Just over a month after Chelsea ended Paris Saint-Germain’s unbeaten run with victory in the Club World Cup final, the French champions face another London side. Tottenham Hotspur will take them on in Udine, Italy, on Wednesday in the European Super Cup.
A win for PSG would furnish them with a fifth trophy in 2025. At the start of the year, Luis Enrique's charges won the French Super Cup. They followed that up with the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France.
On 31 May, 10 days after Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United to lift the Europa League, PSG annihilated Inter Milan 5-0 to brandish the Champions League trophy for the first time.
PSG were supposed to parade that panache during the inaugural edition of the revamped Club World Cup.
After obliterating Atletico Madrid 4-0 in their opening game in the group stages in the tournament, PSG lost 1-0 to Botafogo before seeing off Seattle Sounders 2-0 to reach the knockout stages. Wins over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid followed.
But in the final at the end of the month-long extravaganza in the United States, Chelsea outwitted them in a first-half three-goal blitz and outmuscled them in the second-half to maintain the distance and take the crown.
Donnarumma exit
PSG goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma made a spectacular save midway through the second-half of the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to keep the scoreline respectable and his side in with a fighting chance of a famous comeback.
The 26-year-old though will not be among the PSG squad for the Super Cup final at the Stadio Friuli.
The Italy international, who joined PSG in 2021, has been excluded from the first-team squad after refusing to sign a contract extension. Lucas Chevalier, acquired from Ligue 1 rivals Lille for €40m on 9 August, could make his debut in goal.
"There are always difficult decisions to make," said Enrique. "Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and a great person but we're looking for a different type of goalkeeper this season.
"And given Donnarumma's level and abilities, it's something of a risk but my aim is to continue to change the look and level of the team."
Donnarumma on Wednesday was negotiating with other clubs after announcing his departure on social media.
"From my very first day here, I gave my all – both on and off the pitch – to earn my place and defend Paris Saint-Germain's goal," he wrote on Instagram.
"Unfortunately, someone decided that I could no longer be part of the squad or contribute to the team's success. I am disappointed and saddened."
Tottenham trophy drought
Tottenham Hotspur's win in the Europa League was their first piece of silverware since lifting the English League Cup in 2008.
Despite the triumph, head coach Ange Postecoglou left. The Brentford boss Thomas Frank replaced him.
The 51-year-old Dane, who has the chance to launch his Spurs career with a cup, refused to accept his side were the underdogs.
"For the club, me and everyone involved at Tottenham, it's a massive game," he said on the eve of the clash.
"It's a great challenge and an even bigger opportunity. The way my brain works, I see opportunities instead of pressure.
"The Spurs players, just like PSG players, have just won a big trophy and had a fantastic experience of doing that. And they just want to win more. So the players will be ready."
Spurs defender Ben Davies added: "It's quite clear we will be playing against one of the best teams in world football right now.
"But over the summer we saw that whilst they played some incredible games, they are not unbeatable. We need to take some confidence from that and try and put our best foot forward to win the game."
Injuries mean that Spurs are missing six key players while Yves Bissouma was left in London for disciplinary reasons.
PSG will go into the game boosted by the €65m arrival of defender Illia Zabarnyi from the English Premier League outfit Bournemouth and boasting nine players who were named on the lists for next month's Ballon d'Or awards. The squad was also nominated in the team of the season category.
Enrique, who was nominated for the coach of the year award, added: "What we did last season was an achievement for everyone.
"We want to continue making history, that's our goal. Last year, I don't think anyone thought we were capable of winning the Champions League, but we did it.
"We have this mindset of wanting to be even better, to improve the team. Of course, it will be very difficult given last season, but that's our mentality. It will be a big challenge for us."
