Paris Saint-Germain secures UEFA Super Cup with 2-1 victory over Aston Villa
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 to secure the UEFA Super Cup in a match held at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg. The victory marked PSG’s second consecutive Super Cup title and the second for manager Luis Enrique with the club.
The match saw Khvicha Kvaratskhelia open the scoring for PSG in the 20th minute. However, Aston Villa responded with a goal from Brian Madjo, who, at 17 years old, became the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history. Madjo’s goal on his professional debut brought Villa back into the game.
Desire Doue then scored the winning goal for Paris Saint-Germain in the 62nd minute, restoring his team’s lead. Doue, 21, raced past the defence to secure the trophy for the Ligue 1 side.
Match Highlights and Player Performances
The encounter in Salzburg was highly contested, with Aston Villa creating several opportunities. Brian Madjo, despite scoring, had three other chances that went wide of the target. His header in the 28th minute curled just wide, another shot in the 35th minute whistled wide, and a close-range header in the 41st minute went over the bar before he finally found the net in the 45th minute.
Villa was without key players such as Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, and Emiliano Martinez, who were on extended breaks after the World Cup. This provided an opportunity for younger players like Madjo and 19-year-old George Hemmings to feature. Hemmings also had a chance to equalise shortly after Doue’s goal but was denied by a save from Matvey Safonov.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed pride in his team’s performance, despite the loss. Speaking to TNT Sports, Emery highlighted how his players competed for the full 90 minutes and created scoring chances. He also praised the performances of Madjo and Hemmings, noting the importance of such experiences for their development and learning.
Enrique’s Continued Success
The UEFA Super Cup victory marks another significant achievement for Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain. This win solidifies PSG’s dominance in European football, following their consecutive Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026. Enrique’s approach to building a collective system, particularly after the departure of prominent players like Lionel Messi, Neymar da Silva, and Kylian Mbappe, has been highlighted as a key factor in the club’s success.
Enrique’s coaching career now includes a third Champions League title, with one from Barcelona in 2015 and two with Paris Saint-Germain. This achievement places him alongside notable coaches such as Zinedine Zidane, Pep Guardiola, and Bob Paisley in terms of Champions League wins. He also joins Arrigo Sacchi and Zidane as coaches who have retained both the European Super Cup and Champions League titles in successive years.
The tactical prowess and strong leadership demonstrated by Enrique have been compared to that of Zinedine Zidane during his successful tenure at Real Madrid. Both coaches have shown an ability to manage pressure and instill a winning culture within their teams. Enrique’s leadership has been instrumental in motivating PSG to maintain their high performance levels, even after achieving continental success.
This latest trophy for Paris Saint-Germain signals a sustained period of success under Luis Enrique’s management, building a footballing empire that continues to thrive on the European stage. The match concluded with Paris Saint-Germain securing a 2-1 victory.
Source: skysports.com
