Bayer Leverkusen continue their search for their first win in the 2025/26 Champions League by hosting reigning champions PSG.

Despite a difficult start to the season, during Erik Ten Hag's short reign, Leverkusen have lost just one game in all competitions.

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Leverkusen are in good form in the Bundesliga. Photo: Imago

This sole defeat came in the opening match of the season with Ten Hag, against Hoffenheim.

Now, with Kasper Hjulmand on the bench, Leverkusen show more consistency and better form – including the mental factor.

Leverkusen have just gone through a series of 3 consecutive wins in the Bundesliga. Last weekend, Bayer players had a super dramatic chase to win 4-3 away to Mainz.

Coach Hjulmand's team will hope to carry their solid domestic form into Europe, where they drew their first two Champions League group stage games against Copenhagen and PSV.

Not an easy task for Leverkusen, as their opponent is the powerful PSG under Luis Enrique.

PSG have not had the start to the season that Luis Enrique would have liked. They were held to a 3-3 draw by Strasbourg in Ligue 1 last weekend, and are currently second behind Marseille with five wins from eight games.

On the contrary, in the Champions League, PSG has a perfect record: beating Atalanta with a score of 4-0, defeating Barca 2-1 right on the away field.

PSG went to Germany with good news: Ousmane Dembele – the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner – has recovered from the injury he suffered in September, and is likely to start.

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PSG won all Champions League. Photo: EFE

“ We are very happy to have Dembélé back , as well as Marquinhos, and last week Doué ,” said Luis Enrique.

The Spanish tactician tried to play down the influence of individuals on the team: “ Their return is always important for the team. That doesn't change anything . ”

Dembele can spearhead PSG. “ The most important thing is the confidence of the players, who have shown their quality ,” Enrique argued .

“Against Leverkusen , I don’t know if it’s a crucial game, but it’s very important for both teams. Because in the group , the goal is to get as many points as possible. We’ll play as always.”

Force:

Leverkusen: Palacios , Tape, Tella, Tillman injured.

PSG: Fabi a n Ruiz, Jo a o Neves injured.

Expected lineup:

Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Andrich, Bade, Tapsoba; Vazquez, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Poku, Echeverri; Kofane.

PSG (4-3-3): Chevalier; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Za i re-Emery, Vitinha, Lee Kang In ; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele , Barcola .

Match odds: PSG handicap 3/4

Goal rate: 3

Prediction: PSG win 3-1 .

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nhan-dinh-bong-da-leverkusen-vs-psg-vong-bang-cup-c1-2454759.html