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Tag: UEFA Super Cup

  • UEFA Super Cup: Things to know as PSG takes on Spurs

    UEFA Super Cup: Things to know as PSG takes on Spurs

    Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur will lock horns on Wednesday night in the 2025 UEFA Super Cup at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.

    The match pits the reigning UEFA Champions League winners against the Europa League champions, with both sides looking to claim early-season silverware and set the tone for their upcoming campaigns.

    Road to the Super Cup

    PSG secured their place after lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history last season, defeating Manchester City in the final. Luis Enrique’s side enjoyed a stellar European campaign, blending defensive solidity with explosive attacking play led by Kylian Mbappé.

    Spurs, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, clinched the Europa League title after beating Atalanta in a thrilling final. It was their first European trophy since 1984 and a statement of intent from a squad rejuvenated under the Australian manager.

    Recent Form and Preparations

    PSG come into the match after an unbeaten pre-season tour, including victories over Barcelona and Napoli. Their squad remains strong despite summer transfer speculation surrounding several key players.

    Tottenham’s build-up has been equally impressive, with new signings quickly bedding in and the team showing attacking fluidity. However, questions remain over their defensive consistency, something PSG could exploit.

    Key Storylines to Watch

    Mbappé vs. Spurs Backline – Mbappé’s pace and finishing will be a major threat to a Tottenham defence still finding its best shape.

    Midfield Battle – Spurs’ James Maddison and Yves Bissouma will look to outmaneuver PSG’s midfield trio, led by Vitinha and Manuel Ugarte.

    Trophy Motivation – For PSG, it’s about cementing European dominance; for Spurs, it’s about proving last season’s triumph wasn’t a one-off.

    Possible Line-Ups

    Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)

    Gianluigi Donnarumma – Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes – Vitinha, Manuel Ugarte, Warren Zaïre-Emery – Ousmane Dembélé, Gonçalo Ramos, Kylian Mbappé

    Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1)

    Guglielmo Vicario – Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie – Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr – Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Son Heung-min – Richarlison

    Match Details

    Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2025

    Kick-off:  20:00 local time

    Venue: National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland

    Read Also: PSG leave  Donnarumma  out for UEFA Super Cup

    Referee: To be confirmed

    What’s at stake

    The UEFA Super Cup is more than just a curtain-raiser to the European season. For PSG, it’s a chance to confirm their place among the continent’s elite. For Spurs, it’s an opportunity to make a statement on the biggest stage and add another major trophy to their collection.

    PSG vs Tottenham – Betting Tips (UEFA Super Cup)

    PSG to Win – Superior attacking depth.

    Both Teams to Score (Yes) – Spurs can hurt PSG, but may concede multiple.

    Over 2.5 Goals – Open, attacking styles.

    Anytime Scorer: Mbappé – Big-game threat.

    Correct Score (Risky): PSG 3–1 – Likely pattern based on form.

  • Oblak signs Atletico contract extension to 2023

    Goalkeeper as signed a contract extension with Atletico Madrid, which will keep him at the club until 2023.

    The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has kept 115 clean sheets in 203 appearances since joining the club in 2014.

    “I am very happy to have signed a contract extension and to be here,” Oblak said.

    “I’m going to defend these colours to the best of my abilities and continue working hard.”

    READ ALSO: Spartan fighting spirit

    Oblak joined as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who returned to Chelsea following his loan spell in the Spanish capital and helped the club win the Spanish Super Cup in his first season.

    The Slovenia international has since added the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup — while his penalty save in the 2016 Champions League semifinal win over Bayern Munich helped Atletico reach a second final in three years.

    “The agreement certainly is great news for the Atleti Family, as we ensure the continuity of one of the world’s finest goalkeepers,” the club wrote on their website.

  • United’s Mourinho eyes first Super Cup win in Real reunion

    United’s Mourinho eyes first Super Cup win in Real reunion

    Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho can collect the one European trophy he lacks when his side face Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday.

    This will be his first competitive meeting with the Spanish giants since an acrimonious split in 2013.

    Mourinho won the Europa League last season to salvage an otherwise disappointing first campaign under the Portuguese.

    During his stint in Spain, he had led Real to the Liga title with a record 100 points and won a King’s Cup in an eventful stay between 2010 and 2013.

    His achievements at the Santiago Bernabeu were overshadowed, however, by his falling out with key dressing room figures such as Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas.

    He also had confrontations with referees and opponents plus a failure to win the Champions League as Real lost in the semifinals each year.

    Mourinho’s legacy has been upstaged by the Spanish club’s three Champions League triumphs in the four years since his departure.

    Although in a recent interview the Portuguese claimed he had “to beg” Real’s board to let him leave for Chelsea.

    Champions League holders Real will be without talisman and former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Skopje, Macedonia as the Portugal international was allowed to report late for pre-season training after he played in the Confederations Cup.

    Zinedine Zidane’s side beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra-time last year to win the showcase match.

    The French coach is targeting a fourth European trophy in less than two years in charge of Real, which would match Mourinho’s tally of continental titles.

    United, meanwhile, will be missing central defenders Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, due to suspension, opening up a place in the starting lineup for new recruit Victor Lindelof.

    The Swede is one of three signings made so far by United, along with Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku and midfield anchorman Nemanja Matic.

    They arrived at a combined cost of 146 million pounds ($190.34 million) as the Old Trafford side looks to improve on a disappointing sixth-placed Premier League finish last term.

    Real have added promising youngsters Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos to their talent-packed squad which won a Liga and Champions League double last season, while parting ways with forwards Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez.

    Their reported interest in French teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe has yet to materialise, however.

    United beat Real on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a friendly in California last month and won five of their other pre-season games, losing only to Barcelona.

    Real, meanwhile, failed to win any of their four friendlies in the United States in 90 minutes.

    They lost 3-2 to Barca and got thrashed 4-1 by Manchester City, their only win came in a shoot-out victory over an MLS All-Stars team.

    “The sensation overall is not good, when you don’t win any of your four games something is wrong,” Zidane told reporters after the tour.

    “We have to do a lot more, we’ve made a bad start with these results and what we all want is to get home, rest and think about the Super Cup.”

  • Ronaldo dreams England return 

    Ronaldo dreams England return 

     

    Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he wants to leave Real Madrid and return to England, just days before facing his old club Manchester United in the UEFA Super Cup.

    Spanish radio Cadena Ser has revealed extracts of Ronaldo’s defence in front of a judge this week held in a court just outside of Madrid as part of the investigation into his alleged €14.7m tax fraud.

    The player had a private hearing with judge Monica Gomez Ferrer on Monday and it is not unusual for declarations to be leaked to the media often by the investigated parties themselves.

    Cadena Ser reported on Friday that Ronaldo told the judge: ‘I never had a problem in England… that’s why I would like to go back to England.’

    Ronaldo was furious when originally accused of tax evasion earlier this summer and the Portuguese paper ‘A Bola’ reported that he had made an ‘irreversible’ decision to leave Spain as a consequence.

    With PSG focusing on Neymar and Manchester United convinced they could not afford to re-sign their former player Ronaldo’s determination appeared to subside.

    But in his 90 minute hearing in midweek he seems to have made it clear a summer exit is still on his mind.

    Real Madrid are keen to sell one of their famed front three forward line of Karim Benzema, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale this summer so as to make space for €180m-rated 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe who has told the club he does not want to come only to sit on the bench.

  • Two games ban for Jones as UEFA fine Man Utd

    Two games ban for Jones as UEFA fine Man Utd

     

    Phil Jones has been banned for two matches and Daley Blind fined by UEFA after the Manchester United pair were found guilty of breaching the governing body’s doping regulations after the Europa League final in May.

    Jones was charged for “insulting and directing abusive language” towards a doping control officer after he was requested to attend drug testing after the final in Stockholm on May 24, and will now miss the UEFA Super Cup match against Real Madrid next week and United’s first Champions League group stage match in September. He has also been fined €5,000 (£4,475).

    It is understood Blind was reluctant to take a test as requested because he wanted to celebrate with his team-mates, whose 2-0 victory over Ajax ensured their qualification for this season’s Champions League. He was fined €5,000 (£4,475)

    United have been fined €10,000 (£8,950) over the rule breaches.

    The club are understood to be aware of UEFA’s decisions, and have three days to appeal against them. However, they have not yet indicated to UEFA whether they will or not.