PSG Win 2026 UEFA Super Cup After Feisty Battle With Aston Villa

Paris Saint-Germain raised the curtains on Europe’s new season with a thrilling 2–1 victory over Aston Villa in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, grabbing the first piece of European silverware of the 2026–27 campaign and reminding everyone that they are the kings of the continent.

The reigning Champions League winners, pitted against the Europa League titleholders, narrowly survived the affair at the Red Bull Arena to hoist their second-consecutive Super Cup. PSG, after also claiming the 2024–25 Champions League crown, defeated Tottenham Hotspur on penalties in last year’s clash after a late-game comeback. They are just the second team to ever win the Super Cup in back-to-back years, following Real Madrid who did it in 2016 and 2017.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 20th minute. The PSG winger received a pass from Désiré Doué in the box, before making a quick cut and blasting the ball through the outstretched fingers of goalkeeper Marco Bizot.

The English side kept up the pressure though, eventually knotting the match right before halftime with a first-time finish from 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo. Although PSG dominated possession, Aston Villa continually found their way into the final third and ended the night with 15 shots to PSG’s 12.

Madjo celebrating — Brian Madjo is a rising star. | Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

Doué wasn’t going to allow a comeback though, notching the game-winner in the 61st minute. He dashed onto the end of a through-ball played by French national team teammate Ousmane Dembélé, before nailing it into side-netting with his left foot. Both Doué and Dembélé were integral pieces to Les Bleus’ attacking unit this summer en route to the World Cup semifinals, and neither seem to have missed a beat since returning to club play.

The game was called by Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was given the honor after contentiously being denied entry to the U.S. just days before he supposed to referee the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Artan, named Africa’s best referee by CAF in 2025 and handpicked by FIFA to officiate the tournament, was subjected to an “additional inspection” from U.S. Customs and Borders Protection and interviewed for 11 hours at Miami International Airport before eventually being deported.

Artan made history on Wednesday, though, becoming the first non-European to officiate a Super Cup.

What’s Next for European Soccer?

Arsenal took home the Premier League trophy last season. | Michael Regan/The FA/Getty Images

The Premier League ignites the new season on Aug. 21 with a clash between the reigning league champions, Arsenal, and newly-promoted Coventry City. Aston Villa’s first league match takes place on Aug. 23 against Brighton & Hove Albion.

France’s Ligue 1 also kicks off Aug. 21, with PSG’s first affair on Aug. 23 against Stade Rennais at the Parc des Prince. Italy’s Serie A kicks off that same weekend.

Spanish La Liga opens play a bit sooner, on Aug. 15; however, fans will have to wait a while to see the season debuts of giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, which won’t happen until Aug. 22 and Aug. 23, respectively. On the other hand, the German Bundesliga resumes a bit later on Aug. 28, opening with a clash between titleholders Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart.

As for the major European tournaments, the Champions League is still in the qualifying stages, as is Europa League. Both competitions’ primary league phases begin in September.

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