On August 14 , the European Super Cup will stage a blockbuster showdown: last season’s Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain take on Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur. One is a quadruple-winning giant eager to fill its Super Cup void; the other is a newly crowned underdog hungry for more glory after ending a 17-year trophy drought. The outcome may hinge on their fatal flaws.
PSG: A king’s hidden worries and ambition
Over the past 12 months, PSG claimed four trophies including the Champions League, yet their 3-0 thrashing by Chelsea in the Club World Cup final – conceding three goals in 21 minutes – exposed fragility against rapid attacks. This summer, they signed Zabarnyi to strengthen the center-back role and Lucas Chevalier as goalkeeper (Gianluigi Donnarumma omitted due to uncertain future), but midfield linchpin João Neves is suspended, leaving a loophole.
Luis Enrique’s "youth-focused" side is desperate for Super Cup success – their only previous appearance in 1996 saw a 6-1 home thrashing by Juventus. Now, they aim to prove their transformation with silverware. However, their possession-dominant style gifts Tottenham counter-attacking space: Spurs scored 10 fast-break goals last season (second only to Liverpool’s 14), while PSG conceded 4 from 5 such situations. Spurs speedsters like Térez, Kudus could exploit this.
Tottenham: Desperation to upset amid injury woes
Spurs enter the game in shaky form – a 4-0 friendly loss to Bayern, plus key playmaker James Maddison’s ACL injury and Solanke’s long absence, have drained midfield creativity (just 2 goals in 4 pre-season games). New boss Thomas Frank signed João Palhinha to shore up a defense that conceded 65 league goals, but gaps left by Maddison and Son Heung-min remain (linked with Man City’s Savinho).
Yet Tottenham’s hunger for trophies is palpable: last season’s Europa League triumph ended a 17-year drought, and the Super Cup offers Frank a chance to justify his role. A strong showing against the Champions League holders could also boost their Champions League hopes. But without midfield cohesion, they may struggle to cope with PSG’s dominance.
