Highlight of PSG vs Tottenham Hotspur

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PSG vs Tottenham: A Thrilling UEFA Super Cup Clash in 2025

On August 13, 2025, the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, became the stage for one of the most dramatic UEFA Super Cup finals in recent memory. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the reigning Champions League winners, faced Tottenham Hotspur, the Europa League champions, in a contest that blended tactical intrigue, emotional swings, and moments of individual brilliance. In front of a capacity crowd, the two sides played out a gripping 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, before PSG held their nerve to win 4-3 in the penalty shootout — lifting their first-ever UEFA Super Cup trophy.

First Half: Tottenham’s Set-Piece Prowess

Tottenham, under the guidance of newly appointed manager Thomas Frank, entered the contest looking sharper and more cohesive. Their advantage lay in preparation — they had enjoyed a full pre-season — while PSG were just shaking off the rust after their intense Club World Cup campaign in July. Frank’s high-pressing blueprint disrupted PSG’s usual passing fluency, forcing mistakes and keeping the French side pinned in their own half for stretches of the opening period.

PSG’s attacking trio of Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Bradley Barcola showed brief flashes of threat, particularly on the counter, but Tottenham’s defense, marshaled by new captain Cristian Romero, absorbed the pressure with confidence.

The breakthrough arrived in the 39th minute. A well-rehearsed set-piece saw João Palhinha unleash a shot from the edge of the box, forcing debutant PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier into a fingertip save that pushed the ball onto the crossbar. Micky van de Ven reacted quickest, poking home from close range to make it 1-0. The goal encapsulated Tottenham’s deadly efficiency from dead-ball situations — a weapon that had served them well in their Europa League triumph last season under Ange Postecoglou.

PSG, for all their technical flair, ended the half without a single shot on target — a statistic that underlined Tottenham’s tactical discipline.

Second Half: Spurs Extend, PSG Respond

Tottenham started the second half with the same intensity, and just three minutes after the restart, they doubled their lead. Another corner proved PSG’s undoing, as Romero timed his leap perfectly to power a header past Chevalier. At 2-0, Spurs looked poised to claim their first-ever Super Cup crown, while PSG’s body language suggested fatigue and frustration.

The Parisians did find the net in the 66th minute when Barcola slid the ball home, but the flag went up for a narrow offside. It felt like a turning point — and not in PSG’s favor.

Sensing the game slipping away, Luis Enrique turned to his bench. The introduction of Lee Kang-in, Gonçalo Ramos, and Ibrahim Mbaye injected urgency into PSG’s attack. Lee’s intelligent movement began to trouble Tottenham’s midfield, and the Korean international would become the spark that PSG desperately needed.

In the 85th minute, Lee collected a pass just outside the penalty area, took one touch to steady himself, and drilled a low, precise shot into the bottom corner. The goal halved the deficit and reignited PSG’s belief.

Tottenham, suddenly under siege, retreated deeper. The pressure told in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Dembélé, having endured a frustrating evening, produced a moment of quality — curling a pinpoint cross onto the head of Ramos, who buried the chance from close range. The PSG bench exploded with joy, and the late equalizer pushed the match into a penalty shootout.

Penalty Shootout: PSG’s Nerve Prevails

The shootout began with drama. PSG’s Vitinha struck the post with their first effort, giving Tottenham an early advantage. Yet Chevalier, who had endured criticism for the earlier goals, redeemed himself by saving Van de Ven’s penalty. From that moment, the momentum swung back to PSG.

Dembélé and Lee converted confidently, while Brennan Johnson and Pape Sarr did the same for Spurs. With the score level, Tottenham’s Mathys Tel stepped up but failed to find the net. That miss opened the door for PSG’s Nuno Mendes, who coolly dispatched his penalty to seal a 4-3 shootout win.

For PSG, it was not only their maiden Super Cup victory but also their fifth trophy of an already glittering 2025 — adding to their Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and Champions League titles.

Key Talking Points

The night carried several subplots. Luis Enrique’s bold decision to drop Gianluigi Donnarumma, amid a contract standoff and growing rumors of a transfer to Manchester City, placed a spotlight on Chevalier. While shaky early on, the young goalkeeper’s penalty heroics validated Enrique’s gamble.

For Tottenham, it was a bitter introduction to life under Thomas Frank. The inability to see out a two-goal lead echoed the late collapses that plagued their Premier League campaign last season, where they finished a disappointing 17th. Absences also told a story — James Maddison’s ACL injury, Yves Bissouma’s suspension, and the summer departure of Son Heung-min to LAFC stripped Spurs of both creativity and leadership. Nevertheless, strong debuts from Mohammed Kudus and Palhinha hinted at brighter days ahead.

PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery hailed the team’s “never give up” mentality, praising the resilience shown despite limited preparation. Captain Marquinhos singled out Lee Kang-in’s impact and the squad’s adaptability under pressure. For Spurs, the frustration was evident, but Frank emphasized the positives, noting that competing toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite in his very first game was a sign of progress.

Conclusion

The 2025 UEFA Super Cup will be remembered as a contest that had everything: tactical battles, emotional swings, and a dramatic finale. Tottenham showed courage and discipline for much of the match, but PSG’s quality and mental strength in the closing stages proved decisive. As both sides now turn their attention to the new season — PSG defending their domestic dominance, Spurs aiming for a resurgence in England — the lessons from Udine may shape their campaigns in ways that go