UEFA Super Cup: London Calling (Again) For PSG

Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur

All roads lead to Udine in Italy on Wednesday when Paris Saint-Germain meet Tottenham Hotspur in the 2025 UEFA Super Cup.

This match gives Paris a chance to lay the ghost of a recent chastening by a top London club. Luis Enrique’s side entered the 2025 Club World Cup as European champions and, as their biggest rivals gradually fell by the wayside they reached the final in some comfort. With impressive wins over Inter Miami, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid (4-0), PSG were hot favourites when they met Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the final hurdle.

And then they were whacked 3-0 as Cole Palmer handed out a brutal lesson, inspiring the Blues to a three goal lead before half time.

So Wednesday’s game against Tottenham gives PSG the chance to set the record straight and dismiss the doubters that they are rightfully the champions of Europe. Thomas Frank’s side stand in their way and, despite coming into this game on the back of a 4-0 warm-up stuffing at the hands of Bayern Munich, there is some optimism around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Prior to the bad day at the office against the Bavarians, Spurs drew 1-1 with Newcastle United and enjoyed a 1-0 victory over North London rivals Arsenal in a showcase clash in Hong Kong. And, of course, they qualify for this lofty affair as champions of the Europa League as they ended a 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United in May.

If the scores are level at full-time the game will go to penalties without the need for extra time, and that is particularly good news for Tottenham who face Burnley in their Premier League opener just three days later. PSG have a day longer to recover before they visit Nantes for their Ligue 1 start.           

 

Talking Points

PSG keen to keep Barcola

It has been a fairly quiet summer transfer window at the Parc des Princes, and that is little wonder after Enrique guided his side to a domestic and European league double, and in seriously impressive style, humiliating Inter Milan with a 5-0 trouncing in the Champions League final. He has been keen to keep his side together and Enrique may still have work to do, with reports circulating that Premier League champions Liverpool have been taking an interest in France star Bradley Barcola. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has scored 18 goals in 59 games for PSG and has bagged two in 14 appearances for Les Bleus. But his starts were restricted after the January arrival of Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli and the form of the 20-year-old Desire Doue who has also broken into the senior France side.

Both Kvaratskhelia and Doue (2) were on the mark in the Champions League final and they are sure to feature in the UEFA Super Cup 2025 highlights on Wednesday. PSG paid £43m for Barcola when he moved from Lyon in 2023 and the Parisiens would want at least double that figure to open negotiations.

The biggest incoming at the club is keeperLucas Chevalier from Lille for 55m Euros, and he too is in line for an appearance against Tottenham.

 

New era for Spurs

Frank hopes to usher in a new age at Tottenham, after the club broke its silverware duck last May. The team has evolved over the past couple of seasons and will continue to do so. For a decade the strike partnership of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min defined Tottenham Hotspur’s efforts and, after Kane headed to Bayern Munich last summer, this year it is Son who has said goodbye.

In through the entrance have walked Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich, Kevin Danso from RC Lens and winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United for a fee of £55m. But the club has received a nasty blow this week with the news that 28-year-old creative lynchpin James Maddison will be out for an extended time having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season. It is particularly tough on the England man who spent much of last term on the sidelines and will sit out an extended period again.

Frank is scouring the market for a replacement and he has, on Monday, been linked with Manchester City’s Savinho; but is unlikely that Manchester City would let the 21-year-old Brazilian, who only arrived from Troyes last summer, go without a fight.  

Spurs need a strong start to their campaign, beginning against Burnley on Saturday, but in the meantime they want to avoid another stuffing after they crumbled against Bayern Munich last time out.       

 

History

The UEFA Super Cup was so named in 1995 as an annual fixture, dreamt up by Dutchman Anton Witkamp, to decide which team is the best in Europe, by pitting together the winners of Europe’s two premier competitions.  

Some neutrals, and virtually every Arsenal fan on the planet, will probably scoff at the idea that Spurs may be the best team in Europe after the Whites finished 17^th in the 2024/25 Premier League table! The pre-match UEFA Super Cup 2025 betting odds certainly suggest Frank’s men are in for another hiding on Wednesday. 

 

Betting Tip

PSG are at SBOTOP odds of 1.48 to win this showcase with Tottenham way out at 6.15, but, as Chelsea showed, these Parisiens can be stifled and I’m backing a reaction from Spurs and a penalty shootout.

   

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