Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have added another European trophy to their growing collection after beating Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Aston Villa teenager Brian Madjo pulled his side level shortly before half-time. Désiré Doué then restored PSG’s lead in the 61st minute, with the French side holding on to lift the trophy.
The victory comes just months after PSG completed a historic Champions League campaign, beating Arsenal in the final to claim the biggest prize in European club football. Aston Villa, meanwhile, earned their place in the Super Cup after winning the Europa League.
PSG had also won the Super Cup last year, coming from two goals down against Tottenham before eventually prevailing on penalties. Their latest success means they have now won the competition twice in a row.
Kvaratskhelia and Doué were at the heart of Wednesday’s victory, and their goals offered another reminder of the changing face of this PSG side. Rather than relying on one superstar to carry the team, Luis Enrique has built a group where several attacking players can step up when it matters.
That could prove important as PSG head into another demanding season.
The Super Cup is only one game, but the result sends a clear message to the rest of Europe: PSG’s Champions League success was not a one-off. They have started the new campaign by doing exactly what champions are expected to do, winning another trophy.
For Enrique, the bigger task now is keeping this group hungry and finding ways to maintain the standards that have taken PSG from perennial contenders to a team capable of repeatedly winning on the biggest stage.