PSG beats Marseille on penalties to win the French Champions Trophy

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Marseille on penalties to win the chaotic French Champions Trophy in Kuwait on Thursday.

PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was the hero of the evening, saving two penalties as PSG won the penalty draw 4-1 after a frantic end to the match, leaving the two sides tied at 2-2.

Desire Doue converted the decisive penalty after Chevalier saved efforts from Marseille’s Matt O’Riley and Hamed Traore.

PSG had taken an early lead when Ballon d’Or-winning striker Ousmane Dembele deftly lifted the ball over Marseille keeper Geronimo Rulli.

Only Rulli’s quick thinking prevented Nuno Mendes from doubling PSG’s lead a few minutes later.

Rulli’s counterpart, Chevalier, showed his own skill as a goalkeeper when he denied Marseille defender Emerson’s goal shot after half an hour.

PSG had Chevalier to thank again as the stopper somehow kept out Igor Paixao’s header on the hour mark.

But with 15 minutes to go, an ugly challenge from Chevalier resulted in a Marseille penalty and, after VAR confirmation, Mason Greenwood coolly converted the spot-kick.

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With the match just three minutes away from penalties, centre-back Willian Pacho’s ill-advised move confused his keeper as Marseille suddenly found themselves on the verge of sealing their first silverware since the French League Cup title in 2012.

But in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Goncalo Ramos poked home Bradley Barcola’s cross to set up penalties and ultimately victory for Luis Enrique’s PSG.

This was PSG’s record-extending 14th win in France’s equivalent of the ‘Super Cup’ in a match virtually avoided by both sides’ fans due to travel costs.

A banner unfurled at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille last Sunday, during the 2-0 defeat to lowly Nantes in Ligue 1, summed up the general mood of discontent among supporters watching the encounter.

It read: «FCT 2026 in Kuwait. And on the moon before 2027?»

The match between the Ligue 1 champions and the French Cup winners has led a nomadic existence over the years as the French Football Federation looks to promote Ligue 1 beyond its borders.

Previous editions took place in Canada, China, Gabon, Israel, Qatar, the US, Morocco and Austria.

Published on January 9, 2026