Paris Saint-Germain retained the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-1 victory over a spirited Aston Villa side in Salzburg.
PSG, the reigning Champions League winners, had taken the lead through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 20th minute. Villa responded just before half-time when 17-year-old Brian Madjo volleyed home to become the youngest player to score in the UEFA Super Cup.
Madjo had already gone close twice before finding the net. He first shot wide before heading another chance over the bar. The England Under-17 international then met John McGinn’s cross at the back post and produced an excellent finish to level the contest. It was a remarkable moment for Madjo after an eight-month wait to make his competitive debut for Villa.
FIFA had initially prevented the Premier League club from registering him after his £10m move from Metz in January. Villa eventually won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in early August, allowing the teenager to play competitive matches.
Madjo continued to cause problems for the PSG defence after his goal, but his performance could not prevent the French champions from retaining the trophy. Desire Doue found the winner in the 62nd minute.
PSG won the Super Cup for the first time last year after beating Tottenham on penalties. Villa qualified for this year’s competition after winning the Europa League in May. They created several opportunities in Salzburg and forced PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov into a number of important saves.
Despite the defeat, Unai Emery’s side showed they can compete with Europe’s elite after also pushing PSG close in the Champions League 18 months ago. Villa eventually lost that quarter-final tie 5-4 on aggregate in 2025.
Madjo Provides Major Positive
Villa travelled to Austria with several key players unavailable. Ollie Watkins, Emi Martinez and Ezri Konsa were given additional time off following the World Cup, leaving Madjo with an opportunity to lead the attack. The teenager took it with both hands, scoring on his competitive debut and providing a constant physical threat against the European champions.
Nineteen-year-old midfielder George Hemmings also started, while Boubacar Kamara made his first competitive appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in January.
Those performances will give Emery plenty of encouragement ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Villa begin their league season away to Brighton on 23 August and are expected to remain active during the final two weeks of the transfer window.
Atletico Madrid left-back Matteo Ruggeri is reportedly close to joining the club, while Villa are also continuing their pursuit of Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha.
The club have lost important players, including Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, but captain McGinn had promised supporters they could still expect “as much as possible” from the team this season. Their display in Salzburg backed up that confidence.
Meanwhile, Somali referee Omar Artan made history by becoming the first non-European official to referee the UEFA Super Cup. Artan had previously been denied entry to the United States for this summer’s World Cup.
Villa leave Salzburg without the silverware, but their performance against the Champions League holders suggests they could enter the new Premier League season with plenty of confidence.
