Paris Saint-Germain secured an improbable UEFA Super Cup victory in a penalty shootout against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, delivering a thrilling comeback to claim their fifth trophy of 2025. The match, held at Udine’s Stadio Friuli, saw Nuno Mendes slot the decisive penalty after a chaotic finale that flipped the script on what initially seemed like a straightforward triumph for Spurs.
Tottenham dominated much of the contest, building a 2-0 lead through a 39th-minute tap-in by Micky van de Ven following Lucas Chevalier’s save onto the crossbar and a Cristian Romero header early in the second half. With just five minutes remaining in regulation, PSG’s fortunes pivoted dramatically. Substitute Lee Kang-in ignited hope with a low drive in the 85th minute, and Gonçalo Ramos headed home an equalizer deep into stoppage time, capitalizing on Ousmane Dembélé’s pinpoint cross.
The penalty shootout began disastrously for PSG as Vitinha’s opening attempt sailed wide, giving Spurs a 2-0 advantage. However, Van de Ven and Mathys Tel missed consecutive kicks for Tottenham, allowing the Parisians to reel off four straight successful penalties. Mendes sealed the 4-2 shootout win, capping a turbulent evening for Chevalier, PSG’s new goalkeeper. The 23-year-old, replacing departed star Gianluigi Donnarumma, endured a mixed debut—criticized for Romero’s goal but redeeming himself by saving Van de Ven’s penalty. “He showed a lot of personality,” PSG coach Luis Enrique remarked, acknowledging the keeper’s resilience.
Enrique admitted his team benefited from late luck, noting players had only resumed training six days earlier after an extended season that included a Champions League-Ligue 1-Coupe de France treble and a Club World Cup final loss to Chelsea. “We were very lucky in the last 10 minutes,” he said, praising his squad’s belief until the final whistle.
For Tottenham, the defeat marked a bittersweet start under new manager Thomas Frank, who replaced the ousted Ange Postecoglou after last season’s Europa League triumph. Spurs appeared tactically sharper for much of the match, with Frank lauding his team’s “almost perfect” performance and “wow mentality.” Despite the collapse, he emphasized the match as a foundation for growth, stating, “There are lots of things to be happy with.”
The result extends PSG’s recent dominance while leaving Tottenham to reflect on missed opportunities. Both clubs now turn their focus to upcoming league campaigns, with PSG aiming to build momentum and Spurs seeking to channel Frank’s tactical blueprint into sustained success.
