Paris Saint-Germain secures Super Cup victory
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in Salzburg to claim the UEFA Super Cup. The victory marked Paris Saint-Germain‘s retention of the trophy, making them only the third team in history to win consecutive Super Cup titles. The match, held at the Red Bull Arena, saw Desire Doue score the winning goal for the Ligue 1 side.
The game began with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia giving Paris Saint-Germain the lead in the 20th minute. However, Aston Villa‘s Brian Madjo, making his professional debut, equalized just before half-time. Madjo‘s goal made him the youngest player to score in the competition’s history.
Desire Doue then restored Paris Saint-Germain‘s lead in the 62nd minute. His goal, initially disallowed, was confirmed after a VAR review showed Matty Cash playing him onside. Paris Saint-Germain ultimately held on to secure the silverware, starting their 2026/27 campaign with a trophy.
Madjo’s historic debut for Aston Villa
Brian Madjo, at 17 years and 212 days old, became the youngest player to score in the UEFA Super Cup. His goal for Aston Villa came on his professional debut, sparking a strong response from his team. Madjo‘s inclusion in the squad followed Aston Villa winning an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to register him after Fifa had prohibited him from playing. He had arrived from Metz in January for a fee of £10m.
Despite his historic goal, Madjo had several other chances, including three shots that went wide and a header that sailed over the bar. He occupied defenders Willian Pacho and Marquinhos throughout the match. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery praised Madjo‘s performance, highlighting the importance of such experiences for young players.
Aston Villa played without several key players, including Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, and Emiliano Martinez, who were on extended post-World Cup breaks. This provided an opportunity for younger players like Madjo and 19-year-old George Hemmings to showcase their abilities against world-class opposition. Hemmings played the full game and came close to scoring, with Matvey Safonov making a save to deny him.
Match details and future outlook
The opening goal for Paris Saint-Germain came in the 20th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cut inside and struck a powerful shot past Marco Bizot. Madjo‘s equalizer in the 45th minute was a side-footed volley from a cross by John McGinn. Desire Doue‘s winning goal in the 62nd minute followed a pass from substitute Ousmane Dembélé.
Unai Emery expressed pride in his team’s performance, despite the loss, noting their competitive spirit and the chances they created. He mentioned that some changes would be needed for the squad but expressed confidence in the team’s direction. Luis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain‘s coach, also acknowledged the tough nature of the game and praised his players’ determination.
Paris Saint-Germain will next compete in the Champions Trophy against French Cup winners Lens on Sunday. Aston Villa has a friendly match against Mönchengladbach on Saturday before starting their Premier League campaign on Sunday, August 23, with an away game against Brighton.
Both clubs will also be monitoring the UEFA Champions League league phase draw, scheduled for Thursday, August 27.
Source: skysports.com
Ama Serwah
Yaw Appiah
Kwame Ofori