Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 (4-3 on pens.) Tottenham Hotspur
The UEFA Super Cup is a trophy worth winning.
To have the title ‘unofficial kings of Europe’ is, in this SBOTOP observer’s mind, worth plenty of bragging rights.
So never mind that, in some eyes, this was a battle between the champions of France and Europe and the 17th best team in England last term.
This was still an occasion in Udinese between the two winners of last season’s big European titles with plenty of potential for UEFA Super Cup 2025 highlights.
Highlights of the game
Champions League winners PSG were massive favourites with the UEFA Super Cup betting odds as they took on Europa League champions Tottenham.
Yet in many ways that meant all the pressure was on the Parisiens.
Furthermore, this was the first game for almost a month for Luis Enrique and his men who wanted to banish the Club World Cup final from their minds.
Had they won that summer tournament, it would have capped off an incredible season, as they had already secured the domestic treble in France and then clinched their first-ever Champions League crown in May.
That they had have a delayed pre-season since, all the while Spurs had been in action, meant that perhaps the North Londoners would be more match fit.
For PSG, new arrival Lucas Chevalier took over the number one spot in goals from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
I am not the only one shocked that the Italian international, probably as good a goalkeeper as any in the world right now, is widely expected to depart Paris for a new challenge after being unable to agree on fresh terms before his current deal expires in under a year.
Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were available again after serving a suspension in the Club World Cup final and the former was handed a place in the starting XI with the latter on the bench.
There was no Joao Neves, though, who picked up a late red card in the Club World Cup showpiece so this was the first of a two game ban for him.
If that appears mild disruption, it’s been quite the opposite for Spurs and new boss Thomas Frank for whom a Super Cup debut could be considered a baptism of fire.
Since May, Europa League-winning coach Ange Postecoglou had been replaced by the Danish tactician, club legend Heung-Min Son had said a fond farewell attacking midfielder James Maddison had been ruled out for several months with an ACL injury, while Dejan Kulusevski was still missing.
Dominic Solanke was not risked from the start due to a niggle, while Yves Bissouma was left back home because of persistent lateness.
On a more positive note, Frank was able to call upon new midfield signing Joao Palhinha, who started alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr, while Ghanaian international Mohammed Kudus, recruited from West Ham, was also included from the start and both fared well until their fairly late exits.
While PSG had been in action Stateside, it had been a summer of mixed results for Tottenham, who experienced the highs of beating Arsenal, the lows of a 4-0 defeat at Bayern Munich, and the anonymity of a goalless draw at Luton Town in their pre-season outings.
Unlike those, this result did matter and Frank saw his new charges, led by his new captain (now Son has departed) in the shape of Argentine defender Cristian Romero, gained kudos six minutes before the break.
That was when centre-back Micky van de Ven, one of their heroes in the Europa League Final last term, reacted fastest after Palhinha’s effort was tipped onto the bar by Chevalier.
Two minutes into the second half and Spurs were in dreamland when another set-piece, something Frank excelled with at Brentford, fell to Romero whose header eluded the unconvincing Chevalier.
At that point, Spurs were on course to become the first Europa League winners to win the Super Cup since Atletico Madrid in 2018.
However, PSG, even when below par, were a different team once substitute Lee Kang-in provided them with a lifeline five minutes before the end with a fine finish from the edge of the box.
From then on in, Spurs were pinned back and, in the fourth of six additional minutes, another sub, Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos, headed home an equaliser.
But for a superb interception from Kevin Danso, PSG would have completed an impressive comeback in normal time.
In the end, they triumphed 4-3 in the resulting penalty shoot-out.
PSG have the Super Cup; Spurs have promise and plenty of positives but, after an encouraging showing for 85 minutes, it could have been so much more.
Key statistics
This was PSG’s first and only pre-season match.
PSG have scored 12 goals and conceded six times in the last six games.
Spurs have scored six goals while conceding nine across their last six pre-season matches.
This was the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides.
What’s next?
It’s now time for the respective league seasons to start for these two clubs.
PSG begin their defence of Ligue 1 on Sunday night (August 17) in Nantes.
Spurs start life in the Premier League under Frank at home to newly promoted Burnley the day before.
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