It was a final that had a narrative that matched this peculiar fixture. Spurs played like the Champions League winners to see them go two goals up before PSG got up from their deckchairs with 10 minutes to go to remind everyone who is the real boss in European football.
The strange vibe for this game started the day before. Gianluigi Donnarumma was left at home and would soon exit through the back door onto pastures new. His decision was somewhat made because PSG brought in Lucas Chevalier, and as Luis Enrique suggested in his pre-match press conference, they wanted to go in a different direction.
There was nothing he could have done about the first goal, but the second may have brought a wry smile to the lips of his departed colleague. A header at the back post from Cristian Romero saw the keeper get to the ball, but he pushed under it as it bounced into the net.
Stranger things were to come. Tottenham Hotspur fans were promised a more pragmatic style of play, a more structured way, under Thomas Frank. He duly delivered in the opening 81 minutes.
Their shape was solid, their pressing sharp, their spirit unbroken as they were aided by a rusty PSG side. Their manager admitted before the game that they had barely trained for a week before the encounter.
Given their season finished in mid-July, the players needed a break, but their lack of football was on show for all to see. The Parisiens seemed unable to find their usual rhythm with the ball, and without it, they struggled to compete with a robust Spurs.
Bench saves PSG blushes
But Fabian Ruiz, ever Mr Reliable, came off the bench to change that. It allowed Vitinha to sit deeper, and it was the little Portuguese midfielder who sparked their resurgence.
A pass to another substitute, Lee Kang-In, saw them reduce the arrears and put pressure on a Spurs team looking to remove the shackle of chokers from their neck.
They had done it back in May against Manchester United, but that noose got tighter two minutes from time. Ousmane Dembele, named man of the match, found Goncalo Ramos to level.
Luis Enrique had made the difference from the bench, his two changes proving dividends to drag his side back into the game, one they had no right to be in late on.
For the 25,000 sellout in the 50th Super Cup, a penalty shootout awaited. And it was Chevalier, no doubt worried about his earlier missed save, who stood up when it counted.
He stopped Micky van de Ven - the first goalscorer for Spurs - from putting away his spot-kick - whether Donnarumma was still smiling at this point can't be confirmed.
Nuno Mendes would be the final hero for PSG, netting the crucial penalty and winning his side’s first-ever Super Cup.
This odd evening had a fitting conclusion, and, in truth, both managers should walk away pleased.
For Luis Enrique, his side showed that fighting spirit when severely undercooked to win another trophy, whilst Frank will be encouraged that his side has been able to almost deliver the sort of performance he was mandating. It was a cruel defeat given they dominated for such a large part of the encounter, but those are the hard lessons you learn from when you face off against the best in the world.
For the ever-nuanced online community, this will be another stick to beat Spurs with. They did ‘Spurs’ it up, but maybe it is time to start a new moniker - PSG ‘PSGed’ until the very end.