PSG beats Aston Villa 2-1 to win second consecutive UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg

Match overview

Paris Saint-Germain began their 2026-27 season the same way they ended the previous one: with a trophy. The Champions League holders defeated Europa League winners Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday, 12 August, at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg to claim their second consecutive UEFA Super Cup. A year after beating Tottenham in the same competition, Luis Enrique's side added another piece of silverware to a cabinet that already includes back-to-back Champions League titles (2024 and 2025) and an Intercontinental Cup. Per El País, PSG's two Super Cup titles equal the record held by Real Madrid and AC Milan.

First half: Kvaratskhelia opens, Madjo responds

After a sluggish opening 20 minutes in which PSG struggled with their usual build-up play, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the score with a powerful right-footed strike from the edge of the box, beating Aston Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot. The Georgian winger, who missed the 2026 World Cup, had been tipped as the offensive leader for the match. Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, grew into the game through 17-year-old Brian Madjo, who was making his first appearance with the first team. Described as Luxembourgish by La Repubblica and English by rts.ch, the striker listed at 1.93 meters caused persistent problems for the PSG defense. He missed chances in the 28th, 35th and 41st minutes before converting a cross from John McGinn in the 45th minute to level the match at 1-1. Madjo's eligibility was secured only a week earlier, when Aston Villa won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport to lift a FIFA ban related to the transfer of minor players.

Second half: Dembélé turns the match

Luis Enrique introduced Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé at halftime in place of new signing Maghnes Akliouche. The tactical shift paid off when Dembélé played a through ball to Désiré Doué, who beat Bizot to restore PSG's lead. Most sources place the goal in the 61st minute, though rts.ch reported it at the 65th. The VAR confirmed Doué was kept onside by Aston Villa defender Matty Cash. Aston Villa pushed for a second equalizer in the closing minutes, but PSG held on to preserve the result.

Coaches and players react

The PSG coach downplayed the trophy count after the match, framing the victory in terms of performance rather than hardware.

“It's not just about the trophies we win, but the way we win them.”

He added that preparing for a match of this intensity was difficult, with some players having returned from the World Cup only two days earlier. Luis Enrique had previously called the scheduling a "surreal situation," given the match came less than a month after the World Cup final. Kvaratskhelia struck a similar note about the challenge of sustaining PSG's level.

“Staying at this level is difficult, but that's why we are working.”

Transfer market backdrop

Both clubs were active in the summer window. Aston Villa sold Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for €138 million and reinvested in Johan Manzambi (€60M), Joao Gomes (€40M) and Italian Matteo Ruggeri (€27M). PSG sold Goncalo Ramos to Milan for €74 million and brought in Akliouche for €50 million.

Rogers (Villa→Chelsea)138

G. Ramos (PSG→Milan)74

Manzambi (→Villa)60

Akliouche (→PSG)50

J. Gomes (→Villa)40

Ruggeri (→Villa)27

Rogers (Villa→Chelsea)

138 €M

G. Ramos (PSG→Milan)

74 €M

Manzambi (→Villa)

60 €M

Akliouche (→PSG)

50 €M

J. Gomes (→Villa)

40 €M

Ruggeri (→Villa)

27 €M

Data from the article text

The referee was 34-year-old Somali Omar Artan, whom UEFA designated for the final after he was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup over immigration issues. UEFA president Alexander Ceferin presented the trophy to PSG at the stadium.