French champions Paris Saint-Germain have successfully retained the UEFA Super Cup after a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. The reigning UEFA Champions League winners were pushed hard by the Europa League holders, but PSG prevailed thanks to clinical finishing and Aston Villa’s wastefulness in front of goal. The match also marked a historic moment as African referee Omar Artan became the first non-European referee to officiate the curtain-raiser to the 2026/27 European club football season. Artan had previously been detained for hours and denied entry into the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with UEFA appointing the Somali referee in an apparent protest against his treatment by US officials. PSG, who retained their Champions League crown, faced an Aston Villa side making its first appearance in the Super Cup. The Parisiens took the lead twice through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, either side of Brian Madjo’s equaliser for Unai Emery’s side. Kvaratskhelia, who was voted the Champions League’s best player of the season, produced a deadly finish into the near-post top corner after controlling Doue’s pass in the 22nd minute. Aston Villa fought their way back into the contest and went close through Victor Lindelof and Madjo before the latter finally made his fourth chance count. The youngster produced an emphatic finish under pressure at the far post in the 45th minute to level the score. The 17-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in Super Cup history, scoring on his first appearance for Aston Villa. Villa went close again in the opening minutes of the second half through captain John McGinn, but PSG regrouped and regained control. Doue beat the offside trap to receive Ousmane Dembele’s pass before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom far corner in the 61st minute. There was to be no late comeback from Villa as PSG held on to secure back-to-back Super Cup triumphs under Luis Enrique, becoming the fourth club to achieve the feat. The victory also means PSG have now won nine of the 11 possible trophies available in France and Europe, while Unai Emery suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in the Super Cup.
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