PSG's Five-Goal Frenzy: Enrique Calls Out a Star After a Stormy Paris Night

Match Recap

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique openly criticized a PSG player after a dramatic 5-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday night in Paris.

Tottenham had twice taken the lead with goals from Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani in the 35th and 50th minutes, but PSG equalized through Vitinha in the 45th and 53rd minutes, then surged ahead with a scoring burst by Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Willian in the 59th, 65th and 75th minutes, before Muani pulled one back in the 72nd.

With the win, PSG rise to 12 points, move to second place, and strengthen their direct qualification hopes for the knockout stage, ahead of their trip to Athletic Bilbao on 10 December.

Tottenham stay on eight points in 15th, set to host Slavia Prague in the final group fixture.

PSG finished the match with ten men after Lucas Hernandez received a straight red card in the 93rd minute for a reckless off-ball incident against a Tottenham player.

Hernandez had started on the bench and came on in the second half, replacing the left-back Nuno Mendes.

Enrique commented after the game, “I didn’t like the red card. Who likes to see one of his players sent off? It’s unusual and not normal, and I’ll talk about it because it’s a dangerous pattern.”

He added, “I trust there was no bad intent, because I know Lucas Hernandez well, but every player must understand how to control himself and his emotions during a match.”

Special praise

Beyond the red card, Enrique praised the Porto-based midfield trident of Vitinha, Neves, and Ruiz along with the rest of the team, noting that Vitinha was among the standout performers and highlighting the work of the right flank, where Warren Zaïr Emre influenced the attack as well.

Enrique concluded, “The scenario was different, but I am eager to see the team as a solid unit, fully fit and together, as soon as possible.”

Vitinha scored the first hat-trick of his career in a night that saw Paris unleash a late goal spree to cap a memorable showdown at the Parc des Princes.

European trajectory

In Europe this season, PSG have played four continental matches, recording as many wins and opening the campaign by conquering the European Super Cup against Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 finish. In the Champions League, they started with three straight wins—beating Atalanta 4-0 at the Parc des Princes, Barcelona 2-1 at Montjuïc, and Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 in Germany—before a 1-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the fourth game, followed by the 5-3 win over Tottenham to rebound.

In Ligue 1 for the 2025-2026 season, PSG have notched nine victories, one defeat to Olympique Marseille in the Derby, and three draws. The champions have defeated Nantes and Angers 1-0, then crushed Toulouse 6-3, defeated Lens 2-0, beat Lorient 2-0, and most recently eased past OGC Nice with a 1-0 result, among other results that kept them near the top of the table.

Before the October international break, PSG drew away to Lille 1-1, then drew again with Strasbourg at home (3-3) before a string of results that included a Brest win, a Lorient draw, and successive wins over Nice and Lyon, punctuated by a late victory over Le Havre.

In short, Paris looks balanced between continental spectacle and domestic grind, with a mix of star power, tactical discipline, and the occasional red card to keep the plot lively.

Punchline time, sniper style: If football were a sniper rifle, Enrique would be the guy who aims with precision, then tells a joke while the target ducked. Punchline two: When life gives you a red card, make it a punchy managment moment—edge of the seat drama with a dash of dark humor to keep everyone smiling through the post-match press conference.