PSG retain UEFA Super Cup with 2-1 win over Aston Villa

SALZBURG, Austria – Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain rubber-stamped their status as Europe’s top team as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup on Aug 12.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue netted either side of a debut goal for Villa teenager Brian Madjo at the Red Bull Arena as PSG retained the title they won 12 months ago against another English Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur.

The Super Cup, which pits the winners of Europe’s top club competition against the victorious side from the second-tier Europa League, was officiated by Somalian referee Omar Artan.

The 34-year-old referee found himself in the spotlight in June after being turned away on arrival at Miami International Airport, despite being part of FIFA’s panel of World Cup referees.

Doue, who played for France at the World Cup, told TNT Sports that it was an “amazing” win.

“This is really difficult, because before this, you have to win the Champions League,” he added.

“We did it again, and we won the Super Cup for the second time, so this is amazing for us.”

PSG’s starting XI featured nine players who lifted the Champions League trophy against Arsenal in May, including Vitinha, Joao Neves and captain Marquinhos.

French left-back Lucas Digne, who signed for the Parisian side on Aug 9, was on the bench against his former team.

Villa rested World Cup campaigners Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins, but Unai Emery handed debuts to midfielder Joao Gomes and striker Madjo.

Midfielder Boubacar Kamara also started for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in January.

PSG broke the deadlock as Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left on 20 minutes and scored with a piledriver at the near post.

The Georgian began to overwhelm the Villa defence as minutes later he released left-back Nuno Mendes, whose cut-back somehow evaded his on-rushing teammates. Villa withstood the flurry and should have been level just before the half-hour mark when Madjo headed wide from a John McGinn cross.

But the 17-year-old got his just reward as Scottish veteran McGinn picked him out again in the box in the 45th minute and, this time, he lashed the ball with his left boot into the roof of the PSG net.

Luis Enrique responded by sending on Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele for new recruit Maghnes Akliouche at half-time.

Just after the hour mark, PSG restored their one-goal cushion.

Doue raced in down the right and bent into the net on 61 minutes, but was initially ruled offside.

The video assistant referee intervened, however, and found that Villa right-back Matty Cash on the far side of the pitch was playing the PSG winger onside and awarded the goal to Doue’s surprise and delight.

Enrique sent on World Cup winner Fabian Ruiz with a quarter of an hour remaining to help PSG shore up the centre of the park as Villa hunted a leveller.

Their best chance came inside the final 10 minutes but Tammy Abraham was just unable to reach Alysson’s cut-back inside the six-yard box.

The Qatar-backed Ligue 1 champions managed to hold on to make a winning start to their new season, which they hope will end with a third consecutive Champions League crown.

“It’s so difficult to win consecutive tournaments, so you have to make the most of it, be ambitious and professional, and try to win again,” Enrique told Canal+. “That’s our objective.”

Villa’s Emiliano Buendia said: “Not a good feeling. We can be proud of the game we did. We competed well. They are top players. They get chances, they score and they won the game,” he added. AFP