Tottenham may have put in a more positive display against PSG than against Arsenal on Sunday, but they came away from Paris defeated in an eight-goal thriller despite twice taking the lead.
Richarlison headed in during the first half after a great team move from Spurs before an incredible strike from Vitinha just before half-time drew the hosts level.
Randal Kolo Muani, playing against his parent club, put Spurs back in front before Vitinha again drew the teams level with another lovely finish. Two poor goals to concede followed, though, as the early promise from Spurs evaporated. Kolo Muani made it 4-3 before Vitinha completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after a handball. PSG then had Lucas Hernandez sent off in stoppage time.
After the derby defeat on Sunday, this performance against the Champions League holders brought some positivity but Frank and supporters will still be concerned by the manner in which they conceded.
Spurs now have eight points from five Champions League league-phase games, with PSG on 12 points.
Jack Pitt-Brooke and Elias Burke break down the talking points from the game in Paris.
What were the positives for Frank?
This was Spurs’ second defeat in four days, and they conceded even more goals tonight (five) than they did on Sunday (four).
At points, they looked casual and shambolic at the back, making mistakes that will always be punished by the reigning European champions. Defending like this is not remotely sustainable. And yet despite all of that, there were far more positives to take from this game than there were on Sunday.
Frank proved he can get the team to press high in a concerted way, even against a good opponent, as they did for much of the first half. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall provided energy and purpose in midfield, two things that Tottenham have lacked this year. The front pair worked well and caused PSG problems.
The challenge will be to take the good bits of tonight into Saturday’s game with Fulham, but none of the bad bits.
Jack Pitt-Brooke
How did Vitinha score that?
PSG were firmly second-best for much of the first half, as Tottenham's intense press stifled their attempts to build out from the back. But world-class players influence matches even when things aren’t going well, and that’s what Vitinha did brilliantly on the stroke of half-time.
Quentin Ndjantou, making his first Champions League start, took advantage of Spurs being slow to react to the possibility of a short corner, receiving a pass near the top-right corner of the Spurs area.
The 18-year-old then slid the ball towards Vitinha, who was unmarked at the top of the semi-circle on the edge of the box.
Then, with the ball travelling across his body, the Portugal international approached the ball face-on and struck a powerful effort which cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the bottom-right corner of Guglielmo Vicario’s goal, putting the home side back on level terms at 1-1.
To approach a moving ball face on and swipe across it, with limited backlift, is a technique of the very highest order. Minutes away from going into half-time behind in consecutive Champions League matches, Vitinha produced a moment of magic.
He then went on to add a second and completed his first senior hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Elias Burke
How did the Richarlison and Kolo Muani combo work?
Centre forward has been a problem position for Tottenham this season. Dominic Solanke has still not started a game all season, after having surgery on an ankle injury.
Richarlison has not convinced, working hard but often looking sluggish and imprecise. Kolo Muani took time to get fit and has yet to score in the Premier League. But Frank decided to start them both together, for only the second time, and it worked well.
Both men worked hard, trying to press PSG high up and stop their possession game. And they combined well for Spurs' first two goals. First, Kolo Muani headed Archie Gray's cross at the far post, setting up Richarlison to nod in. And then at the start of the second half, Richarlison kept alive Pedro Porro's corner at the far post, Gray competed for the ball and Kolo Muani volleyed in. One goal each, and a good night's work for Spurs' big man/big man tandem act up front.
And then, when the game looked dead, Kolo Muani drove through the PSG defence to bag his second of the night. Three goals shared between the two strikers, and a good night of work.
Jack Pitt-Brooke
What did this tell us about PSG?
It was far from vintage for Luis Enrique’s side, but after the 2-1 defeat at home to Bayern Munich last time out, it’s a positive step towards automatic qualification for the knockout stages.
PSG were better in the second period, but did not reach their sweeping and brilliant best. Granted, Enrique is without Desire Doue, who won player of the match in last year’s Champions League final, and started the match with Ndjantou leading the line, who is yet to score his first career goal. If not for sloppy defending and build-up play from Spurs (as well as Vitinha’s excellent hat-trick), PSG loanee Kolo Muani may have stolen the headlines at the Parc des Princes, bagging a brace and an assist against his parent club. Fortunately for the hosts, however, Spurs gifted them at least two of their five.
With their fourth win from five games, PSG are in the top three and among the heavy favourites to reach the Puskas Stadium in Budapest for the final in May. Luis Enrique will be under no illusions that the team must improve before then, and there are a number of stars sidelined with injuries, but if the league phase is worth nothing more than ensuring you qualify for the knockout stages, PSG are well on their way.
Elias Burke
What did Frank say?
Speaking to TNT after the game, Thomas Frank said: "I am very pleased with the performance. Today was much more the identity of the team, the bravery and aggressiveness of the team. There were lots of positives, the two strikers scoring three goals between them, the whole team performed really well. The performance was to get something out of the game but then you need to have the margins with you but we can't concede some of the goals we did.
"Of course it will always be concerning when we concede four and five but these (PSG and Arsenal) were two completely different games. This was more of what I want. Today we competed. Today was a team with soul and character and you need that."
He added that he felt Vitinha "is the best midfielder in the world. He will be the next Ballon d'Or winner".
Speaking about the performance from Kolo Muani, Frank said: "It can definitely be a turning point but the two goals will give him confidence going forward. He has struggled a bit with confidence but now he is looking better and better."
What next for Spurs?