Paris Saint-Germain secured the UEFA Super Cup for a second consecutive year on Wednesday evening, overcoming Aston Villa 2-1 at Salzburg’s Red Bull Arena to join an exclusive club. Only AC Milan in 1990 and Real Madrid in 2017 had previously managed to retain the trophy in successive seasons.
Luis Enrique’s side, fresh from claiming back-to-back Champions League crowns, faced a Villa team led by former PSG manager Unai Emery in the traditional curtain-raiser between Europe’s two continental competition winners.
Emery guided Villa to Europa League glory against Freiburg in May — the club’s first silverware in three decades — yet the Super Cup remains stubbornly beyond his grasp, with this marking a fourth defeat in the fixture.
Somali referee Omar Artan made history as the first non-European official to take charge of the showpiece.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring with a rocket in the first half
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The Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, unburdened by any World Cup exertions having had the summer off, was electric from the outset.
He broke through after 20 minutes, drifting into the penalty area from the right flank before gliding past Matty Cash and unleashing a fierce left-footed strike beyond Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
Villa were significantly weakened for the occasion. Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez had all been left at home following their World Cup commitments, whilst the summer departures of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans further depleted Emery’s options.
Yet the Midlanders refused to wilt. Teenage striker Brian Madjo and fellow youngster George Hemmings ensured PSG’s rearguard was far from comfortable, with Madjo twice going close before the interval.
The 17-year-old refused to be denied, however. Having headed off target twice from enticing John McGinn deliveries and struck the outside of the near post with another effort, Madjo finally found his reward on the cusp of half-time.
Teenage striker Brian Madjo, 17, equalised for Aston Villa on his first start for the club
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Holding off defender Willian Pacho at the far post, the debutant stretched to meet yet another McGinn cross, volleying home with his left foot to send the ball crashing into the roof of the net.
At just 17 years and 212 days old, the former Metz youngster — whose availability had been delayed by a protracted dispute over FIFA registration rules following his January transfer — became the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Super Cup history.
The jubilant celebrations told their own story.
Desire Doue scored the winner for PSG despite it being initially ruled out for offside
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Doué had already provided the assist for Kvaratskhelia’s opener, and the French wideman proved decisive once more on the hour.
Ousmane Dembélé, introduced at half-time in place of new signing Maghnes Akliouche, threaded a ball over the top for his international colleague, who cut inside and curled a composed finish past Bizot.
The linesman’s flag initially ruled the goal out for offside, but VAR intervened to confirm Doué was clearly onside — a crushing blow for Villa’s tiring legs.
Emery’s men pressed gamely in the closing stages, yet PSG’s resolve held firm.
The trophy represents the 13th major honour of Enrique’s tenure in Paris, arriving just 74 days after his side defeated Arsenal on penalties to clinch a second successive Champions League title.
