Spurs Out for Redemption in Paris
Tottenham Hotspur face a daunting trip to the French capital this Wednesday, seeking to avenge their painful Super Cup defeat against European champions Paris Saint-Germain. The Champions League encounter at the Parc des Princes comes at a critical juncture for Spurs manager Thomas Frank, whose side were humbled 4-1 by Arsenal in the North London Derby just days ago.
Super Cup Heartache Still Fresh
The memory of August's Super Cup collapse remains vivid for Tottenham. Having taken a two-goal lead against the heavily favoured PSG, Frank's men conceded twice in the final five minutes before ultimately losing on penalties. While pushing the continental champions so close offered some consolation after a disappointing 17th-place Premier League finish the previous season, the manner of that defeat still stings.
Goodwill towards manager Thomas Frank has plummeted following Sunday's derby humiliation. Spurs fans are demanding a significant response from their team against one of Europe's elite clubs.
Team News and Key Absences
Tottenham will be without Brennan Johnson, who is suspended following his red card against Copenhagen. In a intriguing subplot, Randal Kolo Muani - currently on loan from PSG - could feature against his parent club after Uefa confirmed players are permitted to play in such fixtures.
For the hosts, there's potential good news as Ousmane Dembele could return to the squad, providing a significant boost for manager Luis Enrique. However, Achraf Hakimi and Desire Doue remain sidelined. This match could also mark a major milestone for captain Marquinhos, who may make his 500th appearance for PSG.
Champions League Context
Both teams have everything to play for in the Champions League league phase. PSG sit just one point ahead of Tottenham before this fifth round of fixtures, making this a crucial encounter for qualification prospects.
The French champions, who currently top Ligue 1, will be looking to bounce back from their own European setback - a 2-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich at the beginning of November. Meanwhile, Spurs have made a respectable start to their return to Europe's premier competition but desperately need a positive result to build momentum after their domestic troubles.
The match kicks off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 26 November at the Parc des Princes. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch live coverage on TNT Sports 3 from 7pm GMT, with streaming available via discovery+.
