Tottenham Hotspur saw their unbeaten Champions League run come crashing down in Paris after a chaotic 5-3 defeat to holders PSG. It was a night that promised so much when Spurs took the lead twice, yet it quickly turned into another painful reminder of how fragile the team can be when put under real pressure.
Thomas Frank watched his side lose control in key moments, and despite showing flashes of quality in attack, they were unable to cope with the intensity of Luis Enrique’s side.
Vitinha’s hat-trick was the difference, even though goals from Kolo Muani and Richarlison gave Spurs opportunities to take something from the match. The forward line at least showed signs of progress, but the same cannot be said for several players across the pitch who simply could not handle the occasion.
A handful of starters struggled to make any positive impact, and some performances will leave the head coach with tough decisions to make ahead of the weekend.
Pape Sarr was one player supporters were desperate to see return to the starting lineup after the defeat against Arsenal, but the young midfielder had a night he will want to forget.
He was caught in possession deep in his own half for PSG’s third goal, allowing Fabian Ruiz to punish Spurs with a clean finish. It was exactly the kind of mistake that highlighted the lack of composure in key areas. The pressure of the occasion clearly weighed on Sarr, and although he wasn’t the only one struggling, his error felt like a turning point.
On the left side of the defence, Djed Spence also endured another frustrating evening. Handed a chance to impress, he wasn’t able to complete a single dribble or cross, leaving Spurs without any attacking support down his flank.
Even defensively, he was short of the standard required, winning just 33% of his ground duels and being beaten too easily on one occasion. His lack of confidence showed throughout the match, and it highlighted why he hasn’t fully cemented his place under Frank.
But the lowest point of the evening belonged to Cristian Romero, who produced one of his poorest displays in a Spurs shirt. The captain, usually the pillar of strength in the backline, looked unsettled from the start.
His poorly judged pass into Sarr contributed to the turnover that led to PSG’s third goal, and later he gave away a penalty after handling Vitinha’s effort in the box. It was a night where nothing went right for the Argentine, who appeared a step off the pace and out of sync with the rhythm of the match.
Romero’s numbers reflected the struggle. He lost half of his duels, committed three fouls, was dribbled past twice and lost possession six times.
For a player known for his aggression and leadership, he could not impose himself in any positive way. Football London’s Alasdair Gold did not hesitate to hand him a 3/10 rating, a harsh but fair reflection of his performance.
Below is a table summarising Romero’s difficult night in Paris:
| Cristian Romero – Stats vs PSG | Tally |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 37 |
| Passes completed | 22 |
| Possession lost | 6 |
| Duels lost | 50% |
| Fouls committed | 3 |
| Penalties conceded | 1 |
| Dribbled past | 2 |
Romero’s struggles were symbolic of a wider issue within the team: a lack of calmness and leadership at decisive moments. Spurs had the opportunity to silence the French crowd after taking the lead for a second time, but instead they allowed PSG to dominate the final half hour.
Players like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray showed courage in midfield, and Kolo Muani produced his best game for the club, yet the collapse overshadowed the positives.
Thomas Frank now faces a difficult challenge. He must decide whether to stand by his captain or make changes to avoid another defensive collapse.
Romero will hope he is trusted to put things right when Spurs face Fulham in the Premier League, but there is no question that his place in the team will be discussed behind the scenes.
Tottenham came close to a memorable night in Europe, but instead they walked away frustrated and exposed. If they want to progress in this competition, performances like the one in Paris simply cannot happen again.
