PSG vs Tottenham 2-2 (PSG win 4-3 on penalties): UEFA Super Cup – Match Report (750 words).

Paris Saint-Germain claimed their first-ever UEFA Super Cup title in dramatic fashion, overcoming a spirited Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

The match, held at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy, offered a thrilling spectacle of tactical duels, individual brilliance, and a dramatic late comeback from the French champions.

First Half: Tottenham Take Control

Tottenham, competing in their first UEFA Super Cup after lifting the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League, began the match with discipline and intensity under manager Thomas Frank.

PSG, still regaining fitness after a brief preseason following their Champions League triumph, started slowly and looked disjointed in the opening stages.

The breakthrough came in the 39th minute, when Micky van de Ven smashed home from close range after PSG’s debutant goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier had parried João Palhinha’s initial shot onto the crossbar.

The Dutch defender reacted quickest in the box, hammering the ball into the net to put Spurs 1-0 ahead — a deserved lead based on first-half pressure and effective set-piece play.

Second Half: Romero Doubles the Lead

Tottenham picked up where they left off after the break.

Just three minutes into the second half, Cristian Romero rose above Milan Skriniar to head home from a perfectly delivered Pedro Porro free-kick, doubling Spurs’ lead and sending their traveling fans into raptures.

At that point, Spurs appeared in full control. Their defensive line held firm, and midfielders Bentancur and Sarr disrupted PSG’s rhythm effectively.

With Dembélé and Vitinha struggling to link up with Gonçalo Ramos, PSG were forced into tactical changes.

PSG’s Comeback: Lee and Ramos to the Rescue

With time running out, Luis Enrique made decisive substitutions that ultimately turned the game. Lee Kang-in came off the bench and made an immediate impact.

In the 85th minute, the South Korean international drove forward from midfield and unleashed a brilliant low strike into the bottom corner to make it 2-1, shifting momentum firmly toward the Parisians.

As Spurs began to tire and drop deeper, PSG pressed for the equalizer. Deep into stoppage time, in the 94th minute, it arrived.

Ousmane Dembélé, lively throughout the final stages, whipped in a pinpoint cross from the right, and Gonçalo Ramos rose highest to nod home the dramatic equalizer.

The goal sparked wild celebrations on the PSG bench and stunned Tottenham, who had been just moments away from their first major European Super Cup title.

Penalty Shootout: PSG Hold Their Nerve

With the match tied 2-2 after 90 minutes, the contest went straight to penalties. The shootout was a tense affair:

• Vitinha missed PSG’s first spot-kick, dragging it wide.

• Dominic Solanke and Rodrigo Bentancur scored for Spurs, giving them an early advantage.

• PSG responded with goals from Ramos, Dembélé, and Lee Kang-in.

• Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven had his penalty saved by Chevalier, shifting the momentum.

• PSG’s Mathys Tel missed, hitting the side netting.

• Pedro Porro made it 3-3 with a composed finish for Spurs.

The decisive moment came when Nuno Mendes stepped up to take PSG’s final kick.

The left-back slotted the ball past Guglielmo Vicario to seal a 4-3 penalty shootout victory and deliver PSG their first UEFA Super Cup crown.

Key Performers and Tactical Analysis

• Lucas Chevalier, making his PSG debut, was a surprise inclusion over Donnarumma but turned hero with a crucial save in the shootout.

• Lee Kang-in was instrumental in PSG’s comeback, scoring one goal and converting his penalty with confidence.

• Ousmane Dembélé, named UEFA Man of the Match, was a constant threat down the right wing and delivered the assist for the equalizing goal.

• For Tottenham, Cristian Romero was immense in both boxes, scoring and organizing his defense until PSG’s late push.

Thomas Frank’s game plan worked for 85 minutes — compact shape, clinical set pieces, and vertical transitions — but PSG’s superior depth and belief in high-pressure moments proved decisive.

Historic Moment for PSG

This win marks PSG’s first UEFA Super Cup triumph, making them the first French club to lift the trophy.

It also caps an extraordinary year for the Parisian giants, who added the Super Cup to their Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions, and UEFA Champions League titles in 2025.

Luis Enrique, who has now won major European trophies with both Barcelona and PSG, praised his team’s resilience. “We never gave up.

The mentality in this group is what makes them champions,” he said post-match.

Spurs Leave with Heads High

While the loss will sting for Tottenham, their performance showed promise under new leadership.

Micky van de Ven and Romero were outstanding, and the midfield pressed intelligently for much of the match.

Thomas Frank, in his first major final with the club, will take confidence from pushing Europe’s top side to the limit.

In a game that had everything — goals, drama, comebacks, and a nerve-wracking shootout — PSG once again proved their mettle on the European stage.

Tottenham may have lost, but they earned respect.

And football fans around the world were treated to a Super Cup worthy of its name.