PSG beats Aston Villa 2-1 to repeat in UEFA Super Cup
The UEFA Super Cup is staying in France.
Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain repeated in the annual game, taking down Premier League club Aston Villa 2-1 in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday.
The French club is now just the third team to repeat in the Super Cup, following Italian side AC Milan and Spanish giants Real Madrid. PSG came back to beat fellow English side Tottenham last year.
In the game between the reigning Champions League and Europa League victors, PSG showed why it was considered the clear favorite despite a tight scoreline.
In the 20th minute, the star forward pairing of Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia linked up to open the scoring.
PSG, in theory, should’ve gone on to dominate from there.
But it was Aston Villa that found the net next — and it came from an unlikely source.
Brian Madjo, a new 17-year-old striker, equalized just before halftime. He peeled off to the backpost and connected on John McGinn’s inswinging cross for his breakout moment.
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Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele then came on at halftime for new signing Maghnes Akliouche.
Dembele would help slam the door shut not long after.
In the 61st minute, Dembele threaded a ball into Doue that resulted in a goal following a potential offside review.
Villa still had some moments to equalize in the aftermath and ended the game with 15 shots, three more than PSG.
But playing without starters in Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez was always going to be a tough hurdle to overcome. Those players were on break due to deep runs in the World Cup.
New signing Johan Manzambi, who broke out for Switzerland in the World Cup, is also nursing an injury and didn’t compete.
Both teams will now prepare for domestic competition, with PSG reasserting its European dominance to start the season.
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