Aston Villa 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain are the 2026 UEFA Super Cup champions thanks to a narrow win over Aston Villa as Unai Emery’s Premier League side gave a great account of themselves.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave PSG a 21st minute lead before Villa’s 17-year-old wunderkid Brian Madjo levelled on the brink of half-time. Villa were well worth their goal but went behind again to a desire Doue strike midway through the second half and that was enough for PSG to record back-to-back wins.
Last year PSG beat Europa winners Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties after they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. The UEFA Super Cup 2026 betting odds backed a PSG win and in my SBOTOP preview of the game I said I anticipated penalties; I was wrong but not too far away!
Highlights of the game
After a frustrating summer in the transfer market PSG made a first big signing of the summer in French attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche in a €50 million move from AS Monaco and he made a start tonight. But it was a January 2025 signing who opened the scoring as Georgian magician Kvaratskhelia cut inside and fired a bullet past Marco Bizot and into the net.
The Parisians could have doubled their lead when Nuno Mendes found space down the left flank but with three players waiting his cross missed them all and Villa breathed a sigh of relief. But then the UEFA Super Cup 2026 highlights for the rest of the opening half were dominated by Madjo and he could have already bagged a couple of goals before he levelled on 45 minutes. First, he headed narrowly wide from a John McGinn cross and then, when George Hemmings put him in Madjo fired a sweet shot just off target.
He should have scored with a free header from another McGinn cross, but his effort flew over and then he crashed a shot against the upright after a powerful run, but Madjo’s reward eventually came when he side-footed a volley in from another great ball from McGinn to make it 1-1 at the break.
Ousmane Dembele appeared at the start of the second half to replace Akliouche, and the France star almost created a goal with a superb turn in the box, but the ball was nudged away from him as he prepared to shoot. But PSG went ahead again on the hour when Doue raced through toe score, and though the flag went up for offside a VAR review gave the goal as it looked like Matty Cash just played the striker onside.
Villa responded by bringing on young Brazilian Alysson and he almost had an immediate impact, bursting down the right wing before crossing to Joao Gomes who had his shot blocked. And just as Madjo had a huge impact in the first half, Alysson threatened to undo PSG with a dangerous ball across the six-yard line which just evaded any takers. Meanwhile, Kvaratskhelia almost doubled his tally and PSG’s lead, but his clever lob was cleared off the line by Cash.
Villa gave all they could to get another equaliser and Emiliano Buendia met a cross from Ian Maatsen, but his header drifted wide; and that was the last action of a thoroughly entertaining game.
Key statistics
The European Cup or Champions League holders have now won 31 of the 51 UEFA Super Cup titles but it didn’t come easy for PSG who dominated possession, with over 64 per cent of the ball and won the shots on target by six to four, though Villla had more attempts at 15 to 12.
What’s next?
The French champions start their title defence on Sunday 23rd August with a home match against Rennes and on the same day Aston Villa will kick off their Premier League campaign with a fascinating away trip to Brighton, to play the Seagulls who finished eighth in the league last term to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
In the meantime, qualification rounds for the Europa League and Conference League are underway and this weekend, as well as La Liga kicking off the English Championship gets underway when the relegated three of West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers attempt to bounce back to the top flight. And the curtain-raiser of the Community Shield promises to be a cracker on Sunday, when Premier League champions Arsenal will take on FA Cup winners Manchester City…and I’ll be back with my thoughts on how that went on Sunday night. And PSG play in the Trophée des Champions against RC Lens.
Domestic football is back with a bang, and the European Champions have already picked up their first piece of silverware…but Emery’s Aston Villa deserves huge credit.
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