Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Super Cup for a second straight year by beating Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday thanks to Désiré Doué’s second-half goal in the annual curtain-raiser to the European soccer season.
Doué’s 61st-minute strike after running onto Ousmane Dembélé’s pass was initially ruled out for offside, only for the goal to be awarded following a video review.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s powerfully struck opener in the 20th was canceled out by a volley from Brian Madjo, a 17-year-old striker making his competitive debut for Villa days after getting approval to play following a dispute with FIFA over his registration.
It’s the first of a possible six trophies this season for PSG, which became the first team to win back-to-back Super Cup titles since Real Madrid (2016 and ’17).
“We knew prior to the game it was going to be a tough one,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “But we were able to play as we did because my players showed just what they’re made of. We may not be in the best physical condition, but once again it’s a real demonstration of our DNA and our fans, who have helped us to win trophies and keep standards high.”
The Super Cup is an annual early-season match between the most recent winners of the Champions League (PSG) and Europa League (Villa).
The game in Salzburg, Austria, was refereed by Omar Artan, the Somali who was barred by the United States from officiating at the World Cup days before the start of FIFA’s tournament because of vetting concerns. U.S. officials claimed Artan had connections to terror organizations, though without providing proof.
UEFA responded by picking Artan -- a referee judged the best in Africa last season -- to take charge of the Super Cup in a powerplay by European soccer’s governing body amid its increasing disconnect with FIFA.
After winning five titles last season, PSG are back on the trophy trail already -- and could pick up a second in the 2026-27 campaign when they take on Lens in the Trophée des Champions on Sunday. That’s a match between last season’s league and cup winners in France.
Doué was one of the PSG players who only returned to training on Monday following the World Cup, but he was handed a start by Luis Enrique and proved to be the matchwinner.
The 21-year-old forward ran through unchallenged after latching onto Dembélé’s pass behind the Villa defense and curled a left-foot shot into the far corner. The offside flag was then raised but a check by the VAR showed that Villa right back Matty Cash was keeping Doué onside.
Artan awarded the goal after the review and Doué punched the air in delight.
“Our mindset is to always win and to be as competitive as possible,” Doué said. “We’re very happy. Coming back from vacation, we know it’s not easy, but we had things in place tonight. The main objective is to win everything this year.”
Kvaratskhelia was PSG’s standout player of the first half and his goal was mesmeric as he cut in from the left and lashed a fierce, rising shot inside the near post.
The first Georgian player to score in a UEFA Super Cup, Kvaratskhelia has now registered eight goals in his last 10 games in UEFA competitions.
It was quite the debut by teenager Madjo, who was born in north London, has played three friendly matches for Luxembourg and now has decided to represent England.
Madjo joined Villa from French club Metz in January but FIFA blocked his registration because its transfer rules limit international moves by players under the age of 18. Villa appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and it was upheld last week, allowing him to make his club debut as the youngest player to feature and then score in a UEFA Super Cup.
He caused havoc at times for PSG’s elite center-half duo of Willian Pacho and Marquinhos and could have scored two or three goals before finally getting on the scoresheet by meeting John McGinn’s cross with a volley into the roof of the net.
Moments earlier, Madjo had bundled past Pacho and hit the post with a shot.
It was a fourth straight loss in the Super Cup for Villa manager Unai Emery, whose other losses came with Sevilla (twice) and Villarreal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
