UEFA EUROPEAN SUPER CUP FINAL
WEDNESDAY 13TH AUGUST, 2025
(8PM BST at the Stadio Frulli, Udine, Italy)
PARIS-SAINT-GERMAIN 2(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(1)
(PSG win 4-3 on penalties)
PSG scorers:-
Lee, 85
Goncalo Ramos, 90+4
Spurs scorers:-
Van de Ven, 39
Romero, 48
Attendance:- 21,025
Referee:- Joao Pinheiro POR
Assistants:- Bruno Jesus & Luciano Maia POR
Fourth official:- Elchin Masiyev AZE
VAR:- Tiago Martins POR
Teams:-
PSG (4-3-3) :- 30. Chevalier; 2. Hakimi, 5. Marquinhos (Capt.), 51. Pacho, 25. Nuno Mendes; 33. Zaire-Emery (sub 19. Lee, 68), 17. Vitinha, 14. D. Doue (sub 9. Goncalo Ramos, 77); 29. Barcola (sub 49. Mbaye, 77), 10. Dembele, 7. Kvaratskhelia (sub 8. Fabian Ruiz, 60)
Subs not used:- 39. Safonov, 89. Marin; 4. Lucas Beraldo, 21. L. Hernandez, 43. Kamara
Booked:- Barcola (dissent), Paco (foul on Sarr), Dembele (dissent)
Spurs (3-5-2):- 1. Vicario; 17. Romero (Capt.), 4. Danso, 37. Van de Ven; 23. Pedro Porro, 30. Bentancur, 29. Sarr (sub 15. Bergvall, 90), 6. Palhinha (sub 14. Gray, 72), 24. Spence; 20. Kudus (sub 11. Tel, 79), 9. Richarlison (sub 19. Solanke, 72)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 33. Davies, 67. Byfield, 80. Vuskovic; 22. Johnson, 28. Odobert
Booked:- Richarlison (kicked ball away), Danso (kicked ball away)
Refreshing Spurs suffer penalties defeat
PSG v Spurs, 13.08.25
Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture
New Spurs coach Thomas Frank so nearly won a European trophy in his first competitive game in charge. His team selection had everyone, no doubt including PSG manager Luis Enriques wondering how Spurs would set up. It turned out to be a 3-5-2 (five at the back when defending), but those wing-backs were scooting up and down the line until Spurs began to run out of steam midway through the second half.
Every Spurs player excelled, except Vicario who had so little to do in the first half because PSG couldn't muster a shot on target. Spurs took a first half lead, doubled the score in the 48th minute, but just failed to hold on as PSG's fresh legs led to two late goals. Not for the first time, Spurs lost the lottery of the penalty shoot-out.
I am greatly encouraged by Spurs' performance. There was little play-out football. Vicario kicked long more often. Richarlison led the line and he and Kudus often managed to field such kicks. Kevin Danso was revealed as a long throw merchant. Spurs attacked at throw-ins and free kicks in the opposition half. How refreshing! Playing in his home town Vicario took some of those free kicks in the PSG half.
Frank was of course missing playmakers Maddison and Kulusevski. Udogie made the trip but was not in the squad. Long term injury sufferer Radu Dragusin was also in the travelling party. Frank had made the bold decision to leave Bissouma at home for disciplinary reasons.
Cuti Romero was named as our new club captain earlier in the day and led the side by example, defending with authority and adding our second goal too! Micky van de Ven had scored our first half goal.
Both captains led their sides out carrying their respective trophies which had led them to this meeting. Both clubs were well represented by their fans, and the Spurs contingent did us proud.
Spurs kicked off and within the first minute, Pedro Porro took advantage of a defensive lapse and had a pop at goal. His shot passed just over new PSG goalkeeper Chevalier's bar. The decision by Luis Enrique to leave Donnarumma out of his squad had caused a stir. We will quite possibly see him in the Premier League this season.
Spurs had opened with some good attacking play, but PSG soon threatened with slick passing in and around the left side of the area before Kvaratskhelia pulled his shot wide.
Kudus crossed for Richarlison who fielded the pass but was then thwarted. After a foul on Sarr and a free kick by Kudus, Van de Ven headed over. Van de Ven moved forward with Spence, and they got the ball back to Sarr, whose cross passed goal beyond the far post.
After an exchange between Richarlison and Kudus, Richie hit a right foot who which took a deflection and was pushed over goal by Chevalier. Bentancur headed over from Kudus's corner kick.
After a drinks interval, PSG attacked down the left side. Barcola won a corner, but former Wolves loan player Vitinha over hit that cross. PSG had only returned to training last week and were perhaps lacking touch and fitness.
Pedro Porro led another good Spurs move, passing to Kudus who fed Spence. Djed was tackled in the box, but there was no foul. Vicario had a touch when he held a cross by Doue. Dembele had a chance after across from the right by Kvaratskhelia, but he snatched at the shot.
Spurs took the lead after Kudus had been fouled by Mendes. Vicario took the free kick from 40 yards out and swung it into the box. Van de Ven won an initial header; Palinha's (deflected by the keeper) shot rebounded off the post and Micky swept up for his first goal since May last year at home to Burnley!
Barcola beat Pedro Porro and won a corner. This time Vitinha's effort reached Doue, whose shot was deflected wide. Spurs hit the woodwork again just before the break. Richarlison fed Danso's long throw to Kudus, whose shot hit the post. Kudus may have been offside.
Richarlison had an early second half chance after poor defensive play, but his right-footed shot was blocked. Spurs had a free kick after a midfield foul on Van de Ven. Pedro took the kick and captain Romero rose at the back post to head home back across the keeper, who dived and got a touch, but failed to prevent the goal. Spurs had a two-goal lead which was beyond our wildest dreams!
Romero soon had some stout defending to do against Kvaratskhelia. I thought we had scored again, when Danso rose to another Spurs free kick but headed powerfully into the side netting. Pedro Porro went down in the box after Sarr's pass, but there was no foul given. After a foul on Sarr (for which Paco was booked), Porro's free kick was deflected wide off the wall. Another Danso throw led to Spurs pressure, but Kudus was called for a foul.
At last, Vicario was called into meaningful action when he dived to his right to save Doue's left-footed effort. Barcola had the ball in the net but had clearly been offside.
Enrique's reinforcements included South Korean Lee Kang-in and 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye. Now Spurs began to lose steam and they were put under some pressure by the Champions League winners. Dembele fired wide after a cross by Fabian Ruiz, who had surely been offside.
More substitutions followed. Spurs were not managing to get out of their half. After being fouled by Tel, Lee's free kick was blocked by Pedro Porro. PSG had a corner on the left which Romero cleared with a header, but to the feet of Lee who beat Vicario with a powerful left-footed shot.
Could Spurs hold onto their slender lead. The answer was "No." In the fourth minute of added time, heartbreak came when Dembele crossed from the right and Goncalo Ramos headed into the net.
Danso defended well when Dembele threatened again, and we had a penalty shoot-out. The penalties were in front of the Spurs fans and Spurs had the first kick. Vitinha made a hash of his kick and Spurs had a 2-1 lead after Solanke and Bentancur scored. Sadly, Van de Ven and Tel both failed and we were edged out 4-3 in the shoot-out.
In the seventies the progressive rock band "Yes" sang "Yours is no disgrace." This defeat is certainly no disgrace to Spurs, who under Frank, certainly look progressive. I am eagerly awaiting Saturday's home game against Burnley!
. Read the preview for this game.