Champions League Matchday 3: Leverkusen vs Paris Saint-Germain facts

Bayer Leverkusen are looking for their first win in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League as they welcome holders Paris Saint-Germain, who have a maximum six points after two matches.

Last match

The sides' only fixtures came in the 2013/14 round of 16 when Paris won 4-0 in Germany – Zlatan Ibrahimović scoring twice – and 2-1 in France, Marquinhos getting their first goal.

Leverkusen have lost only one of their last seven games against French teams (W4 D2), drawing 1-1 at Brest on Matchday 3 last season. That made it five group stage/league phase matches unbeaten against Ligue 1 clubs (W3 D2).

Paris were 4-1 winners at Stuttgart on Matchday 8 last season, ending a run of four games without a victory against Bundesliga opponents (D1 L3). That was only their second success in their last nine games (D2 L5).

The win at Stuttgart was also Paris' first in six games in Germany (D2 L3).

Leverkusen

Leverkusen are featuring in the Champions League proper for the 15th time – although only the fourth in nine seasons.

In 2024/25 a team coached by Xabi Alonso finished sixth in the league phase (W5 D1 L2) only to lose an all-German last-16 tie to Bayern München (0-3 a, 0-2 h).

Paris 

This is Paris's 18th campaign in the Champions League proper. They have featured every season since 2012/13, reaching the knockout stages in all 13 of those most recent campaigns.

Fifteenth in last season's league phase (W4 D1 L3), Luis Enrique's side beat Brest (10-0 aggregate), Liverpool (1-1, 4-1 pens), Aston Villa (5-4) and Arsenal (3-1) to reach the showpiece in Munich, where their 5-0 win against Inter was the biggest final victory in European Cup history.

Key stats

Leverkusen have lost only two of their last 18 group stage/league phase matches in European competition (W11 D5), drawing both in 2025/26.

A 1-1 Matchday 2 draw against PSV Eindhoven made it one defeat in 17 home group stage/league phase games (W14 D2) and nine unbeaten (W7 D2).

A 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona last time out means Paris have won 12 of their last 14 Champions League matches (L2).

The French club have won their last five league phase games.

Fabián Ruiz has made 49 appearances in the Champions League proper.

Aged 19 years 227 days, Warren Zaïre-Emery could become the youngest player to make 30 Champions League appearances; Cesc Fàbregas (20 years 207 days) is the current record holder.

Senny Mayulu has three goals in his last four Champions League appearances.