Fresh from the best season in their history, Paris Saint-Germain begin the new campaign chasing yet another piece of silverware, the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur in Udine, Italy.
The French giants claimed a historic treble last season, lifting Ligue 1, the French Cup, and their first-ever Champions League title before adding the Trophée des Champions in January.
However, they fell short of a perfect seven-trophy year after losing 3-0 to Chelsea in last month’s Club World Cup final, but victory over Europa League winners Spurs would give them a fifth trophy of 2025 and keep alive hopes of matching Barcelona (2009) and Bayern Munich (2020) as winners of six trophies in a calendar year.
Luis Enrique’s PSG are built on blistering pace, relentless pressing, and squad depth. They fielded the youngest starting XI in Champions League final history (average age 25 years, 96 days) when they crushed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, the biggest win ever in a European Cup final.
Rising stars like 20-year-olds Désiré Doué and João Neves headline a group still years away from their peak, while captain Marquinhos, 31, is the oldest regular starter.
PSG boast a rapid front three of Ousmane Dembélé, Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia; a high-energy midfield trio of Fabián Ruiz, Neves, and Vitinha; and arguably the world’s best full-backs in Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi.
In central defence, Marquinhos partners 23-year-old Willian Pacho.
Perhaps Enrique’s masterstroke was reinventing Dembélé from an inconsistent winger to a prolific number nine. Since moving centrally last December, the Frenchman scored 18 goals in 10 matches and ended the season with 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games, earning Champions League Player of the Season and Ligue 1’s Golden Boot.
For Spurs, this final is more than just a chance at silverware; it’s a test of how far Thomas Frank’s rebuild has come.
After lifting their first-ever European trophy in June, Tottenham are riding a wave of confidence and will be eager to prove they can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best.
New signings have added pace and steel, while the core of the squad remains intact, excluding Son Heung-min.
Frank’s men will look to exploit any post-Chelsea hangover in the PSG camp, pressing high to disrupt their rhythm and attacking quickly in transition.
History may paint PSG as heavy favourites, but Tottenham have thrived as underdogs before.
A disciplined defensive display, clinical finishing, and a little Super Cup magic could see them claim back-to-back European trophies and send an early warning to the rest of the continent.
For PSG, the mission is simple: shake off the Chelsea defeat, claim their fifth title of the year, and move one step closer to joining football’s most elite company.
For Tottenham, it’s a chance to write a new chapter in their history and announce themselves as genuine contenders on the European stage.
About the Author
