PSG beat Aston Villa 2-1 to claim UEFA Super Cup at Red Bull Arena

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday night to lift the UEFA Super Cup 2026. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue scored for PSG, while 17-year-old Brian Madjo pulled Aston Villa level before half-time.

A cagey opening gave way to PSG breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute when Kvaratskhelia finished a move that left Marco Bizot unable to stop the shot. PSG then applied sustained pressure on Villa’s defence, creating repeated attacking sequences that troubled the visitors. Villa gradually adjusted and began targeting lofted crosses into the penalty area, an approach that brought them reward just before half-time.

Brian Madjo converted John McGinn’s cross with a header in the 45th minute to draw Aston Villa level at the break. The 17-year-old had earlier given away the ball that contributed to Kvaratskhelia’s opener and had missed several chances before his equaliser, but he completed a competitive debut with the headed goal.

PSG regained the lead shortly after the hour when Desire Doue finished into the far corner in the 61st minute, a move set up by Ousmane Dembele and confirmed after a VAR check. That strike proved decisive as Paris Saint-Germain withstood late Villa pressure to preserve the one-goal advantage.

Luis Enrique left Ousmane Dembele on the bench at the start, handing a competitive debut to Maghnes Akliouche, who failed to make a noticeable impact before being substituted at half-time. Dembele’s introduction at the interval reinvigorated PSG and led directly to the decisive pass for Doue’s goal.

Aston Villa were without several regulars for the match: Alejandro Garnacho was ruled out with a head injury, prompting manager Unai Emery to start George Hemmings on the left flank, and Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez were not in the squad after extended post-World Cup holidays. The absence of those players shaped Emery’s selection and gave opportunities to younger members of the squad.

Paris Saint-Germain secured the UEFA Super Cup 2026 and remain back-to-back UEFA Champions League winners, ‘‘only the second team to achieve this feat,’’ the report stated, with the club now also holding consecutive Super Cup titles. The victory adds another European trophy to PSG’s season before both clubs resume their respective domestic campaigns.