Richarlison starts: Tottenham predicted XI to face PSG
Tottenham Hotspur will look to pick up another piece of silverware when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup.
The two sides will lock horns in Udine, Italy, on Wednesday at 8pm (UK time), in a battle between the Champions League and Europa League winners.
It’s Tottenham‘s first competitive match since the final game of the Premier League season, and just their second since they beat United in the Europa League final in Bilbao.
| Opponent | Result |
| Reading (A) | 2-0 W |
| Wycombe (H) | 2-2 D |
| Luton (A) | 0-0 D |
| Arsenal (N) | 1-0 W |
| Newcastle (N) | 1-1 D |
| Bayern Munich (A) | 4-0 L |
PSG, meanwhile, have had a busy summer, going all the way to the final of the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States, before losing 3-0 to Chelsea.
Tottenham predicted XI vs PSG
Spurs will be without James Maddison for the majority of the upcoming campaign after he tore his ACL in a friendly against Newcastle in South Korea — with the Lilywhites understood to be seeking out a replacement.
The England international joins Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin on the long-term treatment table.
Dominic Solanke is nearing a return to fitness after missing most of pre-season, but this game likely comes too soon for him — a place in the squad for Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Burnley this weekend feels more realistic.
However, left-back Destiny Udogie is likely to miss both matches as he continues to work back from a knee injury.
In better news for Spurs fans, new signings Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha are both available for action and could come straight into the starting line-up for this curtain-raiser.
Richarlison has been linked with a move away from Spurs this summer, but should lead the line in the absence of Solanke, giving the Brazilian a big opportunity to prove to Thomas Frank that he deserves to stay.
Spurs up against it vs all-conquering PSG
Although they haven’t been the busiest club in the market, this could feel like a very different Spurs side to the one that beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.
Thomas Frank has replaced Ange Postecoglou, while the likes of Son Heung-min, Fraser Forster and Mikey Moore have all departed in various guises — alongside the additions of Kudus and Palhinha.
“I’m very clear on the principles on every phase of the game. I want us to be brave and very aggressive. I also want to attack,” Frank said upon being unveiled as manager (Sky, 18 July).
He added: “Brave is absolutely linked [with] ‘To dare is to do’. If you are not brave, it is difficult to achieve anything. Brave is crucial. The aggressivity is crucial if you want to win or achieve something. And you need to attack.”
Spurs will need every ounce of that bravery if they’re to go toe-to-toe with this PSG side.
While the Lilywhites finished 17th last season and saved their campaign with the Europa League win, PSG swept aside everybody before them, becoming the first-ever French team to complete the treble.
The Parisians also went close in the Club World Cup, beating the likes of Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid before simply running out of gas against Chelsea.
But after a month off, the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Vitinha and Ballon d’Or favourite Ousmane Dembele will be itching to get going and add another trophy to their collection.
It’s hard to see Spurs living with them throughout the course of the match.