Paris Saint-Germain retain the French Super Cup

Paris Saint-Germain were crowned French Super Cup champions for the fourth consecutive time after defeating their traditional rivals Olympique Marseille 4-1 on penalties, following a thrilling 2-2 draw after both regular and extra time, in the match held at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait amid a strong crowd turnout and a vibrant atmosphere.

Paris Saint-Germain began the match in ideal fashion, imposing their attacking style from the opening minutes and taking an early lead through Ousmane Dembélé in the 13th minute, after receiving a precise long pass from Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, controlling it expertly before lifting a left-footed shot over the goalkeeper and into the net. The Parisian side continued to dominate after the opener, benefiting from the pace of their wingers and sharp movement in the final third.

Saint-Germain maintained their advantage until the 75th minute, in a scenario that felt familiar after having secured last season’s title with a late goal against Monaco in the Qatari capital Doha. However, Marseille refused to surrender and showed strong character in the closing stages, capitalizing on a relative dip in the Parisian side’s performance.

Marseille’s equalizer came via Englishman Mason Greenwood from the penalty spot, awarded following a challenge by goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, before the southern side added a second goal in the 87th minute when Ecuadorian defender William Pacho inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a dangerous cross.

Despite the setback, Paris Saint-Germain displayed the mentality of champions, continuing to press until the final moments and managing to snatch an equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time through Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos, after a swift counter-attack led by Bradley Barcola, sending the match to a penalty shootout.

There, goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier emerged as the hero, saving spot-kicks from Dane Mattéo O’Riley and Ivorian Hamed Junior Traorè, while Paris Saint-Germain converted through Ramos, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, and Désiré Doué to secure the title with a 4-1 shootout victory.

With this win, Paris Saint-Germain strengthened their record in the French Super Cup, claiming the trophy for the 14th time in their history and for the 12th time in the last 13 years, further underlining their domestic dominance over the past decade.

After the match, Spanish coach Luis Enrique praised his players’ spirit, noting that luck can sometimes play a role, but stressing that preparatory work — particularly goalkeeper training for penalty shootouts — proved decisive. He added that his team did not deliver their best performance throughout the match but demonstrated strong mental resilience in the most difficult moments.

On the other hand, Marseille’s Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi expressed his disappointment at the defeat, stating that his side produced one of their best performances in a long time and deserved to lift the trophy, while also emphasizing his pride in the display and character shown by his players against one of Europe’s strongest teams.

The match reaffirmed that the French “Clasico” continues to deliver excitement, and that Marseille have become genuine contenders capable of challenging Paris Saint-Germain, despite the Parisian club’s continued historical superiority.