Udine, Italy – European champions Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their new season with a dramatic victory on Wednesday, securing the UEFA Super Cup after a thrilling 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, followed by a 4-3 triumph in a penalty shootout. The match, held at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, saw Luis Enrique’s side demonstrate remarkable resilience to snatch silverware in their first competitive outing of the campaign.
Match Analysis: Spurs’ Dominance Crumbles Under PSG’s Late Surge
For much of the contest, Tottenham, in their first competitive match under new coach Thomas Frank, appeared to be in control and destined for glory. They established a commanding 2-0 lead just after halftime, showcasing a promising start to their season. Defender Micky van de Ven put last season’s Europa League winners ahead in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a sharp reaction to find the net. Moments later, three minutes into the second half, newly appointed Spurs captain Cristian Romero doubled their advantage, seemingly putting the trophy out of PSG’s reach.
However, the tide dramatically turned in the final stages, largely due to Luis Enrique’s impactful substitutions and PSG’s sheer refusal to yield. The introduction of fresh legs proved pivotal. Lee Kang-in sparked the comeback in the 85th minute, pulling a goal back with a well-taken strike that injected belief into the Parisian ranks. This late goal set the stage for a truly dramatic equalizer. Four minutes into injury time, fellow substitute Goncalo Ramos rose highest to powerfully head home the equalizer, completing an incredible recovery and forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
The Penalty Shootout: Chevalier’s Heroics Seal the Deal
The penalty shootout began on a sour note for PSG, with Vitinha striking their first kick wide. This handed Tottenham an early advantage and seemingly put them back on course for the trophy.
However, the narrative quickly flipped. New Paris goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, making a crucial intervention in his debut, pulled off a vital save from Van de Ven’s spot-kick. The pressure then mounted on Tottenham, leading to Mathys Tel missing the target entirely with his attempt. These two misses from Spurs proved decisive. Despite Dominic Solanke, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pedro Porro all converting their penalties for Tottenham, Ramos, Ousmane Dembele, and Lee successfully converted for PSG. This set the stage for Nuno Mendes, who stepped up confidently to convert the winning penalty, clinching the Super Cup for Paris Saint-Germain.
This victory marks a historic moment for PSG, being the first time the club, or any French club, has lifted the Super Cup. It adds a fifth trophy to their impressive haul for 2025 and provides a perfect start to Luis Enrique’s team’s new campaign, despite a shortened off-season following their FIFA Club World Cup final loss to Chelsea just a month prior.
PSG will now carry this momentum into their new Ligue 1 campaign, kicking off on Sunday away to Nantes, while Tottenham will shift their focus to the Premier League season opener against Burnley at home on Saturday.
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