Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille produced a chaotic French Champions Trophy encounter in Kuwait, eventually settled by spot-kicks after normal time ended 2-2 on Thursday night. The contest swung repeatedly, with both sides enjoying spells of dominance and moments of costly error.
PSG struck first through Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d’Or holder delicately lifting his finish beyond Geronimo Rulli to set the early tone. The Parisians threatened to extend their advantage soon after, only for Rulli’s sharp reactions to deny Nuno Mendes from close range.
At the other end, Lucas Chevalier was equally influential. The PSG goalkeeper reacted swiftly to block a powerful effort from Emerson midway through the opening half, keeping his side in front during a lively spell.
Chevalier’s reflexes were tested again shortly after the break when he somehow prevented Igor Paixao’s header from crossing the line, a save that proved crucial as momentum began to shift.
Late twists and stoppage-time rescue
With fifteen minutes remaining, the match turned when Chevalier’s clumsy challenge inside the area resulted in a penalty. Following a VAR review, Mason Greenwood calmly dispatched the spot-kick to draw Marseille level.
As the game edged toward penalties, Marseille appeared poised to snatch victory. A misjudged clearance from Willian Pacho caught Chevalier off guard, allowing Marseille to take the lead and seemingly end their long wait for silverware.
However, PSG refused to surrender. Deep into injury time, Goncalo Ramos reacted quickest to Bradley Barcola’s delivery, poking the ball home to restore parity and force the contest into a shootout.
Shootout success and wider context
The penalty decider belonged to Chevalier. The goalkeeper redeemed himself by stopping attempts from Matt O’Riley and Hamed Traore, giving PSG control of the shootout. Desire Doue then converted the decisive kick as PSG secured a 4-1 victory from the spot.
The triumph marked PSG’s 14th success in France’s equivalent of the Super Cup, further extending their record in the competition. Despite the spectacle on the pitch, the event drew criticism from supporters, largely due to the expense of travelling to Kuwait. A banner displayed in Marseille days earlier mocked the choice of venue, reflecting widespread frustration.
The Champions Trophy has frequently been staged abroad as the French Football Federation looks to showcase Ligue 1 internationally, with previous editions held across several continents. This nomadic approach has often divided opinion among fans.
Attention now shifts back to domestic and European duties. Both sides face French Cup ties next week, while PSG, currently one point behind Lens, prepares to host Lille. Marseille, sitting third and seven points back, travels to Angers. In continental competition, PSG aims to secure direct passage to the Champions League last 16, while Marseille remains in the hunt for a playoff place.
