Doué Strikes in 61st Minute as PSG Edge Aston Villa 2-1 for Super Cup Title

Paris Saint-Germain secured their second consecutive UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday as Désiré Doué’s 61st-minute goal sealed a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday to secure the UEFA Super Cup for the second consecutive year. In the 61st minute of the match in Salzburg, Austria, 21-year-old forward Désiré Doué latched onto an Ousmane Dembélé pass behind the Villa defense and curled a left-foot shot into the far corner. Although the strike was initially flagged for offside, a video review confirmed that right back Matty Cash played Doué onside, allowing the goal to stand. This victory makes PSG the first club to defend the title since Real Madrid achieved the feat in 2016 and 2017.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 20th minute, cutting in from the left wing to lash a rising shot inside the near post. With this effort, Kvaratskhelia became the first Georgian player to score in a UEFA Super Cup and has now recorded eight goals across his last 10 appearances in UEFA competitions. Aston Villa equalized before halftime through 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo, who converted a cross from John McGinn with a volley into the roof of the net. Madjo, making his competitive debut, became the youngest player to both feature and score in the history of the competition.

Madjo’s Historic Debut and Registration Dispute

Brian Madjo’s inclusion in the starting lineup followed a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week. The London-born striker, who has represented Luxembourg in three friendlies but recently chose to represent England, joined Villa from Metz in January. FIFA had previously blocked his registration due to transfer regulations regarding players under 18. During the match, Madjo hit the post after bundling past Willian Pacho and frequently challenged the PSG center-half pairing of Pacho and captain Marquinhos.

For Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, the result marked a fourth career defeat in the Super Cup, following previous losses with Sevilla and Villarreal. The match served as the annual curtain-raiser between the Champions League winners, PSG, and the Europa League titleholders, Villa. Despite the loss, Villa remained competitive against a PSG side that won five trophies last season and is now pursuing a possible six-trophy haul for the 2026-27 campaign.

Officiating Controversy and Match Conditions

Somali referee Omar Artan took charge of the fixture despite being barred by the United States from the World Cup due to unproven vetting concerns. UEFA selected Artan, who was named the best referee in Africa last season, in a move that highlighted a disconnect between European soccer’s governing body and FIFA. Artan’s decision to award Doué’s winning goal followed a crucial VAR intervention that overturned the assistant referee's original offside call.

Luis Enrique started Doué despite the forward only returning to training on Monday following his participation in the World Cup. PSG captain Marquinhos lifted the trophy at the conclusion of the match, marking the club's first silverware of the new season. The French champions will have the opportunity to secure a second trophy this Sunday when they face Lens in the Trophée des Champions, a match contested by the winners of the French league and cup.

PSG’s Pursuit of Six Trophies

Following the final whistle, Doué noted that the team's objective is to win every competition this year. The victory in Salzburg was achieved despite Luis Enrique admitting his players were not yet in peak physical condition. PSG dominated the early exchanges through Kvaratskhelia’s playmaking on the left flank, though Villa’s defense, led by Matty Cash, limited the French side to two goals. The match concluded with PSG maintaining their high standards as they transition from their vacation period back into competitive play.