It was an 8 goal thriller at the Parc De Princes in a repeat of the European Super Cup final at the beginning of the season between defending champions PSG and Tottenham, with PSG winning 5-3.
Not a single PSG goal was scored by an attacker as Vitinha of all people scored a hat-trick, William Pacho got one and perhaps more characteristically, Fabian Ruiz also got on the score sheet. Randall Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG, scored twice against them after Richarlison had scored Spurs’ first goal.
In a 442 formation for Spurs, Kolo Muani and Richarlison were up top, with Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur the 4 in midfield. PSG started with a 433 with Bradley Barcola on the left, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the right and Quentin Ndjantou up top.
From minute 1, the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur was a captivating, end-to-end spectacle that saw eight goals scored, with PSG eventually securing a 5-3 win.
The opening stages of the game were dominated by PSG’s attacking flair. In the 8th minute, Fabián Ruiz gave the visitors a scare with a wayward shot from 20 meters out.
The pressure intensified, and in the 18th minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fizzed a shot inches past the post. PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery then tested goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario with a shot after a brilliant pass by Vitinha in the 20th minute. Vicario was called into action again a minute later, saving a lob attempt from Zaïre-Emery after a lofted pass from Vitinha; Cristian Romero was then able to clear the danger.
The match’s aggressive nature was highlighted in the 32nd minute when Tottenham’s Richarlison committed a late foul on Pacho on the halfway line. Despite the mounting pressure from PSG, it was Tottenham who opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Following a neat interchange, Archie Gray crossed to Randal Kolo Muani at the back post, who headed it across for Richarlison to nod home from very close range.
However, the lead was short-lived. Just before the halftime whistle in the 45th minute, PSG equalized through Vitinha, who hit an unstoppable long-range strike from outside the box that flew in off the underside of the crossbar. Lucas Bergvall received a Yellow Card for a bad foul in stoppage time. PSG made a substitution at the break, with Lucas Hernández replacing Nuno Mendes.
The second half began with a quick flurry of goals. In the 50th minute, Tottenham retook the lead when Randal Kolo Muani smashed home a powerful volley after Archie Gray’s flicked shot from a corner ricocheted off the bar.
PSG immediately hit back in the 53rd minute, with Vitinha scoring his second, cutting in on his left foot and firing another fabulous strike past Vicario from the edge of the area.
PSG made another substitution in the 54th minute, with Lee Kang-In replacing Bradley Barcola. The high-scoring trend continued as PSG took the lead for the first time in the 58th minute. Pape Matar Sarr lost possession in his own half, allowing João Neves to set up Fabián Ruiz, who beat Vicario with a left-footed shot and just seven minutes later, PSG extended their lead. Spurs failed to clear a corner, and Willian Pacho put the loose ball into the goal from the left side of the six-yard box to make it 4-2
Tottenham reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute when Randal Kolo Muani scored his second, drilling a low, powerful finish across goal after Vitinha gave the ball away. The final goal of the night came as a result of a crucial moment in the 74th minute when Cristian Romero committed a handball after sliding in to block Vitinha’s shot, resulting in a penalty for PSG.
Tottenham responded with a double substitution in the 75th minute, with João Palhinha replacing Archie Gray and Mohammed Kudus replacing Lucas Bergvall and in the 76th minute, Vitinha finally took his penalty and completed his hat trick, sending Vicario the wrong way and securing the 5-3 lead.
Both teams made further substitutions as the game wound down. PSG brought on Ousmane Dembélé for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Gonçalo Ramos for Quentin Ndjantou in the 78th minute. Tottenham then made a triple substitution between the 82nd and 83rd minutes. Xavi Simons replaced Randal Kolo Muani, Destiny Udogie replaced Djed Spence, and Wilson Odobert replaced Pape Matar Sarr. Substitute Wilson Odobert immediately drove into the box but fired just wide of the goal in the 84th minute.
The match ended with late disciplinary action in stoppage time. Lucas Hernández was sent off with a red card for violent conduct after elbowing Xavi Simons in the face. In the 94th minute, Pedro Porro’s free kick from 25 yards out sailed just over the bar. PSG made their final change, with Illia Zabarnyi replacing Vitinha. The match concluded in the 96th minute with a full time score of Paris Saint-Germain 5-3 Tottenham Hotspur.
