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Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur: UEFA Champions League stats & head-to-head

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Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur: UEFA Champions League stats & head-to-head - BBC
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Paris SG and Tottenham have met just once before in European competition, with the French side coming back from 2-0 down to win the 2025-26 European Super Cup on penalties earlier this season.

Across major European competition, Tottenham have lost just two of their last 13 games against sides from France (W6 D5), with their last away from home witnessing them draw 0-0 with Monaco in the UEFA Champions League last month.

Paris SG have lost just one of their last six home UEFA Champions League games against English opponents (W4 D1), a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in March 2025 at the Round of 16 stage.

Tottenham are unbeaten across their last five UEFA Champions League games (W2 D3), keeping four clean sheets in that time. Spurs last enjoyed a longer undefeated run in the competition between October 2018 and April 2019 (seven games).

Paris SG have won six of their last seven games in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League (L1), scoring an average of 3.6 goals per fixture across that stint. That sole loss did come last time out vs Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes, however.

Tottenham have recorded seven clean sheets in their 13 games across the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League in 2025, the most of any team in major European competition this calendar year. The 0.35 xG Spurs allowed on MD4 vs FC København was the lowest tally they had faced in a Champions League match since February 2019 vs Borussia Dortmund (0.10).  Â

Tottenham have only made nine line-breaking passes leading to a shot in the UEFA Champions League this season – across the opening four matchdays, Pafos (5) were the only team to make fewer. Meanwhile, only Real Madrid (45) made more than Paris SG (41) in the same period.

Micky van de Ven is Tottenham’s top scorer in the UEFA Champions League this season with two goals; the last defender to score more times in a single edition of the competition for a Premier League club was John Stones for Manchester City in 2017-18 (3).

The two full backs who were involved in the most shot-ending sequences of play in the opening four rounds of this season’s UEFA Champions League were Paris SG duo Nuno Mendes (37) and Achraf Hakimi (32). Indeed, they were also the two full backs who were involved in the most sequences of play ending in goals (7 each).

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Tottenham news: Spurs 'playing like an extremely efficient relegation-battler team'

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Tottenham news: Spurs 'playing like an extremely efficient relegation-battler team' - BBC
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Tottenham have been playing like an extremely efficient relegation-battler team this season.

Thomas Frank's side sit ninth in the league and are one of four teams tied on 18 points after 12 Premier League games.

Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have scored more goals than Spurs so far this campaign, but in contrast, only Burnley have taken fewer shots (98).

Spurs do, however, have the best shot-conversion rate in the league.

Only Burnley, Sunderland and Aston Villa have a lower xG as well, so it is worth noting that Villa are getting results without playing very well too.

Switching to Spurs' defensive record, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been one of the best shot-stoppers in the league - only Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson (4.2) has prevented more goals than his 3.6.

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Paris St-Germain vs Tottenham preview: Key stats and player info

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PSG v Tottenham: Key stats and squad summary - BBC
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Swathes of Tottenham Hotspur fans remain unconvinced that Thomas Frank is the right man to take the club forward, and those dissenting voices have grown louder after another listless performance in Sunday's north London derby.

Tottenham's lack of creativity has been something of a theme under Frank, and his switch to a back three/five was also heavily criticised. It remains to be seen whether he sticks with that tactical approach here, given that he employed a similar system in the penalty shootout loss to Paris St-Germain in his first Spurs game.

The Parisians were humbled by Bayern Munich in their last European outing – their only loss at the Parc des Princes this season – but they have never suffered back-to-back Champions League home defeats in their history. A deflated Tottenham look unlikely to alter that record on Wednesday.

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Tottenham news: Opinion - Nick Godwin on crisis

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Tottenham news: Opinion - Nick Godwin on crisis - BBC
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Thomas Frank and his Tottenham team have got themselves into a position of maximum danger.

They have somehow managed to save their worst two performances of the season for their recent games against Arsenal and Chelsea.

This, in the eyes of many fans, is simply unforgivable. They've been asked to be patient for a while now.

However you cannot play like that in those games and not expect an avalanche of criticism.

Talk of injuries, transitional periods and adapting to a new style of play simply falls on deaf ears when Spurs fans have to go to work on Monday morning knowing their Arsenal and Chelsea-supporting colleagues have enough ammunition for weeks of merciless ribbing.

It is not as though the defeats themselves have caused all this upset. Spurs fans have lost plenty of London derbies in the past.

But the abject nature of the losses, devoid of attacking intent, with no plan B and absolutely no powers of recovery, means this manager and this team have nowhere to hide in the face of overwhelming criticism.

So the situation for Thomas Frank and his side has changed very quickly over the past few weeks.

They have gone from diligently carving out a new identity for themselves to a full-blown crisis with unknown consequences.

Frank is now under huge pressure to improve results and performances immediately. His previous cover has gone. Meanwhile, this squad is under the microscope like never before.

Serious questions are being asked about whether some of these players are equipped to take the team back to a respectable Premier League position after last season's disintegration.

Everybody, all of a sudden, is on borrowed time.

This is your Tottenham page.

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Paris St-Germain vs Tottenham: Tell us about your trip

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Paris St-Germain vs Tottenham: Tell us about your trip - BBC
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Can Tottenham get revenge on Paris St-Germain for their defeat in the Super Cup final? Only time will tell, but we would love to hear from you before Wednesday's match.

Are you travelling to Paris for the game? What are your pre-match plans? And how are you feeling about the chances of Thomas Frank's side against the European champions?

We want to hear about it all - and see some photos too!

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Tottenham tactics: Should Spurs be worried about their attack this season?

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Tottenham tactics: Should Spurs be worried about their attack this season? - BBC
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Thomas Frank's start to life as Spurs manager has been a mixed one.

They sit in ninth in the Premier League, but only Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea have scored more than their 20 goals so far this season.

These three teams are currently first, second and third in the table.

Some fans, though, have expressed concerns around Spurs’ attacking performances.

As the league's fourth best scoring side, such criticism may sound harsh, but is it justified?

Sunday's 4-1 drubbing at leaders Arsenal - as well as just one home win this term - certainly hasn't helped.

Here we take an in-depth look into Frank's tactics and how Spurs have created chances.

According to Opta, Spurs are fourth for goals scored but fourth from bottom in expected goals.

They have scored 20 times from an xG of 11.2, meaning they have scored about nine more than the average team would have, from the shots they have taken this season.

Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have also over-performed their xG, but to a far lesser degree. When comparing the number of goals scored above their xG, Arsenal are at 2.7, City 2.0 and Chelsea 0.5.

This suggests the number of goals they are scoring is more sustainable over the course of a season than Tottenham's.

Spurs have the league's best shot conversion rate, but can they continue to be this clinical?

It is important to analyse their performances to understand if the data around their goalscoring form holds up.

To explain why Spurs have 20 goals despite getting into fewer dangerous shooting positions than their rivals, understanding Frank's tactics is the key.

The former Brentford manager's main tactic in attack is based on crosses into the box.

Using a right-footed and left-footed player on the same flank in Pedro Porro and Mohammed Kudus gives his side the option to play both inswinging and outswinging crosses.

Frank wants his players to play balls in from areas from which he believes they can be most effective - including out wide, from the half-space outside the box, or inside the box.

The third zone is often accessed by a central midfielder or full-back's underlapping run and allows for cutbacks to be played into dangerous areas.

In open play, Frank is essentially trying to create small-sided games in the wide areas, in which two or three players rotate and combine in order to create a yard of space for a cross into the box.

Following the cross, Frank wants his players to make runs into the box, arriving at the right time into the spaces between opposition defenders.

The Dane likes his teams to attack the box with numerous players to increase the likelihood of scoring from crosses.

Running down the line before putting the ball into the box also helps push the opposition deeper, which can open up space in front of the defence for attackers to exploit unmarked.

Shots from these situations have resulted in goals for Spurs, with both of Richarlison's efforts against Burnley coming from the Brazilian peeling off the last line.

The other ways Frank's men look to create chances are by counter-pressing to win the ball high up the pitch and maximising set-piece situations.

He describes pressing as an "attacking action" and wants his teams to press aggressively from the front.

Although they predominantly create chances out wide, Spurs have scored while attacking down the middle this season on occasion, but these goals have come after opponents lose the ball following pressure.

Their first goal at Leeds is a good example in which Spurs applied aggressive pressure to win a loose ball in midfield following a goal-kick.

With Leeds now in a disorganised shape, Tottenham were able to break quickly down the middle - resulting in a Mathys Tel goal.

Set-pieces are central to Frank's side as they were for old club Brentford. This season Spurs have scored six times from set-pieces, the fifth most in the league.

Their 3-0 win against Everton is perhaps the best example of their quality and reliance on them.

Frank's men ended the game with a lower xG than their opponents and 1.04 of their 1.72 xG came from set-pieces, with Spurs scoring twice from direct corners.

An unusual situation, though, from which his teams often score from, are in the second phases following set-pieces.

When a corner is cleared, Frank's sides quickly recycle the ball into wide areas. Opponents are unable to get out to these wide areas as quickly as they would when defending in open play, which allows crosses to be played with less pressure.

An added benefit to this scenario is the number of bodies in the box. Shortly after a corner, Spurs are likely to have numerous players in the area to attack the cross and therefore score, addressing Frank's concern around "attacking the last line".

Having explained how Frank wants his Spurs side to attack, we can now answer whether or not their goalscoring numbers accurately reflect how they've played.

Spurs have a concerningly low expected goals tally and this largely reflects the number of shots they have taken this season, with their 110 non-penalty shots the second fewest in the league - above only Burnley.

This tally is partly explained by their over-reliance on wide attacks, with crosses being harder to consistently find attackers in shooting positions cleanly. Only 24.2% of their attacks have come through the middle.

Frank stresses the importance of "attacking the last line" with numbers and timing, but has stated Spurs are only "OK" at it for now. An improvement here will naturally result in more crosses being converted into shots.

As chemistry develops between the wide players on each flank, their ability to combine quickly to create crossing angles in space should improve too. Integrating full-back Destiny Udogie, a natural left-footer, should help diversify Spurs' deliveries from the left.

This wide-first approach, however, is not enough on its own. It is too predictable against deep defences and back-five systems comfortable absorbing crosses and Spurs' lack of central creativity makes breaking down these blocks difficult.

With Palhinha and Bentancur prioritising rest defence, Spurs rarely create chances centrally when attacking a low block.

To score more often in games where they dominate the ball, Spurs will need to make use of their central attacking quality. Xavi Simons, the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are all suited to operating between the lines and would add much-needed variety.

For now, Spurs play in a pragmatic manner. They are efficient and strong from throw-ins, corners and crosses. By preparing well, they turn these fine-margin situations into winning positions, before managing the game with less of the ball.

Spurs' attacks come in bursts rather than through long periods of possession and pressure, unlike Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea's approach, which helps explain the gap between their goals and expected goals.

Frank's attacking pillars will continue to produce goals, but the approach is somewhat predictable.

It is still early in his tenure but Spurs will need to improve their possession-based attacking plan, while retaining their current strengths, to sustain their goals scored.

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Thomas Frank press conference: PSG vs Tottenham preview

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Thomas Frank press conference: PSG vs Tottenham preview - BBC
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Franks says everyone is available from the squad picked at Arsenal.

Reflecting on a chastening defeat against their biggest rivals, Frank offered: "I watched the game back, it was a hard watch. We were not good. The performance was not good and I am not running away form that in any way. The biggest thing for me but the most disappointing was we were not able to compete."

He continued: "We had 53 situations where it was duels or second balls and we came out on top of 17 of those, lost 36. If you don't do that, it's the basic, it is very hard to win any football match. Very simple, we were not aggressive enough when we pushed forward or securing the ball, not landing in the areas where the second ball landed."

The former Brentford boss said he was "convinced" Spurs will bounce back with a performance at PSG.

Speaking about how his squad has reacted to the Arsenal defeat: "I think it's been two good days with talks and meetings. Mainly about us, how we improve, go forward. In football there are setbacks. It was a setback Sunday. It's all about how you react. One thing for sure, you are not going through life without setbacks."

Frank was asked how important it is Spurs stick with a manager and give them time, responding with humour: "Very important. Part of taking this job was to sit here and have the challenges. Part of that is to manage those setbacks, learn from it and move on. One thing I am 1,000% sure of, I know how to build a team and a club and along the way we will do that."

On Randal Kolo Muani: "He wants to perform. Every player wants to show their best. He came very happy to join Tottenham and then he got a dead leg that took longer than we thought. Then the broken jaw, so it's been stop-start. Plus he came and was fit but not top fit. So all that was him playing catch up. I am convinced we will see more and more from him. I like his link-up play, I think he is very good at that. His runs in behind and ability to go one-v-one."

On criticism of his use of a back five at Arsenal: "I don't read anything, articles. We didn't win enough duels, we were not aggressive enough, going forward enough, if you play 4-3-3, 4-3-2-1, it doesn't matter if you are not doing enough of that."

On three wins in 11 games and why it has unravelled: "Sometimes there will always be performances up and down. In 60 games in a season there will be 10-12 perfect, 30 average and then below that. It's about being competitive and then keep doing everything we can to be better and create chances to win matches. My teams will always score goals so we will keep working hard on it."

Do Tottenham take enough risks? "I think we do. Maybe we should do more. I think it's fair to ask the question - we are not creating enough chances, which is reality. It's my job to make sure we do what we can to make more and more."

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Eberechi Eze: All about Arsenal's new superstar

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Eberechi Eze: All about Arsenal's new superstar - BBC
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Before Sunday's north London derby, if we'd asked you to name Arsenal's biggest stars, you might've said Saka, Rice, or Gyökeres.

But after the weekend, there's one name absolutely everyone is talking about: Eberechi Eze.

In his very first season as a Gunner, Eze lit up the derby with a sensational hat-trick against Arsenal's fiercest rivals, Tottenham Hotspur - the kind of performance that instantly turns a player into a club legend.

What makes it worse for Spurs fans is that Eze very nearly signed for Tottenham, before moving to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

Eberechi Oluchi Eze was born in June 1998 in Greenwich, London, to Nigerian parents.

His football career actually started with Arsenal, the club he has supported since he was a young boy.

He joined the club's youth academy, but was released when he was just 13.

That was a tough moment for him - he has said it was one of the hardest things he ever went through.

"That was the worst one. I remember crying in my room for a solid week, my mum telling me that it's going to be OK but not being able to get over it," he said in an interview with the Independent newspaper in the summer.

After leaving Arsenal, he had short spells in the youth systems of Fulham and Reading, before moving to Millwall where he was released again at the age of 18.

It was at this point that Eze considered a future away from football as he prepared to start a part-time job at Tesco and planned to start college courses.

But then came an opportunity at Queens Park Rangers (QPR).

"I honestly have no idea what I would have done," he added. "I didn't like anything at school. Even P.E. was a drag. When my agent told me I had a trial at QPR I just thought: 'I have to get in'. There was no other option."

Eze began making a name for himself at QPR, becoming a key player in the Championship. Known for his dribbling, flair and creativity.

His performances for QPR caught the eye of Crystal Palace, and in 2020 he completed a move to Palace for around £17 million.

Over the next few seasons, he really flourished at Selhurst Park.

He went on to make his England debut in 2023 and scored his first goal earlier this year, in a 3–0 World Cup qualifying win over Latvia at Wembley.

One of his biggest moments came in the 2025 FA Cup final, when he scored the only goal to win the cup for Crystal Palace - their first-ever major trophy.

He also helped the team win the Community Shield soon after.

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Tottenham news: North London derby analysis

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Tottenham news: North London derby analysis - BBC
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Ex-Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy reflected on his former team's display at Arsenal:

"That was as dominant an Arsenal performance against Tottenham as I've seen for a long time. There was a massive gulf between the two teams.

"The Tottenham system with five at the back - be it a 3-4-3 or 5-4-1- can cause the other team problems if, when got the ball, they are brave enough to push wing-backs up a bit higher and get up the pitch to support the front three.

"But Arsenal's quality and physicality just pinned Spurs back. And of course after the second goal, which they felt a little bit harshly done by because of the men in front of the keeper, Spurs were then in a real predicament.

"If they came out and really went after Arsenal, they would have got cut to pieces but also 2-0 was a mountain to climb because the Gunners do not concede many.

"But they will be hugely disappointed - they didn't really lay a glove on Arsenal. Afer the first 20 minutes, they could have been braver, because they had given themselves a platform to do that.

"It is a huge disappointment for Tottenham to lose any north London derby but to lose it in the manner they did was very poor.

"They got completely overrun in the end really - outplayed and out-worked and didn't really hurt Arsenal enough.

"There was already a little bit of discontent at their home games. Now, because of that performance, that's going to grow. The players are going to have to stand up and be counted and Frank is going to learn a lot about his players in the next couple of weeks.

"He is going to learn who is up for it, who has got some courage and who wants to get on the ball and make things happen."

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Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham: Fan views on north London derby

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Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham: Fan views on north London derby - BBC
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We asked for your views on Sunday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Tim: Dominant performance. Controlled the midfield with Declan Rice outstanding. Eberechi Eze's finishes were deadly and 4-1 flattered Spurs. I have been watching Arsenal for 45 years and this is by far the strongest squad I have witnessed. One game at a time...

Vince: Could the stars be any more aligned? From the moment Arsenal hijacked Tottenham's move for Eze, to this weekend where he scored a hat-trick against them while both Liverpool and Manchester City lost, Arsenal have largely been in the ascendency. I'd be half preparing a victory party if this was game number 32 and not number 12!

Lew: Apart from Martin Zubimendi holding onto the ball a bit too long for Spurs to nick it and score, it was a perfect performance. It is a busy winter period with the games coming quick and fast but having depth in our team and our injured players returning, this will hopefully be the season we go all the way.

Chris: An excellent team performance with a starring role for Eze. However, I am always nervous when David Raya advances so far out of his goal. It might be necessary when we are not winning but not when we are. The Spurs goal was partly Raya's fault. He needs to know that we do not need to take risks when we are well ahead. Here, the mistake energised Spurs though they were all huff and puff and failed to trouble us. When you have an opponent on the ropes keep them there and don't take unnecessary risks.

Tottenham fans

Chris: Thomas Frank's plan went wrong. We played long and failed to win the first duels and seldom picked up any second. The pressure did not stop. We played two defensive midfielders who failed to control the space outside the penalty box. It would appear whoever we play up front, the players are distant from each other in mind and body. The game was lost by the 46th minute. It will be a hard watch if we do not find some cohesion, quality and fight.

William: Our performance was one that would not have looked out of place in the Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte regimes - only that Frank does not have Kane and Son to rely on for the counter-attack. There is very little cohesion between the defence and attack, while we seldom looked like scoring, besides Richarlison's moment of magic.

Barrie: We should not be surprised because the squad is not too different from the one we had last season under Ange Postecoglou. Its the old adage of 'if you keep things the same, you should expect the same outcome'. We don't have enough players of high quality to compete consistently with the top sides".

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