As PSG and Aston Villa faced off in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg, Austria, here is a match report from how it all went down on Wednesday evening.
Just as you blink your eyes, the 26/27 PSG season is upon us, and it began with the UEFA Super Cup final against Premier League side Aston Villa in the Austrian city of Salzburg.
For the task at hand, Luis Enrique opted for an XI of; Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery; Aklichoue, Doue, Kvaratskhelia.
The opening stages of the game were pretty cagey, with a sighter from Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara that went narrowly wide, the closest that either side came to scoring in the opening 20 minutes.
PSG took the lead in the 20th minute. The move began with great footwork from Kvaratskhelia with Zaire-Emery's shot forcing a good save. However, Unai Emery's side could not properly clear the ball and it was soon at the feet of the Georgian winger again, who fired a bullet past Bizot.
Kvaratskhelia celebrates his goals with team mates just behind him // REUTERSJust four minutes later, the 25-year old winger was at it again with a lovely ball to send Mendes down the left hand side, but after his darting run, his cutback could not be converted and the Premier League side were let off the hook.
With just under five minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, Villa should have scored. The same combination as before - a cross from McGinn down the right hand side, and a Madjo header. This chance was a lot better though, had to score. A let off for the Parisians.
Just a minute later, there was yet another chance for Villa. Again, a good ball in from McGinn, this time from a set piece, was met by Victor Lindelof from close range, but he could not convert, and Kamara could not put the loose ball away either.
Very soon after, the Premier League outfit had yet another great chance to score. After initial good work from Pacho to block Madjo, the ball fell to the striker but his shot from close range was off target.
However, just moments later, Villa and Madjo finally had the ball in the back of the net. Third time lucky for that combination - a McGinn cross from that right hand side went all the way to the back post, and there was Mado to fire into the roof of the net. Fair play.
At half time, Ousmane Dembele replaced Akliouche. Five minutes after the break, more good play from Madjo saw him feed McGinn, with his curling effort met well by Safonov.
Just past the hour mark, Doue had the ball in the back of the net, curling a left footed effort in after being played in by Dembele. The goal was given as offside in real time, but after a VAR check, it was given, despite looking well offside in the moment.
Straight from the restart, it should have been 2-2. A through ball from Emi Buendia played youngster George Hemmings in on goal, but his effort was straight at the grateful Safonov.
With a little over a quarter of an hour remaining, substitute Alysson got down the right for Villa, finding Gomes with his cutback, but Zaire-Emery was there to make an absolutely superb block.
Just after that, Hernandez and Ruiz came on to replace Mendes and Neves. With a little under ten minutes remaining, Villa had another golden chance, but Alysson's cutback into a golden area could not be converted. One more let off. Soon after, Mayulu and Beraldo replaced Doue and Kvartskhelia.
