Tottenham Hotspur arrived in Paris with belief and left with bruised pride. For the opening hour, Thomas Frank’s side produced a far sterner showing than the timid performance that had drawn criticism after the north London derby.
They matched the holders in intensity and invention, and it was Richarlison who rewarded that endeavour, powering a close-range header to give Spurs the lead and spark dreams of an upset.
But the momentum swung in a heartbeat. Seconds before the break, Vitinha unleashed a spectacular right-foot strike that flew past Guglielmo Vicario and into the net, a sucker-punch that erased Spurs’ advantage and reset the contest.
Richarlison nodded Spurs into a deserved lead after 35 minutes. Vitinha struck a superb right-footed equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Randal Kolo Muani put Tottenham back ahead five minutes after the interval.
PSG then seized control with three goals in 12 minutes from Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz and Willian Pacho. Kolo Muani rekindled hope for Spurs after 72 minutes, but Vitinha completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot four minutes later.
Five minutes after the restart, Randal Kolo Muani — facing his parent club — scrambled Spurs back in front, only to trigger the kind of response that has undone elite teams in Europe.
PSG produced a devastating 12-minute spell: Vitinha struck again with his left, Fabián Ruiz capitalised on a turnover to put the hosts ahead, and Willian Pacho exploited defensive confusion to make it 4-2. The Parc des Princes roared as the holders asserted the ruthless, clinical edge that defines their continental pedigree.
Tottenham refused to fold. Kolo Muani’s emphatic finish after 72 minutes offered a lifeline and a flicker of belief.
That hope was extinguished almost immediately when Cristian Romero’s handball handed PSG a penalty and Vitinha coolly converted to complete a memorable hat-trick. Tempers flared late: substitute Lucas Hernandez was sent off in stoppage time for an elbow on Xavi Simons, but the result was already sealed.
Frank’s decision to abandon the criticised five-man defence in favour of a traditional back four, shielded by Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur, paid dividends for large stretches.
Spurs were sharper out of possession, more aggressive in attack and, for a time, looked capable of upsetting the holders.
Yet the match was decided by moments of defensive carelessness, most notably when Pape Matar Sarr was robbed, allowing Fabián Ruiz to strike the decisive goal. That lapse, and a failure to protect a half-time lead, proved costly.
Bench depth and selection also raised eyebrows: Joao Palhinha, Mohammed Kudus, Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert were unused options, suggesting Frank had one eye on domestic fixtures. Now Spurs head into their next fixtures with form that needs urgent repair.
The defeat drops Spurs to 16th in their Champions League group and makes victory against Slavia Prague essential. For PSG, the win underlines their continental credentials and the match-winning quality of Vitinha, whose brilliance swung a thriller decisively in the holders’ favour.
