Paris Saint-Germain strengthened their status as Europe’s top club by defeating Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on Wednesday.
Champions League winners PSG took the lead through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before Aston Villa teenager Brian Madjo equalised with his first goal for the club. Désiré Doué then restored the French champions’ advantage in the second half to secure the trophy.
The victory saw PSG successfully defend the Super Cup they won 12 months ago against another Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur.
The match, which pits the winners of the Champions League against the Europa League champions, was officiated by Somali referee Omar Artan.
Both teams fielded strong line-ups ahead of the start of their respective domestic campaigns.
PSG started nine players who featured in their Champions League final victory over Arsenal in May, including Vitinha, João Neves and captain Marquinhos.
New signing Lucas Digne, who joined PSG from Villa on Sunday, was named among the substitutes against his former club.
Villa rested several players who featured at the World Cup, including Ezri Konsa, Emiliano Martínez and Ollie Watkins, while Unai Emery handed debuts to midfielder João Gomes and striker Madjo.
Boubacar Kamara also made his first start since suffering a serious knee injury in January.
Kamara came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when his low long-range effort narrowly missed the target, with PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov watching it go past his post.
PSG responded strongly, with Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot parrying an effort before the French side recovered possession and found Kvaratskhelia on the left.
The Georgian winger cut inside in the 20th minute and unleashed a powerful strike into the near corner to give PSG the lead.
Kvaratskhelia continued to trouble Villa’s defence and soon released Nuno Mendes, whose cut-back narrowly evaded his advancing teammates.
Villa survived the pressure and came close to equalising shortly before the half-hour mark when Madjo headed John McGinn’s cross wide.
The 17-year-old missed another opportunity before eventually finding the breakthrough in the 45th minute.
McGinn picked out Madjo inside the box, and the teenager made no mistake this time, firing a left-footed effort into the roof of the net to send the teams into the interval level.
PSG manager Luis Enrique responded at half-time by introducing Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé for new signing Maghnes Akliouche.
Villa continued to threaten after the restart, with Madjo and McGinn again combining effectively before Safonov saved McGinn’s curling effort.
PSG regained the lead in the 61st minute when Désiré Doué raced down the right and curled the ball into the Villa net.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR intervened and determined that Villa right-back Matty Cash had played Doué onside.
Villa almost responded immediately through 19-year-old George Hemmings, but Safonov produced another important save to preserve PSG’s advantage.
Warren Zaïre-Emery then threw himself in front of a João Gomes effort as Villa continued their search for an equaliser.
With 15 minutes remaining, Enrique introduced World Cup winner Fabián Ruiz as PSG sought to strengthen their midfield and protect their lead.
Villa’s best opportunity to level came inside the final 10 minutes, but Tammy Abraham could not reach Alysson’s cut-back inside the six-yard box.
PSG held on to secure the Super Cup and make a winning start to the new season as they target an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title.
