50% duels lost: 3/10 Spurs dud produced his worst game for Spurs vs PSG
Tottenham Hotspur’s impressive unbeaten streak in this season’s Champions League came crashing down in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, as defending champions Paris Saint-Germain claimed a commanding 5-3 victory at the Parc des Princes.
Despite the daunting atmosphere in the French capital, Spurs twice struck first and looked capable of causing a major upset. But Thomas Frank’s team ultimately couldn’t maintain their composure or defensive discipline, allowing PSG to overturn the game and reassert their European dominance.
The night belonged to Vitinha, whose outstanding hat-trick proved decisive for Luis Enrique’s men. His ruthlessness in front of goal ensured PSG got over the line, piling further pressure on Frank as Tottenham slump deeper into their current run of poor results.
Although goals from Kolo Muani and Richarlison highlighted Spurs’ attacking potential and offered Frank something to build on going forward, the positives ended there. A number of first-team players struggled badly on the big stage, failing to make the most of the opportunities handed to them.
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Several Spurs players fail to take their chance
After heavy scrutiny of Tottenham’s midfield following the derby defeat to Arsenal, Frank opted for another tactical shift. He restored Pape Matar Sarr to the starting XI, hoping the Senegalese midfielder would bring energy and stability to the centre of the pitch.
Many supporters had called for Sarr’s return, but the 23-year-old struggled to impose himself and ultimately failed to justify the selection. His most costly moment came when he was dispossessed deep inside his own defensive third, gifting possession to PSG and allowing Fabian Ruiz to score their third goal. It was a lapse that summed up his evening.
Sarr, however, wasn’t the only one who fell short. Full-back Djed Spence, once again deployed on the left side of the back four, endured another frustrating performance. The Englishman failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles or crosses, leaving Spurs without any real threat from his flank in transition play.
Off the ball, his issues continued. Winning just 33% of his ground duels and being beaten on the dribble at least once, Spence offered little defensive solidity and struggled to keep up with PSG’s pace and movement.
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Cristian Romero’s nightmare in Paris
While a few players—most notably Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray—impressed in central areas and showed why Frank has been rotating heavily in recent weeks, several others were far below the required level. At the top of that list was Cristian Romero.
The Argentine centre-back, who wears the captain’s armband, endured one of his toughest nights in a Spurs shirt. From the first whistle, he looked off the pace and uneasy against PSG’s relentless attacking unit.
Romero’s poorly judged pass into Sarr contributed to the midfielder being robbed for the hosts’ third goal. Later in the game, he was adjudged to have handled Vitinha’s shot, a mistake that handed PSG a penalty—one the Portuguese midfielder coolly converted to complete his hat-trick.
A look at Romero’s numbers tells the story even more clearly:
Two fouls committed
Beaten twice on the dribble
Lost possession six times
Won only 50% of his duels
For a defender of his experience and stature, the performance was well below par. It was therefore no surprise that Football London’s Alasdair Gold awarded him a dismal 3/10 rating, reflecting the scale of his struggles.
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What comes next for Spurs and Romero?
The defeat in Paris has left Thomas Frank with serious decisions to make. Romero’s rashness—a trait that has occasionally resurfaced throughout his Spurs career—was painfully evident, and the head coach may now question whether the Argentine should retain his starting spot as the side look to regain form.
Despite the criticism, Romero will be desperate to respond. Spurs return to Premier League action this weekend against Fulham, and the centre-back will hope Frank keeps faith in him so he can help lead the team to a much-needed victory and begin to repair the damage from a chaotic European night.