Excitement surges as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur prepare for a title-deciding clash in the Super Cup of Europe.

Paris Saint-Germain Favoured to Win 2023 UEFA Super Cup Against Tottenham Hotspur

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are gearing up for a highly anticipated clash against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup. The French powerhouse is widely tipped to emerge victorious, thanks to their superior form, summer preparations, and a stronger squad compared to Tottenham's challenges and absences.

PSG's ascendancy is evident in their recent triumph as Champions League winners. Their 2024/25 campaign was nothing short of dominant, culminating in a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final. Key additions to their squad include goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who replaces Gianluigi Donnarumma, and attacking stars like Ousmané Dembélé (expected to be fully fit) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who proved decisive in the Champions League knockout stages.

On the other hand, Tottenham face significant hurdles. The summer departure of star forward Son Heung-min to MLS, coupled with injuries to creative players James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, leaves a gaping void in their lineup. New manager Thomas Frank, who takes charge of his first competitive match with Spurs, adds uncertainty regarding team selection and tactics.

Experts and pundits, including Robin Bairner and betting analysis, favour PSG given Tottenham's injuries, lack of key players, and the fact that Tottenham are playing their first competitive game of the season in this match. This may contribute to PSG winning comfortably, though the match is expected to be challenging.

PSG's coach Luis Enrique has expressed the team's intent to compete strongly despite the unusual seasonal preparation, signalling the club's motivation to claim another trophy after their historic treble.

If PSG wins the Super Cup, they will become the first French club to win the trophy. However, Luis Enrique would have preferred more preparation time after the Club World Cup. The Super Cup serves as the prelude to the start of the European leagues.

PSG has signed Lucas Chevalier as a replacement for Donnarumma at a cost of 55 million euros. Renato Marin, a 19-year-old goalkeeper from Roma, has been signed as a backup for Chevalier. Donnarumma, key to PSG's treble win, will not be in the Super Cup due to technical reasons and has negotiated a contract renewal with a salary increase that PSG never accepted.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have said goodbye to Ange Postecoglou, Heung-min Son, Hojbjerg, Reguilón, and Forster. The club has spent almost 150 million euros on signings, including Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Thel, and Palhinha.

It's important to note that PSG and Tottenham have never faced each other in an official match before. PSG's defense is expected to feature Huijsen, while James Maddison will be absent from the Tottenham squad due to a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Joao Neves is suspended for the Super Cup due to pulling Marc Cucurella's hair in the Club World Cup final.

PSG had a 'mini' preseason of only seven days, while Tottenham has had a more conventional preseason with six friendly matches. The cost of acquiring Ilya Zabarnyi, a 68 million euro central defender from Bournemouth, has been a significant investment for PSG.

In conclusion, considering the summer team changes, PSG's stronger and more stable squad, and Tottenham's key absences and managerial transition, PSG are the clear favourites to win the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.

Excitement surges as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur prepare for a title-deciding clash in the Super Cup of Europe.