Super Cup Preview: Spurs face PSG in their first game under Thomas Frank
The UEFA Super Cup has always been football’s ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the moment the sport’s European elite step out for the first meaningful clash of the new season. Some years, the fixture carries the air of a glitzy friendly. This year, it feels like a collision of two very different trajectories.
On one side is Paris Saint-Germain, Champions League winners, treble collectors, and brimming with stars who spent the summer polishing medals rather than licking wounds. On the other is Tottenham Hotspur, Europa League champions, re-energised by a long-awaited piece of silverware and entering a new managerial era.
The venue is the Stadio Friuli in Udine, a tidy 25,000-seater tucked away in Italy’s northeast. What it lacks in sheer size it more than makes up for in atmosphere, especially when hosting two teams with contrasting footballing philosophies and equally compelling narratives.
A serious first test in the Super Cup for Thomas Frank’s Tottenham
How They Got Here
PSG: Relentless and Ruthless
Paris Saint-Germain’s route to the Super Cup is one of total domination. They stormed through the Champions League, capped by a ruthless 5-0 dismantling of Inter Milan in the final. In a competition often decided by fine margins, PSG made it look like a procession.
Ousmane Dembélé emerged as the tournament’s standout player, his combination of directness, creativity, and cutting edge proving irresistible. Beside him, Désiré Doué’s rise from talented prospect to fully fledged match-winner felt like the natural progression of a club that has learned to blend its superstar purchases with smart recruitment. Add Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s ability to twist defenders inside out, and it is little wonder PSG scored goals in waves.
Luis Enrique’s side did not only lift the Champions League. They swept the domestic double too, completing a treble that confirmed their place among the continent’s most feared teams.
Tottenham: Ending the Wait
Tottenham’s journey could hardly have been more different. Their Europa League campaign was not about overwhelming opponents with sheer star power but about grinding through moments of pressure and finding the match winners when it counted.
The final against Manchester United in Bilbao was a tense affair, decided by Brennan Johnson’s goal and anchored by a defensive discipline that has often eluded Spurs in the past. The victory was more than just a trophy; it was a statement of capability after years of near misses.
More importantly, it ended a 17-year trophy drought, injecting belief into a club that has been desperate for a tangible reward to match its ambition.
Thomas Frank at the helm for Spurs
Tottenham enter this match under fresh leadership. Thomas Frank has taken the reins following Ange Postecoglou’s departure, bringing with him a reputation for tactical flexibility and an ability to extract consistent performances from squads that look, on paper, less star-studded than their rivals.
This will be Frank’s first competitive match in charge, a baptism of fire against Europe’s most complete team. Pre-season offered only hints of his approach, but there is every indication that Spurs will blend the attacking intent of recent years with a tighter, more organised defensive structure.
Team News and Selection Choices
PSG’s Familiar Firepower
Luis Enrique has the luxury of sending out a starting XI packed with quality in every department. Dembélé, Doué, and Kvaratskhelia are almost certain to form the attacking trident, supported by a midfield that can dominate possession or spring forward in transition.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will not be available for selection as he continues to explore a move away from the club, following weeks of speculation over his future. The Italian international, who joined PSG from AC Milan in 2021, has faced increased scrutiny despite being the first-choice keeper in their treble-winning campaign. PSG are keen to resolve the situation quickly and have identified Lille’s Lucas Chevalier as a long-term successor, with negotiations reportedly progressing behind the scenes.
🚨 Gianluigi Donnarumma left OUT of PSG’s squad for the UEFA Super Cup vs Tottenham in Udine — another huge sign his time in Paris is coming to an end. 🇮🇹❌
— 365Scores (@365Scores) August 11, 2025
Contract renewal talks have completely collapsed, with his deal expiring in June 2026. PSG have already lined up his… pic.twitter.com/rqEWy7IGA4
The challenge for PSG is not finding the right players but balancing the egos and styles in a way that prevents predictability. In Udine, they are expected to line up aggressively, aiming to put Spurs under pressure from the opening whistle.
Spurs’ Missing Pieces
Tottenham’s preparations have been complicated by absences. James Maddison’s ACL injury rules out one of their primary creators, while Yves Bissouma has been dropped from the squad for disciplinary reasons. Those omissions put extra responsibility on the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr to control the midfield against a technically gifted PSG unit.
There are positives, too. Dominic Solanke is fit and available, giving Spurs a focal point who can occupy defenders and create space for the wide players. João Palhinha, one of the summer’s marquee signings, could make his debut and immediately add bite and intelligence to the midfield.
The Key Matchups
Dembélé vs Tottenham’s Right Side
Few players in Europe are as adept at creating chaos as Ousmane Dembélé. Whether driving to the byline or cutting inside to shoot, his unpredictability forces defenders into constant split-second decisions. Spurs’ right-back, likely Pedro Porro, will need to balance aggression with discipline, knowing that one mistimed lunge can unravel the shape of the entire back line.
Palhinha’s First Test
If João Palhinha starts, his ability to read danger and win duels will be central to Spurs’ hopes. PSG’s midfield is built to draw opponents out of position, and Palhinha’s timing in the tackle will be critical in breaking up those patterns. His battle with Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz, both comfortable in tight spaces, could set the tone for Tottenham’s defensive resilience.
Romero and Van de Ven vs PSG’s Runners
Cristian Romero’s leadership and Micky van de Ven’s recovery pace make them a complementary pairing. They will need both attributes to handle the movement of Dembélé, Doué, and Kvaratskhelia, all of whom are comfortable switching positions to disorientate defenders.
What Each Team Needs to Do
PSG: Keep the Tempo High
PSG thrive when they dictate the speed of the game. Their most dangerous moments come when they win the ball back quickly and attack before the opposition can reset. In Udine, that means pressing Spurs’ back line hard and forcing mistakes.
Just as important will be their ability to maintain focus if Tottenham sit deep. Patience, without falling into sterile possession, will be key against a team happy to absorb pressure and counter.
Tottenham: Control the Middle, Exploit the Flanks
With Maddison absent, Spurs will likely seek to progress the ball via wide areas. Kudus and Johnson have the pace to stretch PSG’s defence, but they will only get the platform to do so if the midfield holds firm. Palhinha and Bentancur must protect against overloads while also offering an outlet to launch counter-attacks.
Set pieces could be another route to success. Spurs have aerial threats in Romero and Solanke, and PSG have been known to switch off defensively in these situations.
The Venue Factor
The Stadio Friuli is not a vast cathedral of football like Wembley or the Bernabéu, but its intimacy can create a charged atmosphere. With both sets of fans travelling in good numbers, the noise will be condensed and intense.
Udine itself is a city that lives for its football in a more understated way than Italy’s bigger hubs. For the neutral spectator, this Super Cup setting offers a refreshing change from the usual blockbuster stadiums.
Prediction: A Fine Balancing Act
This match feels less like a straightforward favourites-versus-underdogs narrative and more like a clash of styles. PSG have the depth, the form, and the winning habit. Tottenham bring momentum from their European triumph and the unpredictability of a new managerial approach.
If PSG start quickly, they could overwhelm Spurs before Frank’s men have a chance to settle. If Tottenham weather that initial storm, they have the tools to make life awkward, particularly if Palhinha and the wide players can spring counters.
The likeliest outcome is a PSG win, but not without a scare. Spurs have enough quality to keep this competitive, and even a narrow defeat here could serve as a valuable building block for the season ahead.
Why This Matters Beyond the Trophy
While the Super Cup will not define either club’s season, it will shape perceptions. PSG’s season will be judged primarily on whether they can defend their Champions League crown, but any slip in August could embolden opponents. For Tottenham, lifting the trophy would be an early marker in establishing themselves as more than just cup contenders.
The match is also a barometer for how both squads have evolved over the summer. PSG’s ability to integrate their established stars with newer signings like Doué speaks to a maturity they have sometimes lacked. Tottenham’s readiness to adapt to Thomas Frank’s methods will be under scrutiny from the first whistle.
The UEFA Super Cup often falls victim to the label of a glorified friendly, yet this year’s edition feels loaded with narrative intrigue. PSG arrive at the peak of their powers, Tottenham with a point to prove and the energy of fresh leadership.
By the time the Stadio Friuli falls quiet on Wednesday night, we will have our first real clue as to whether Paris can maintain their stranglehold on European football and whether Spurs’ long-awaited silverware was the start of something bigger.
It is the perfect way to start the European season: one team looking to cement an empire, the other eager to storm the gates.
