Paris Saint-Germain, PSG, have reinforced their status as Europe’s top club after defeating Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday in Salzburg.
Champions League winners PSG secured the trophy for the second consecutive year after goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue cancelled out a debut goal from Aston Villa teenager Brian Madjo.
The victory means PSG have successfully defended the title they first won 12 months ago against another Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur.
The UEFA Super Cup brings together the winners of Europe’s top club competition and the Europa League, with Somalian referee Omar Artan officiating the encounter.
Both teams named relatively strong sides ahead of the start of their domestic campaigns. PSG’s starting XI included nine players who lifted the Champions League trophy against Arsenal in May, including Vitinha, Joao Neves and captain Marquinhos.
Villa rested World Cup campaigners Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins, while manager Unai Emery handed debuts to midfielder Joao Gomes and 17-year-old striker Madjo. Boubacar Kamara also made his first start since suffering a serious knee injury in January.
Villa created the first major opportunity when Kamara’s low effort from distance in the 13th minute was watched wide by PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
PSG soon responded, with Marco Bizot parrying an effort before the French side recycled possession to Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger cut inside from the left in the 20th minute and fired a powerful strike into the near post to give PSG the lead.
Kvaratskhelia continued to trouble the Villa defence, later releasing Nuno Mendes, whose cut-back narrowly evaded his teammates.
Villa, however, remained dangerous and should have levelled when Madjo headed John McGinn’s cross wide shortly before the half-hour mark.
The 17-year-old eventually got his reward in the 45th minute when McGinn found him inside the box again, allowing Madjo to fire a left-footed strike into the roof of the PSG net and make it 1-1 at half-time.
PSG manager Luis Enrique responded by introducing Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele for Maghnes Akliouche at the start of the second half.
Villa continued to threaten after the break, with Madjo and McGinn combining again before McGinn forced Safonov into a save.
PSG regained the lead in the 61st minute through Desire Doue. The winger raced down the right and curled the ball into the Villa net, but the goal was initially ruled out for offside.
VAR intervened and determined that Villa right-back Matty Cash had played Doue onside, leading to the goal being awarded and sparking celebrations from the PSG players.
Villa immediately searched for another equaliser, but Safonov denied 19-year-old George Hemmings to preserve PSG’s advantage.
Warren Zaire-Emery also threw himself in front of a Joao Gomes effort as Villa continued to press.
With 15 minutes remaining, Enrique introduced World Cup winner Fabian Ruiz to strengthen PSG’s midfield as Villa pushed for a late equaliser.
Villa’s best opportunity came inside the final 10 minutes when Tammy Abraham narrowly failed to connect with Alysson’s cut-back inside the six-yard box.
PSG ultimately held firm to secure a 2-1 victory and retain the UEFA Super Cup, giving the Qatar-backed Ligue 1 champions a winning start to the new season.
The victory also strengthens PSG’s ambition of becoming the first club to win the Champions League three years in a row.
