The Champions League group stage delivered a stark contrast in fortunes for German football on Tuesday, exposing vulnerabilities within Bayer Leverkusen’s squad while highlighting Borussia Dortmund’s burgeoning resilience. Dortmund secured a convincing 4-2 victory over FC Copenhagen in Denmark, a result that masks underlying concerns about consistency that have plagued the club in recent seasons. While Felix Nmecha’s brace and goals from Ramy Bensebaini and Fábio Silva demonstrated attacking potency, the concession of two goals, including a late consolation, underscored defensive fragility.
The triumph moves Dortmund to fourth place in the group standings, but the performance serves as a reminder that qualification remains far from guaranteed and the squad’s ability to maintain this intensity will be crucial. Critics will point to the fact that Copenhagen, despite the loss, posed significant threats, suggesting Dortmund’s victory owed as much to Copenhagen’s errors as to Dortmund’s brilliance.
Conversely, Bayer Leverkusen’s performance against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain was nothing short of a debacle, culminating in a demoralizing 7-2 defeat. While the early equalizer by Aleix Garcia offered a fleeting glimmer of hope, PSG’s overwhelming dominance exposed serious shortcomings in Leverkusen’s defensive structure and tactical cohesion. The sheer pace and precision of PSG’s attacking trio proved insurmountable, prompting questions about the wisdom of Leverkusen’s recruitment strategy, particularly in bolstering their defensive capabilities. Désiré Doué’s brace and further scores from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha laid bare the gulf in quality between the two sides.
The loss marks Leverkusen’s third consecutive defeat, leaving them at the bottom of the group and prompting calls for a reassessment of the team’s approach both on and off the pitch. A club with Leverkusen’s ambition cannot afford such resounding defeats and the pressure now mounts on manager Xabi Alonso to address the fundamental issues holding the team back. The European stage, it seems, is proving a harsh teacher for the ambitious Bundesliga side.