Bayer Leverkusen 2-7 Paris Saint-Germain: Doue claims brace as reigning champions earn emphatic win

Paris Saint-Germain produced a scintillating display as they thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 at the BayArena in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The defending champions made a flying start, taking the lead inside seven minutes when Nuno Mendes' pinpoint cross was met by Willian Pacho's towering header.

Leverkusen had a golden chance to draw level midway through the first half after a handball by Illia Zabarnyi, but Alejandro Grimaldo's penalty crashed against the post.

Moments later, Robert Andrich's game took a turn for the worse as he was sent off for elbowing Desire Doue, leaving the hosts down to 10 men.

Yet parity in numbers was quickly restored when Zabarnyi was also dismissed, receiving a second booking for pulling down Christian Kofane in the area. Aleix Garcia converted the resulting penalty to make it 1-1.

Despite losing their man advantage, PSG responded with ruthless efficiency. Doue struck twice on either side of a thumping finish from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, to give Luis Enrique's side a commanding 4-1 lead at half-time.

The onslaught continued after the break, with Mendes turning scorer this time, calmly slotting past Mark Flekken to add a fifth.

Leverkusen briefly reduced the deficit through a stunning long-range strike from Garcia, but it proved nothing more than consolation. Substitute Ousmane Dembele restored PSG's four-goal cushion before Vitinha capped off the rout with a low-driven effort into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.

Data Debrief: Clinical PSG continue unbeaten start

Luis Enrique's side were unrelenting in front of goal, having registered an expected goals (xG) of 2.81; the French champions exceeded that by 4.19 goals, with the visitors scoring seven of their eight shots on target. 

Four PSG players registered two goal contributions each, with Kvaratskhelia, Mendes, and Vitinha scoring and assisting, and Doue claiming a brace. 

Both Kvaratskhelia and Mendes have been in fine form in the Champions League, each contributing to goals in their last three appearances — Kvaratskhelia with three goals and an assist, and Mendes with two goals and two assists.

PSG netted seven goals in a European away fixture for the first time in their history, while it was also the first occasion Leverkusen have conceded seven at home in continental competition.