PSG bring home super cup after hard fought battle with Aston Villa
PSG tonight won their second ever UEFA Super Cup - their second in a row - after a narrow win over Aston Villa in a UEFA Super Cup game that was played at a higher tempo than many would have anticipated.
PSG take down Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup
PSG got off to a solid start, controlling the early proceedings before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, fresh off a summer of rest in which he was able to relax and get a full preseason while so many of his club teammates were involved in the latter stages of the World Cup, scored a brilliant goal, jinking around a couple of defenders before finishing superbly.
Aston Villa proved an extremely competitive opponent however, and had a number of chances, mainly through their 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo, who had a number of opportunities before finally bundling the ball into the back of the net just before the referee blew for half time.
PSG didn’t create as many chances as their opponents, but proved clinical once again in the second half, as Désiré Doué cleverly beat the offside trap to run through and find the back of the net - the Frenchman had initially seemed to be well offside, but a replay showed that Doué had in fact timed his run to perfection and was well onside.
PSG played some scintillating football at times, particularly after the half time introduction of Ousmane Dembélé, but perhaps lacked their usual deadly instincts in front of goal, as their players seemed to struggle to make the right decisions once inside the Villa penalty box.
Aston Villa proved worthy opponents, as last season’s Europa League winners continued to create chances until the latter stages of the game, with PSG’s defence being tested on a number of occasions. Willian Pacho and Marquinhos were excellent, however, and managed to contain the English sides and their waves of attack.
Not only will this be another trophy to add to PSG’s rapidly expanding European cabinet, but it also served as an excellent pre season fixture played at a high intensity that will go some way towards preparing the French side for the upcoming season.
Luis Enrique had been expected to change the side and to give chances to some youngsters: Ibrahim Mbaye and Dro Fernandez were both tipped to start, but the Spanish manager eventually opted for more experience, giving a debut to the Parisians recent signing from Monaco, Magnes Akliouche, who had a quiet first half before being withdrawn at half time.
This marks PSG's first trophy of the season and means that they become the first side to retain the UEFA Super Cup since Real Madrid in 2017. It is also Luis Enrique's third triumph in the competition, after wins last year with PSG and with Barcelona in 2015. PSG have now beaten English opposition in the competition two seasons running, having dispatched Tottenham on penalties last season after a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down.
