PSG v Tottenham, Getty Images November 27, 2025, 12:11 AM

The great season of European football formally began with the confrontation for the UEFA Super Cup 2025 between French Paris Saint-Germain and London Tottenham in the Italian city of Udine, where, as a result of a series of post-match penalties, the champions of League 1 and the holders of the Champions League trophy won the first such big victory in their history. And so it was fate that already during the course of the main round of the new draw of the main club tournament of the Old World, they had to meet again within the framework of the fifth round, but already on the field of Luis Enrique’s team.

Meanwhile, Thomas Frank’s team decided to repeat the methodical instructions of the coach of that game, but only in terms of tactical positioning. Actually, the football from “Spurs” was much sharper and they seemed to try to compensate for the shortcomings of the recent North London Derby against Arsenal (1:4), where Tottenham had nothing at all going forward. And this time it worked. If not all, then at least a significant part of what was planned.

That’s why PSG did not have a very noticeable advantage on the ball in the opening minutes and in half an hour of playing time managed to create danger except in the form of long-range shots on the opponent’s goal. But Tottenham did bring their attacks to a kind of logical conclusion in the 35th minute, when Bergvall beautifully dropped the ball with his heel on the left flank of the penalty box under Gray’s pass, after which Kolo Muani at the far post transferred it into an empty net for Richarlison, who would have had a hard time not hitting the target.

It is clear that the audience at the Parc des Princes refused to accept such a development outright and pushed their own team forward. And she gladly answered them with a goal in the opponents’ goal shortly before the break. And what a beautiful long-range shot by Vitigny in the area before the penalty box into the right nine from a pass to Njantu from the left wing at the end of the corner kick.

We thought football was dynamic in the first half, but what can we say about the second half of the game, where “Spurs” also scored first? Moreover, Franck’s team again used this tactic of passing to the far post, but this time from Porro from a corner on the left flank, after which the ball through the head of Richarlison, the leg of Gray and the head of Pacho on the goal line finally found the final point in the form of a shot by Kolo Muani. Of course, he did not celebrate this blow, because the current contract is a delicate matter.

However, even in this case, PSG quickly found an answer to the opponent’s ball. Within three minutes, Vitinha received a pass from Hvichy on the right wing of the penalty area and dealt with a brilliant shot under the far post past two opponents. And not to be far behind, the Parisians scored for the second time six minutes later when Romero sent a pass to Hernandez’s feet near his own penalty area, which Neves and Fabian Ruiz took advantage of, and six minutes later a corner from the left wing from Lee Kang-in was missed by no one at close range, after which Pacho fired into the goal.

And it seems that the advantage of the “red and blue” at that moment was no longer a subject for discussion, but they still managed to add intrigue on an even ground, when in the 72nd minute, Vitinho fell asleep on the ball on the left flank of the defense and gave Bentancourt not only to rob himself, but also to immediately launch Kolo Muani into the penalty area, who also had two opponents in front of him, but he still found a way to score a double between them.

Double against double, it was necessary to determine individually the best player of the match. And, after all, it was Vitinho, because Romero gave him such an opportunity, blocking the Portuguese’s shot in the center of the penalty box in the 75th minute with his hand. The PSG midfielder himself earned the penalty, and he himself then converted it with a shot to the right corner. And this is already a hat-trick, so the hosts had the advantage in almost all parameters. Even by the number of red cards in the match, Lucas Hernandez in stoppage time found nothing better than a kick-off from Simmons in the fight in front of his own penalty area.

In the next round, France’s Paris Saint-Germain will play away to Basque Athletic, while London’s Tottenham will host Czech Slavia Prague.

Tottenham: Vicario — Porro, Gray (Palinha, 76), van de Ven, Romero, Spence (Udogui, 84) — Bentancourt, Bergvall (Qudus, 76), Sarr (Odobert, 84) — Richarlison, Colo Moani (Simons, 84).

Warning: Bergvall

In the 90th + 3rd minute, Lucas Hernandez (PSG) was sent off (gross foul).