Spurs could benefit from UEFA Super Cup rule that wasn't in place for Europa League final vs Man Utd
Spurs could see their chances of beating Paris Saint-Germain bolstered by taking advantage of a little-known UEFA rule ahead of the Super Cup on Wednesday.
Thomas Frank’s Spurs side qualified for the UEFA Super Cup due to their victory over Manchester United in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League final, while PSG defeated Inter in the UEFA Champions League to book their place.
The match will be played at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, where Serie A side Udinese play their home matches.
Of course, PSG, fresh off the back of a treble-winning campaign last term, will come into the game as favourites.
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However, Frank, who spoke to UEFA in the build-up to the clash, is seemingly not fazed at the prospect of facing Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Co.
Frank said: “We're playing in a final; it's fantastic. Hopefully we can use some of the experience we have from the last final that the team played against Manchester United. [Paris] are the best team in Europe. They won the treble, and it looks like they are extremely strong in all 11 starting positions.
“It's a fantastic challenge to have in the first game, but, of course, we believe in ourselves. We're going to a final and there will be one objective – try to win it. We don't see it as a test; we see it as two good teams against each other, and we want to win.”
And containing such talent will undoubtedly prove a test for Frank’s side, but they could benefit from a little-known UEFA rule.
In other UEFA-ruled competitions, such as the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, knockout games which do not conclude in 90 minutes continue for 30 minutes of extra time.
However, this is not the case during the Super Cup.
As per UEFA’s regulations, “if the result stands as a draw at the end of normal time, no extra time is played at the end of the match. A penalty shoot-out determines the winner”.
Therefore, tired Spurs players will get at least some respite after facing PSG’s world-class operators during normal time.
Both Spurs and PSG have never won the UEFA Super Cup.
Topics: Tottenham Hotspur, PSG, UEFA Super Cup, Football, UEFA
Luke Davies