The UEFA Champions League is heating up, and all eyes are on the BayArena for a mouthwatering clash between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on October 21, 2025. As Matchday 3 of the 2025-26 League Phase unfolds, these two European heavyweights will battle for crucial points. Leverkusen, sitting 25th in the standings after two draws, desperately need a win to ignite their campaign. Meanwhile, the defending champions PSG, unbeaten and third in the table with two victories, aim to extend their perfect start.
This fixture promises high-octane action, blending Leverkusen’s resilient home form with PSG’s attacking flair. In this comprehensive preview, we’ll dive into the head-to-head history, key tactical insights, predicted lineups, and our score prediction,
Head-to-Head: PSG’s Historical Edge Over Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen and PSG have locked horns just twice before, both in the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The French giants dominated on both occasions, showcasing their superiority in European knockouts.
| Date | Competition | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2014 | UCL Round of 16 (1st Leg) | Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG | 0-4 |
| Mar 12, 2014 | UCL Round of 16 (2nd Leg) | PSG vs Bayer Leverkusen | 2-1 |
PSG’s aggregate 6-1 triumph remains a sore memory for Leverkusen fans, with the Parisians netting six goals across the ties. Notably, PSG’s last clean sheet on German soil in the Champions League came in that 4-0 away win at BayArena. Fast-forward over a decade, and this third meeting could see Leverkusen seek revenge. However, PSG hold a 100% win record against the Werkself in UCL history, adding intrigue to Tuesday’s encounter.
Match Preview
Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Form
Under new manager Kasper Hjulmand, Leverkusen have been unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, including a thrilling 4-3 Bundesliga win over Mainz last weekend. In the Champions League, they’ve drawn 2-2 with FC Copenhagen and 1-1 against PSV Eindhoven, showing resilience but lacking killer instinct—failing to hold a second-half lead against the Dutch.
At home, Leverkusen are a fortress, winning all four League Phase games at BayArena last season without conceding. Expect Hjulmand’s side to deploy a high-pressing 3-4-2-1, focusing on quick transitions and exploiting the left flank—57% of their UCL chances this season originate from there. Defender Edmond Tapsoba leads all defenders with 34 line-breaking passes, underscoring their progressive style.
Injuries hit hard: Patrik Schick, Nathan Tella, Exequiel Palacios, Axel Tape-Kobrissa, Lucas Vázquez, and Malik Tillman are sidelined, thinning the attack and forcing reliance on counter-threats. Alejandro Grimaldo, fresh off a brace, will be pivotal for width and creativity.
PSG’s Form
Luis Enrique’s PSG are on fire in Europe, winning their last five Champions League matches and boasting a 66% success rate under the Spaniard—the highest among coaches with 50+ UCL games. They kicked off the 2025-26 campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of Atalanta and a dramatic 2-1 comeback at Barcelona, despite missing stars. Domestically, a 3-3 draw with Strasbourg ended a six-game Ligue 1 win streak, but their away form remains solid (three wins in four).
PSG’s 4-3-3 will emphasize possession (91% pass accuracy in recent games) and fluid attacks, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola stretching defenses. They’ve scored 14 goals in their last five UCL outings while keeping three clean sheets, but vulnerabilities on the break could be tested by Leverkusen’s pace.
Absences include Ousmane Dembélé, Marquinhos, Fabián Ruiz, and João Neves, but Gonçalo Ramos (four away goals in nine) steps up as the focal point. This could be PSG’s first three opening group wins since 2019 if they triumph.
Predicted Lineups
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (3-4-2-1)
- GK: Mark Flekken
- DEF: Robert Andrich, Loïc Badé, Edmond Tapsoba
- MID: Arthur (RWB), Aleix García, Ezequiel Fernández, Alejandro Grimaldo (LWB)
- FWD: Ernest Poku, Jonas Hofmann; Christian Kofane (ST)
This setup prioritizes defensive solidity with Tapsoba’s progressive passing, while Grimaldo and Poku add width.
PSG (4-3-3)
- GK: Lucas Chevalier
- DEF: Achraf Hakimi, Ilya Zabarnyi, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes
- MID: Warren Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Kang-in Lee
- FWD: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Gonçalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola
Enrique’s fluid front three, led by Ramos, will rotate to exploit spaces, with Zaïre-Emery anchoring midfield.
Score Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 PSG
PSG’s European pedigree and attacking depth give them the edge, but Leverkusen’s home resilience ensures a contest. We predict a narrow 1-2 away win for the Parisians, with both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals.
