U.E.F.A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 5
WEDNESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER, 2025
(8PM)
PARIS-SAINT-GERMAIN 5(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(1)

PSG Scorer(s):-
Vitinha, 45, 53, 76 (pen)
Fabian Ruiz, 59
Pacho, 65

Spurs scorer(s):-
Richarlison, 35
Kolo Muani, 50, 72

Attendance:- 47,574

Referee:- Felix Zwayer
Assistants:- Robert Kempter & Christian Dietz
Fourth official:- Daniel Schlager
VAR:- Soren Storks
Assistant VAR:- Christian Dingert
(All officials from Germany)

Teams:-
PSG (4-3-3):- 30. Chevalier; 33. Zaire-Emery, 5. Marquinhos (Capt.), 51. Pacho, 25. Nuno Mendes (sub 21. Hernandez, 46); 87. Joao Neves, 17. Vitinha (sub 6. Zabarnyi, 90+4), 8. Fabian Ruiz; 29. Barcola (sub 19. Lee, 56), 47. Ndjantou (sub 9. Ramos, 79), 7. Kvaratskhelia (sub 10. Dembele, 79)

Subs not used:- 39. Safonov, 60. James (GKs); 4. Beraldo; 24. Mayulu, 49. Mbaye

No bookings

Sent off:- Hernandez (90+3) - elbow on Xavi

Spurs (4-4-2):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero (Capt.) 37. Van de Ven, 24. Spence (sub 13. Udogie, 84); 29. Sarr (sub 28. Odobert, 84), 30. Bentancur, 14. Gray (sub 6. Palhinha, 76), 15. Bergvall (sub 20. Kudus, 76); 9. Richarlison, 39. Kolo Muani (sub 7. Xavi, 83)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin (GKs); 4. Danso, 33. Davies; 44. Scarlett, 54. Thompson, 68. Williams-Barnett

Booked:- Bergvall (foul on Joao Neves)

Plucky Spurs suffer "les bleus"

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

No Spurs fan went into this game carrying any real hope of success, and despite twice taking a lead against the Champions of Europe, we ultimately suffered "les bleus" in Paris.

It is a concern that we have conceded nine goals in two games in the space of four days. Thus, we lost our unbeaten record in this season's league phase of the Champions League, and two unbeaten records in the same space of time.

There is only one team unbeaten now in the elite European competition, and that team thrashed us on Sunday. This defeat was not a thrashing, but it could well have been by a higher margin.

Before the game it looked as if we would set up in the 5-3-2 we used against PSG in the August super cup final. Thomas Frank made five changes from Sunday's line-up with Pedro Porro, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr and Kolo Muani starting in favour of Danso, Udogie, Palhinha, Odobert and Kudus. We played in a 4-4-2, but Bentancur was the only out and out defensive midfielder. Ultimately, we probably suffered for a somewhat chaotic strategy, but we were entertained.

Muani was playing against his home club, of course, and scored his first two Spurs goals against his own club! Eight of the nine goals were scored by PSG registered players!

Archie Gray made his first start for 5 weeks and Lucas Bergvall returned after his concussion injury on November 1st. The pace and guile of these two players down the left side was often on display.

Brennan Johnson was suspended. PSG skipper Marquinhos was making his 500th club appearance.

Playing in their yellow third strip, Spurs kicked off playing towards the travelling fans.

PSG are a very fluid side and after a pass by Barcola, right back Zaire-Emery had a shot blocked on the edge of the box. Bergvall couldn't quite control a Pedro Porro cross, who had a second cross go over the target following Sarr's pass. Spurs were certainly full of running and had no intention of being pinned back as they were on Sunday.

A powerful shot by Fabian Ruiz passed just wide of Vicario's right post. Bergvall raced down the left for a long ball and his shot was held. He had two players inside him but chose the shot. Spurs were getting into attacking areas, but with no return so far.

The exciting Georgian international Kvaratskhelia started on the left but soon switched to the right flank. He hit a low shot just outside Vicario's left post after Barcola's pass from the left.

One-time Wolves loan player Vitinha would be the star of the show with a first professional hat-trick and he caused some chaos in the Spurs area with an excellent lofted ball which Vicario struggled to clear under threat again from Kvaratskhelia.

Djed Spence won a corner on the left after an excellent run. After that kick Spence passed inside to Muani on the right of the box but Muani's effort was blocked and cleared.

We took the lead in the 35th minute with a lovely goal. Bergvall and Gray were attacking down the left. Bergvall back-heeled to Archie who floated a cross deep across the area where Muani headed back into the middle and Richarlison headed home from close range. It was "Richie"'s first Champions League goal since two against Marseille in September 2022.

Our lead was snatched away ten minutes later when 18-year-old Quentin Ndjantou passed in from the left and Vitinha hit an excellent right-footed shot from 25 yards,

At half-time Luis Enrique replaced Nuno Mendes with another left-back - Hernandez - who would have an eventful conclusion to his game.

Spurs won two early corners and soon regained the lead with an excellent goal. Pedro Porro's second corner was hit deep. Richarlison returned the ball into the danger zone where Archie Gray's shot was somehow cleared off the line under the bar. Muani's follow-up shot did not fail. Naturally, he celebrated discretely in front of his home club fans.

Ndjantou headed over from a cross by Zaire-Emery, but the home side were soon level again. It was Vitinha who scored again - this time with his left foot - from a similar position after Kvaratskhelia's pass from the right.

PSG had never been beaten at home in two consecutive Champions League matches (they lost to Bayern three weeks ago) and clearly did not want that to happen. Ndjantou had a cross/shot patted away by Vicario.

Bentancur fired over after good play by Djed Spence down the left wing, but PSG soon had a lead they did not surrender. Spurs played out disastrously in a central position. Romero's ball to Sarr was dangerous and Sarr was over-powered before the ball ran to Fabian Ruiz for an easy goal. Six minutes later it was 4-2 when Spurs failed to defend a corner taken from the left and Pacho was able to fire home from close range.

Muani gave us hope again with a second goal to make it 4-3. Hernandez had lost the ball after a poor ball back by Vitinha. Kolo Muani scored with a right-footed shot.

The hope for Spurs lasted for little more than a minute when Romero's raised arm as he went down to block stopped Vitinha's shot led to a penalty award. Naturally, Vitinha wanted the ball and secured the hat-trick with a right-footed shot to the left of Vicario.

There was no way back for Spurs now, although they never gave up. Muani passed to Pedro Porro, whose shot was deflected onto the top of the net. After the corner substitute Kudus had a left-footed shot go wide. Another sub - Odobert - hit the side netting when he had options inside.

There was more PSG pressure in the closing stages. Goncalo Ramos and Ousmane Dembele had joined the fray by now and Spurs man aged to clear after Ramos threatened.

In added time. Hernandez brought Xavi Simons' advance to a violent end with an elbow in the face. The referee was called to the monitor and showed Hernandez the inevitable red card. Pedro Porro hit the resulting free kick over the bar.

PSG are second to you-know-who in the Champions League table. Spurs have fallen to sixteenth. We need to win our next game at home to Slavia Prague on December 9th, but first we need to beat Fulham on Saturday night. See you there!

. Champions League standings

Follow @spursodyssey

. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here!