Last updated on August 14, 2025
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PSG aim to prove they can bounce back from their Chelsea defeat, while Spurs chase a win that would announce them as genuine contenders against Europe’s best.
Image credit: Siaran Bola Live
The new Premier League season is just days away, but Tottenham already have a big one on their hands.
Before the first whistle blows back home, they’re off to Udine for a crack at the UEFA Super Cup — a game that might not mean much to some, but could set the tone for their season.
It’s a meeting of two European champions, though they’ve walked very different paths to get here.
Spurs, fresh from winning the Europa League, are still a team in the making — built on patience, smart signings, and a bit of grit.
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PSG, on the other hand, finally got their hands on the Champions League last season, but still have to shake off the bruises from that 3-0 drubbing against Chelsea in the Club World Cup final just a few weeks back.
The venue — the Bluenergy Stadium — is a neutral stage, but the stakes aren’t.
Spurs can grab silverware and carry momentum into their Premier League opener.
PSG need to show they’re still Europe’s top dog.
For a so-called “curtain-raiser,” there’s a lot more riding on this than people think.
Table of Contents
Two Roads to Udine
Let’s talk about how both clubs got here—and what they’ve carried along the way.
PSG: From Heartbreak to Triumph, with Bumps Along the Way
PSG finally broke through last season by crushing Inter Milan 5–0 in the Champions League fina.
It was a statement win that capped their first European Cup and completed a rare treble of Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League trophies .
Yet, even triumph has its limits. A few weeks later in the FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea handed them a brutal 3–0 defeat in the final, leaving PSG visibly drained and exposed.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi himself cited fatigue after a demanding season as a key reason .
So yes—they’re champions, but also emotionally and physically vulnerable going into this match.
Spurs: Europa League Joy Meets Domestic Struggle
Spurs’ past year has been a story of extremes.
They lifted the Europa League trophy with a dramatic 1–0 win over Manchester United—marking their first European title in over four decades .
Yet on the home front, they flirted with historic disaster—finishing a dismal 17th in the Premier League, their lowest ever position .
That mismatch between European glory and domestic pain ultimately led to the surprising sacking of Ange Postecoglou, just weeks after lifting silverware .
In his place comes Thomas Frank, a calm and clear-headed coach from Brentford.
He’s seen as the reset button — disciplined, steady, and ready to marry Spurs’ attacking roots with some much-needed defensive backbone .
Why This Sets Up a Real Test
On one side, PSG are elite—but coming off both a meteoric high and an equally sharp low.
On the other, Spurs are in transition—a team with the mindset and joy of champions, yet scrambling to make sense of their domestic meltdown.
3. History Between the Clubs
It’s hard to believe, but Spurs and PSG have barely crossed paths on the pitch.
In fact, they’ve only met once—and it wasn’t even in a proper competition.
Back in July 2017, the two teams faced off in a friendly at the International Champions Cup in Orlando.
Spurs edged a lively game 4–2, even after PSG’s goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was sent off early in the second half.
Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier scored, then Toby Alderweireld added a screamer, and Harry Kane sealed it with a penalty.
It was one of those unexpected, entertaining friendlies that had a bit of everything.
That’s it—no Champions League showdowns, no UCL group-stage battles, nothing.
This one-off meeting means this Super Cup clash is a fresh slate, with no old grudges or replayed storylines hanging over either side.
Honestly, that’s rare in football.
There’s freedom in that — the match isn’t loaded with past narratives. It’s unpredictable, which makes it even more intriguing for both teams and fans.
PSG’s Vulnerabilities — A Lesson from Chelsea
Just a few weeks ago, PSG were humbled 3–0 by Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Cole Palmer ran the show—two goals, one assist—and João Neves’ late red card only deepened PSG’s misery.
It wasn’t just the scoreline that stung.
Chelsea’s relentless press forced mistakes, PSG’s midfield couldn’t find its rhythm, and their star-studded attack was kept unusually quiet.
By the end, the French champions looked more rattled than ruthless.
This wasn’t some long-standing English dominance—let’s be clear on that.
But Chelsea did offer a blueprint: get in PSG’s faces early, disrupt their passing lanes, and suddenly their aura of invincibility starts to crack.
For Tottenham, that’s a tempting script to borrow from.
With their pace on the counter, work rate in midfield, and pressing triggers which was in evidence in the Europa final under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs could force PSG into the same uncomfortable spots Chelsea exploited—only this time, the stakes will be even higher.
What’s at Stake Beyond the Trophy
For PSG, this is about more than silverware.
They need to prove that Chelsea’s 3–0 dismantling was just a bad night, not a weakness others can copy.
Lose here, and the whispers about a “blueprint” for beating them will only grow louder.
For Tottenham, it’s a chance to show they can carry their Europa League swagger into the deepest waters of European football.
Beating PSG wouldn’t just earn a trophy—it would announce them as a team ready to mix it with the continent’s elite.
One game, two very different missions: for PSG, redemption; for Spurs, recognition.
What the Managers Say
Luis Enrique, Paris coach: “[The Super Cup] is a very special match that brings together the Champions League and Europa League winners.
“Of course, our aim is to try to win it and give it our all. We also won’t be training the whole season for this match because the preparation is totally different to what we do in a normal season.
“But we do accept it as part of the demands of being champions of Europe, and we’re going to try to compete to the best of our ability.”
Thomas Frank, Tottenham coach: “We’re playing in a final; it’s fantastic. Hopefully we can use some of the experience we have from the last final that the team played against Manchester United.
“[Paris] are the best team in Europe. They won the treble and it looks like they are extremely strong in all 11 starting positions.
“It’s a fantastic challenge to have in the first game but, of course, we believe in ourselves. We don’t see it as a test; we see it as two good teams against each other, and we want to win.”
Final Thought
In Udine, PSG aim to prove they can bounce back from their Chelsea defeat, while Spurs chase a win that would announce them as genuine contenders against Europe’s best.
By the final whistle, one side will have sent a clear message — they’re ready for the season ahead.
People Also Ask
Has PSG ever played Tottenham before?
No. PSG and Tottenham have never met in a competitive UEFA match, making this clash their first-ever official meeting.
Why is PSG vs Tottenham being played in Udine?
The match is being held at a neutral venue in Udine to give both sides a level playing field without home advantage.
What happened to PSG against Chelsea?
PSG lost 3-0 to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final, a result that exposed defensive weaknesses and midfield gaps.
