PSG TOP ASTON VILLA IN SALZBURG TO SUCCESSFULLY RETAIN UEFA SUPER CUP

 

Marquinhos (C) lifts the trophy with his teammates after PSG defeated Aston Villa to win the UEFA Super Cup at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, August 12, 2026. /VCG

Champions League titleholder Paris Saint-Germain rubber-stamped its status as Europe's top club after edging Europa League winner Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue found the net, sandwiched around a debut goal for Villa teenager Brian Madjo, as the Parisians retained the trophy they first won 12 months ago against another Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur.

Ahead of the start of their respective domestic campaigns, both coaches named relatively strong squads for this match.

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

French left-back Lucas Digne, who officially signed a deal with the Parisians on Sunday, was on the bench against his former club.

Aston Villa rested World Cup campaigners Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins, but coach 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 boss Luis Enrique sent on World Cup winner Fabian Ruiz with a quarter of an hour remaining, helping PSG shore up the center of the pitch as Villa hunted for an equalizer.

The English side's best chance came inside the final 10 minutes but Tammy Abraham was, by the slimmest of margins, unable to reach Alysson's cutback inside the six-yard box.

The Qatar-backed Ligue 1 winner managed to hold on and enjoy a triumphant start to the new season, which they hope will end with a third consecutive UEFA Champions League crown.

- Source(s): AFP

UEFA SUPER CUP PREVIEW: PSG TAKE ON ASTON VILLA IN WEDNESDAY SHOWPIECE

 

August 11 – Paris Saint-Germain will face Aston Villa in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg, as the annual European curtain-raiser returns, and the first opportunity of silverware along with it. 

The yearly summer meeting between the Champions League and Europa League winners brings together a PSG side chasing another trophy after back-to-back European titles and a Villa team attempting to land one of the biggest prizes of Unai Emery’s reign against the best side in world football. 

PSG retained the Champions League in May after edging Arsenal 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Budapest, reinforcing their position at the head of the European game. 

Villa arrive after a similarly impressive continental campaign, crowned by a 3-0 Europa League final victory over Freiburg. 

The timing of the Super Cup may offer Villa an advantage. 

A key portion of PSG’s title-winning squad, namely Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembélé, Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi, have only recently returned from the World Cup and consequential holiday period, leaving Luis Enrique with a selection headache over how heavily to lean on players short of preparation. 

PSG’s underlying approach is unlikely to change – with Vitinha expected to retain his role as the organiser at the base of midfield, João Neves providing the energy around him and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia giving the French champions a constant threat from the left after an entire summer of rest and recovery. 

Villa have had rebuilding to do this summer. 

Morgan Rogers departed for Chelsea in a €137 million transfer, Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United and Amadou Onana will be sidelined until the new year with a long-term ACL injury. 

New signing Alejandro Garnacho will be charged with filling the attacking gap, while midfield additions Johan Manzambi and João Gomes give Emery like-for-like – if unproven – replacements. 

There is also an immediate reunion for Lucas Digne, who moved from Villa to PSG this summer and could now face his former club in his first European showpiece of the season. 

Should the scores be level after 90 minutes, there will be no extra time, with the trophy decided immediately by penalties. 

Referee Omar Artan will become the first non-European official to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup – an appointment that comes in the wake of a difficult summer for the Somalian. His World Cup ended before it had started when he was refused entry to the United States despite being selected as part of FIFA’s refereeing team. 

Artan, named African football’s referee of the year, has since been handed one of UEFA’s highest-profile early-season appointments. 

“When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment. There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this. I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can. Don’t ever stop dreaming,” he told UEFA. 

Reflecting on his World Cup disappointment, Artan added: “It was a very tough period. A lot of people have sympathy for me, because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging.”

His appointment gives an already important fixture another layer. Tune in for the tie at 20:00 BST on Wednesday. 

- Harry Ewing,

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CHRISTIAN HORNER 'FIGHTING' WITH RED BULL CHIEF KEEN TO KEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BECKHAMS AMID PROBE

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Christian Horner doesn't want to lose his relationship with the Beckhams after being accused of inappropriate behaviour, it has been claimed.

Horner is currently the subject of a Red Bull investigation and categorically denies the allegations."

The 50-year-old has been cracking on with business as normal, with the F1 side currently preparing for the start of the new season.

Horner is convinced he'll be able to clear his name and has made it clear he's eager to continue with Red Bull, having previously been appointed back in 2005.

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Bull supremo is 'fighting' on while looking to keep his relationship with the Beckhams intact.

It's claimed he enjoys being around A-listers, with wife Geri Halliwell previously part of the Spice Girls along with Victoria Beckham.

Horner and Geri have become one of the biggest power couples in the sporting world ever since they wed back in 2015.

The report says Horner is supporting his wife, allaying her concerns that the investigation could smear their name.

Some believe the Briton is a pawn in a wider power struggle at Red Bull. He was previously close to founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022.

The publication says some within the company feel control of the company's racing arm should return to the home of the soft drinks company in Salzburg.

Horner is currently unable to answer many questions on the investigation for legal reasons.

Earlier this week, when quizzed, he responded by saying: “As you are well aware there is a process going on which I form part of, and as I form part of that process, I am afraid I cannot comment on it."

He then added: “I am dreadfully sorry but I really can’t comment on the process or the timescale.

Everybody would like a conclusion as soon as possible.

 "But I am really not at liberty to comment about the process.”

A source has told OK! Magazine that Victoria is supporting Geri throughout the ordeal.

“They always got on well and have been there for each other through the difficult times," a source is quoted as saying.

“When Geri was having a bit of a stormy relationship with some of the other Spice Girls, Victoria supported her and helped her through.

"It’s the same now – Victoria wants to support Geri any way she can.”