Paris Saint-Germain pulled off a stunning fightback to defeat Tottenham 4-3 on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup, recovering from a two-goal gap with strikes in the final minutes before prevailing in the shootout. The victory handed the French champions their fifth trophy of 2025.
Trailing 2-0 with five minutes of regulation time remaining, PSG found a lifeline when substitute Lee Kang-in drove a low shot into the net in the 85th minute. Deep into stoppage time, fellow substitute Goncalo Ramos met Ousmane Dembele’s pinpoint cross with a precise header to level the score at 2-2 and force penalties.
In the shootout, PSG recovered from an early miss by Vitinha to convert their next four attempts, with Nuno Mendes calmly striking the decisive kick. Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven and Mathys Tel failed to score from the spot, sealing the victory for Luis Enrique’s side.
“I am proud. We haven’t [had] much preparation, but you could see that football is not only about the physical aspect – it is also about the mental aspect, being in the right place, having the right tactics,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “They sat back a lot after going 2-0 up, and it is dangerous to invite PSG to come at you like that.”
The Super Cup, played between the Champions League winners (PSG) and Europa League holders (Tottenham), had seemed to be going Tottenham’s way after the Premier League side took a strong lead. Van de Ven opened the scoring in the 39th minute, reacting quickly to turn in a rebound after Joao Palhinha’s shot had been tipped onto the crossbar by PSG’s new goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier.
Chevalier, starting ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma following the latter’s announcement of his departure, could do little about the first goal but was culpable for the second. Just three minutes into the second half, Tottenham captain Cristian Romero’s header slipped through his grasp to make it 2-0.
Tottenham looked sharper for much of the game, benefiting from having more time in pre-season training. PSG’s squad had only recently returned from the Club World Cup, which concluded in mid-July. Still, the French side grew into the contest, finishing with the greater momentum.
Lee’s composed strike reignited hope, and Ramos’ stoppage-time equaliser turned the match on its head. In penalties, PSG held their nerve after the early setback, while Tottenham faltered at crucial moments.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, overseeing his first competitive match since replacing Ange Postecoglou in the offseason, was proud of his team’s display despite the defeat. “I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world – maybe the best in this moment in time,” he said. “I think we had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes until the 2-1 goal. Then, of course, that shifted a little bit the momentum, but there was so much positive. I am so proud of the team, the players, the club, the fans. I think there is a lot to be happy with. It is a flip of a coin when you go into a penalty shootout.”
The triumph adds to PSG’s trophy haul this year, which already includes the Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophee des Champions.
