aleix Garcia in the 38th minute, Leverkusen's defense became very vulnerable after Andrich was sent off.

Doue restored PSG's lead just three minutes later, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia extended the advantage to 3-1 in the 44th minute. Doue scored his second goal in stoppage time of the first half.

Nuno Mendes scored the fifth goal for PSG five minutes into the second half. Leverkusen reduced the deficit through Aleix Garcia four minutes later, but Dembele dashed the hosts' hopes of a comeback with his goal in the 66th minute. Vitinha concluded PSG's goal fest by finding the back of the net against the hosts in the 90th minute.

"We are feeling pain right now. The defeat is significant and professionally, we are impacted. This feeling is unpleasant," said Leverkusen Coach Kasper Hjulmand. The loss places Leverkusen in 27th position out of 36 teams competing in the league phase. (AP/REUTERS)