Chijioke Gabriel
Paris Saint-Germain staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in UEFA Super Cup history, overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4–3 on penalties after a thrilling 2–2 draw in regulation time at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy. The win handed PSG their first-ever UEFA Super Cup title, making them the first French club to lift the trophy since its inception.
Tottenham, making their debut appearance in the competition, started with authority. Micky van de Ven broke the deadlock just before half-time, punishing PSG’s slack defending to give Spurs a deserved lead. The momentum carried into the second half when Cristian Romero rose highest to head home a second, seemingly putting the game beyond reach. At that point, Spurs were in complete control, pressing high and forcing PSG into errors.
With time running out, PSG manager Luis Enrique made bold attacking substitutions, introducing Fabián Ruiz and Kang-in Lee. The changes shifted the tempo, with PSG pushing Spurs deeper into their half. In the 85th minute, Lee Kang-in halved the deficit with a precise finish after sustained pressure. Then, deep into stoppage time, substitute Gonçalo Ramos delivered the killer blow to Tottenham’s hopes, tapping in an equaliser that sent the game to a penalty shootout.
The shootout began nervously for both sides. PSG’s Vitinha and Mathys Tel missed their spot-kicks, while Spurs’ Van de Ven faltered at a crucial moment. PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, whose starting role ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma had been questioned, redeemed himself with a key save that swung momentum back to the French champions. With the scores tied in sudden death, Nuno Mendes stepped up and rifled his penalty into the top corner, sealing a 4–3 victory and sparking jubilant celebrations among the PSG players and fans.
The victory marks PSG’s first Super Cup triumph, a milestone in the club’s modern era of dominance in French football. It also ended a long wait for France to be represented among the competition’s winners. For the Spurs, the defeat will sting. They were minutes away from their first European trophy since 1984, only to see it slip away in dramatic fashion. Despite the heartbreak, their spirited performance under new manager Thomas Frank offers encouragement ahead of the new season.
From despair to delight, PSG’s victory in Udine will be remembered not just for the silverware, but for the resilience and belief that carried them from the brink of defeat to European glory.