PSG BLAST SPURS: VITINHA DELIVERS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MASTERCLASS
Vitinha scores a brilliant hat-trick as PSG rallies to beat Tottenham 5-3 in a Champions League classic. Match report and highlights.
In an exciting Champions League match on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain came back from behind to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 5-3, with midfielder Vitinha scoring a hat-trick. At the Parc des Princes, Vitinha's impressive play cancelled out Richarlison's opening goal right before halftime. He then repeated his performance early in the second half, after Randal Kolo Muani scored Spurs' second goal. Kolo Muani, playing against his parent club on loan, had hoped to make an impact and later scored again. However, it was after the current European champions took advantage of Tottenham's poor defence to score two more goals.
Fabian Ruiz scored PSG's third goal, Willian Pacho their fourth, and Vitinha secured the victory with a penalty. This win marks PSG's fourth in five Champions League games this season.
"It's the first time I've ever scored a hat trick, or even two goals in a game, so it's really special," Vitinha told Canal Plus. I'm really happy, especially because we won. We came back from behind twice, which shows what our team is made of.
PSG, despite Lucas Hernandez's late red card, are close to securing a spot in the knockout stage and is in a good position to finish in the top eight, which would send them straight to the last 16.
Spurs have dropped to 16th place, but they can still hope to reach the next stage with Slavia Prague as their next opponent.
Coach Thomas Frank didn't get the positive result he was hoping for after last weekend's 4-1 loss to Arsenal. Spurs have now allowed 11 goals in three games and have only won three of their last 12 matches.
Even so, losing to this PSG team isn't a disgrace, even though they're currently dealing with injuries.
I'm really happy with how we played. Today, we showed more of our team's true character, our courage, and our aggressiveness, Frank told TNT Sports. There were a lot of good things, like our two strikers scoring three goals together. The whole team did well.
This was the 10th time PSG has played a Premier League team in 2025, and they've won six of those games in regular time. They also beat Spurs in a penalty shootout in the UEFA Super Cup in August.
Spurs took the lead in this game with their first shot on goal after 35 minutes. Kolo Muani nodded Archie Gray's cross from the left across the goal, and Richarlison headed it in.
It was the third goal in three games for the Brazilian player and his sixth this season, beating his total from last season.
After losing at home to Bayern Munich in their previous game, PSG was determined to avoid another loss and equalised right at halftime.
Kolo Muani scores twice
After receiving the ball from Quentin Ndjantou, Vitinha let it roll across his body and then fired a fantastic right-footed shot that went in off the underside of the bar.
The visitors went back in front soon after the game restarted. Pacho cleared a shot from Gray off the line, but Kolo Muani shot the ball in.
It was the first goal for the France striker in 10 appearances for Tottenham since joining on loan from PSG.
PSG quickly responded again through Vitinha, who got a pass from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the edge of the box, moved into the area, and shot in with his left foot.
The title holders took the lead for the first time as the hour mark approached. Ruiz scored after a back-heel from Joao Neves, after Pape Matar Sarr was tackled just outside the box.
The goals kept coming, with Pacho scoring to make it 4-2 when the Spurs defence couldn't handle a corner.
Vitinha then made a rare mistake, losing possession in his own half, which allowed Kolo Muani to score his second goal of the night and his team's third.
But Vitinha, 25, had the last laugh.
PSG was awarded a penalty when Cristian Romero stopped his shot with his arm, and Vitinha scored to make it 5-3.
It was the first senior hat-trick for the player, who had missed his penalty against Spurs in the Super Cup.
Hernandez was then shown a red card in stoppage time after a review for elbowing Xavi Simons.
HOW MATVEI SAFONOV SAVED TWO PENALTIES WITH A BROKEN HAND WITHOUT FEELING PAIN
Matvei Safonov saved two penalties with a broken hand to help PSG win the Intercontinental Cup. Get the full medical update here.
On Wednesday in Qatar, during the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, PSG's Matvey Safonov saved Flamengo’s Leo Pereira’s penalty in the shootout. (Reuters)
PSG coach Luis Enrique mentioned yesterday that Matvei Safonov may have saved two penalties with a broken hand, which helped Paris Saint-Germain win the Intercontinental Cup.
The Russian goalie blocked four penalty kicks during the shootout in Qatar on Wednesday. PSG barely beat Flamengo to win the trophy.
Luis Enrique said, “The player doesn’t even know how he did it.
“We believe it happened on the third penalty kick. He moved strangely and fractured his hand. He saved the last two shots despite the fracture. The adrenaline was so strong that he didn't feel any pain. It’s amazing.”
The club stated that “they will share more updates in three to four weeks.”
Luis Enrique, who has dealt with many injuries this season, mentioned he hasn’t spoken to Safonov yet.
Luis Enrique added, “It’s karma. Life is telling him he needs to rest and get better. With his attitude, he’ll be back stronger.”
Luis Enrique spoke before facing Vendee Fontenay in the French Cup.
The coach might keep playing backups in the domestic cups and choose third-choice Renato Marin as the goalie. However, he might use this chance to let Lucas Chevalier play his first game since recovering from an ankle injury.
Safonov’s performance seemed to stir up a debate about who should be the starting goalie for the European champions.
The 26-year-old Russian started the season as the second choice, but his winning plays in Qatar came after a few good performances while filling in for the injured Chevalier, who didn’t start the season so well.
Chevalier, who turned 24 in November, was brought in over the summer because coach Luis Enrique liked how he handled the ball with his feet, but he hasn’t always looked as good at stopping shots.
PSG DOMINANCE: WILL LUIS ENRIQUE’S CHAMPIONS OUTCLASS FLAMENGO IN THE DOHA FINAL
Luis Enrique and his star-studded PSG squad aim for more history in Qatar. Discover if the Parisians can conquer South America’s best.
Just about three months after winning the Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembélé snagged another big one: FIFA's Best Men's player of the year award.
In the 2024-2025 season, the 28-year-old French player scored 35 goals and assisted 16, helping PSG clinch four trophies, including their first Champions League title.
Coach Luis Enrique was named the 'Best' coach for leading the team to victory.
The 55-year-old Spaniard took over from Christophe Galtier at PSG in July 2023.
By the next July, his squad, featuring Kylian Mbappé, had already grabbed the Ligue 1 title, the French Super Cup, and the Coupe de France.
After Mbappé left for Real Madrid, Enrique reshaped his team, and they dominated domestically for a second season. They also crushed Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final.
Even though Chelsea beat PSG for the FIFA Club World Cup in July, PSG bounced back by defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the European Super Cup final in August.
Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, along with Portuguese players Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, and Vitinha, joined Dembélé in FIFA's 'Best' men's team of the year.
Their spot on the team shows how well they performed all year, securing titles like the club's first Champions League win, PSG stated after the FIFA awards in Doha, Qatar.
On Wednesday night at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Enrique and his top players will face Flamengo, the Copa Libertadores champions (South America's version of the Champions League).
Flamengo is doing great right now; they've won many trophies, Enrique said. I like how they play. I remember watching them at the Club World Cup. They played some amazing games. They're a great team with and without the ball.
After the game in Doha, PSG will head back to France to defend their Coupe de France title against Vendée Fontenay Foot, an amateur team in the fifth tier of French soccer.
"We wanted to make history with PSG last season, and we did," Enrique added. Now, we want to keep it going this season. We need to be ready and focused against Flamengo.
Every moment could be key. I think the team has the same attitude this season that they had last season.
Filipe Luis, Flamengo's coach, admitted that his team is the underdog. "PSG is the best team worldwide," said the 40-year-old Brazilian.
They proved that by winning the Champions League. They're here because they're the best, and we're going to try our best to win and make history.