Paris Saint-Germain retained the UEFA Super Cup with a narrow 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in Salzburg, securing the trophy for a second successive year.
Desire Doue scored the decisive goal in the 62nd minute after a video assistant referee (VAR) review checked whether he had been offside. The win continued the European champions’ recent dominance and ensured Paris Saint-Germain kept the trophy they first claimed last year, when they defeated Tottenham on penalties.
The French side had taken the lead in the 20th minute through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose powerful finish gave Villa goalkeeper little opportunity to intervene.
Aston Villa responded just before half-time through 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo, who volleyed John McGinn’s cross into the net at the back post in the 45th minute. The goal made Madjo the youngest player to score in the UEFA Super Cup and came on his debut at the Red Bull Arena.
The England Under-17 international had been presented with earlier opportunities to level the match, but sent one effort wide before heading another chance over the crossbar. He made no mistake when McGinn’s delivery arrived late in the first half, producing a composed finish to restore parity.
Madjo’s appearance also brought an end to an eight-month wait to play competitive football. Aston Villa had been prohibited by FIFA from registering the forward after he joined from Metz for £10m in January.
At the start of August, Villa won an appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which cleared the way for Madjo to take part in competitive fixtures. He looked a persistent physical threat to the Paris Saint-Germain defence throughout the contest, but his goal ultimately could not prevent the holders from retaining their crown.
Villa qualified for the UEFA Super Cup after winning the Europa League in May. Unai Emery’s side created enough opportunities to challenge Paris Saint-Germain, with goalkeeper Matvey Safonov required to make several solid saves to protect his team’s advantage.
The defeat extended an unwanted record for Emery, who has now lost all four of his finals in the competition. He had also missed out while managing Sevilla and Villarreal.
The match also marked a significant moment for the referee. Somali official Omar Artan became the first non-European referee to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup. He had been denied entry into the United States for this summer’s World Cup.
