Paris Saint-Germain secured the UEFA Super Cup title for the second consecutive year, defeating Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday. The victory was spurred by a second-half goal from Désiré Doué during the annual kickoff to the European soccer season.
Doué’s goal in the 61st minute, following a pass from Ousmane Dembélé, was initially disallowed for offside, but was later confirmed after a VAR review.
Prior to that, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave PSG the lead with a powerful strike in the 20th minute, which was equalized by a volley from Brian Madjo, a 17-year-old making his competitive debut for Villa just days after winning a registration dispute with FIFA.
This triumph marked the first of possibly six trophies for PSG this season, making them the first club to win back-to-back Super Cup titles since Real Madrid did so in 2016 and 2017.
“We knew it would be a tough match,” PSG coach Luis Enrique commented. “Despite not being in peak physical shape, my players showcased their true character, and our fans played a significant role in helping us claim this trophy.”
The Super Cup serves as an early-season clash between the Champions League and Europa League champions, with PSG taking on Villa in Salzburg, Austria.
The referee for the match, Omar Artan, was previously barred from officiating at the World Cup due to concerns regarding his connections. Despite this, UEFA chose him to officiate as a statement against FIFA’s actions.
Sebastian Widmann – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Following a five-trophy haul last season, PSG is already on track for more silverware, with another opportunity looming in the Trophée des Champions against Lens this Sunday. This match pits the previous season’s league and cup champions against each other in France.
Doué, who returned to training just this week after the World Cup, started the match under Enrique’s guidance and emerged as the game’s hero.
The 21-year-old forward took advantage of a pass from Dembélé, sprinting past the Villa defense and curling a left-footed shot into the far corner. Although the offside flag was raised, VAR confirmed that Doué was onside thanks to Villa’s right-back Matty Cash keeping him level.
Once the goal was awarded, Doué celebrated exuberantly.
“Our goal is to consistently win and maintain competitiveness,” Doué shared. “We’re thrilled to win this match right after returning from our break. The main aim is to secure every title this year.”
Kvaratskhelia was a standout during the first half, with his stunning opener reflecting his skill as he cut in from the left for a powerful shot into the near post.
As the first Georgian player to score in a UEFA Super Cup, Kvaratskhelia has now netted eight goals in his last ten UEFA appearances.
Madjo made an impressive debut; originally from north London, he had played three friendly matches for Luxembourg before deciding to represent England.
Having joined Villa from Metz in January, Madjo’s registration was initially blocked by FIFA due to age restrictions. After appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, his registration was approved, enabling him to debut as the youngest player to score in a UEFA Super Cup.
Madjo looked dangerous against PSG’s defense and nearly scored multiple times before finding the net with a volley from John McGinn‘s cross.
He even struck the post moments earlier after getting past Pacho.
This was a fourth consecutive Super Cup defeat for Villa’s manager Unai Emery, who had experienced similar losses with Sevilla (twice) and Villarreal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.