PSG’s 7-2 Masterclass: Enrique’s Paris Rise Lights Up the Champions League
22 October 2025
Match Recap
The Spaniard Louis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain's head coach, displayed humility after a 7-2 rout of Bayer Leverkusen away on Tuesday night, in the third Group Stage game of the Champions League.
Enrique, highlighted by Le Parisien, said: away games stay difficult; Leverkusen are strong, but we earned a deserved win. He stressed consistency and effort throughout the match tonight.
When asked about Portuguese Vitinha's display, the Spanish coach replied: 'There's no time to single out one player, but he is sensational, he controls the game and the ball at moments, and dictates we must do. A player; many criticized me when I used him as a midfielder, yet he can excel anywhere because of his quality'.
Yet we must begin with our playing style, how we approach every match, and how we always push forward as if we were playing at home in the Parc des Princes. We must keep this approach, as it captivates our fans, and we are happy to have secured three consecutive wins in the Champions League; we must sustain this rhythm in this tough group.
When asked about pursuing back-to-back Champions League glory, Enrique said: 'It's hard to find a team that wants to win it all, but we achieved that last season and aim to repeat. The task will be tough, but we have the confidence gained, and our ambition is real, though four or five teams share the same level'.
Winning the Champions League for the first time would be a positive milestone, Enrique added, because before this victory you never knew your true potential; now all Paris Saint-Germain players, including the club's youngsters, know they can lift every trophy here.
Enrique also added that the first title is the hardest, and we are happy because we constantly strive to improve the team's mindset; it's wonderful to see a fun, entertaining side, and we are proud of that.
Regarding the Ukrainian defender Ilya Zabarnyi's sending off in the first half, Enrique said: 'There are always difficult moments in every match, but we have shown in the past two seasons our ability to overcome any setback; focusing on our style and approach makes the task easier'.
He added: 'The opening phase of last season's Champions League was extremely tough for us, but the story ended wonderfully; this season we perform with greater confidence, knowing our level, and believing we can beat any side'.
He concluded: 'But the start to this season was odd; yet we have passed it, won the first three European matches, and we deserve to be here. We must carry on; we are happy and proud of this team'.
PSG's results in 2025-2026 include five wins and a single loss to Marseille, in the French derby, coinciding with the Ballon d'Or ceremony delayed a day due to weather, followed by two draws in eight Ligue 1 rounds.
PSG beat Nantes and Angers 1-0 in the first two rounds; then Toulouse 6-3; Lille 2-0; Auxerre 2-0. Before the international break, Paris were held to 1-1 at Lille and 3-3 at Parc des Princes, dropping the Ligue 1 lead after eight games.
In Europe, PSG began the season by winning the Super Cup against Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw, then posted three straight Champions League wins over Atalanta, Barcelona and Leverkusen.
It is noted that Luis Enrique took charge of PSG in the summer of 2023, months after being dismissed as Spain's coach following the World Cup 2022 last-16 exit to Morocco on penalties.
Since arriving at the Parc des Princes, Enrique has led the Parisian giant to eight titles, including the domestic treble—league title, the French Cup, and the French Super Cup—over the last two seasons, in addition to the Champions League and the European Super Cup for the first time in the club's history, plus a silver at the Club World Cup in the United States that summer.
