Overview
Paris Saint-Germain is aiming to repeat Real Madrid's 2-year consecutive European Super Cup (UEFA) championship record in 2016 and 2017. Last year, PSG defeated Tottenham Hotspur at Udine after a late comeback and a penalty shootout victory.
The Champions League champions will continue to face a Premier League representative in this year's UEFA Super Cup match. At the end of last season, PSG defeated Arsenal in a penalty shootout after the two teams drew 1-1 in a tense match, thereby helping Luis Enrique increase the total number of titles won since leading the team to 12.
The Spanish captain has the opportunity to add his 13th title to his collection right in the middle of this week, before PSG faces Lens in the French Super Cup match. After that, they will begin their journey to defend the Ligue 1 championship with a confrontation with Rennes.
In the preparation phase for the new season, PSG does not have the strongest squad because many players have just returned from the 2026 World Cup. They started with a 0-3 defeat to Mallorca, then drew 1-1 with Manchester United. Although not yet in the best condition, PSG still possesses a formidable attack when they have scored in 28 consecutive official matches since the defeat to Paris FC in January.
The history of confrontations with Aston Villa also promises to create an exciting match. On the journey to win the first Champions League title, PSG once overcame the English representative with a total score of 5-4 in the quarter-finals after two dramatic matches.
Aston Villa entered the match as the Europa League champion last season. Unai Emery's team defeated Freiburg in the final in Istanbul to win their first major title in 30 years. However, Villa parted ways with two important players, Morgan Rogers and captain Youri Tielemans, in the summer.
To fill the gap, the Birmingham team brought in Alejandro Garnacho, Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi. Villa also went through a busy friendly schedule with 6 matches, winning 3 and losing 3, including a 1-2 defeat against Bayern Munich.
This is Aston Villa's first official match in the new season, before they travel to Brighton's stadium in the Premier League opening match.
Emery has a lot of experience in the Europa League but has never won the UEFA Super Cup after 3 participations. Notably, he once lost 4-5 to Luis Enrique's Barcelona when he was still leading Sevilla.
Personnel situation
PSG's Portuguese trio including Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves, along with captain Marquinhos, have returned after the post-World Cup break to participate in the match against Man United. Luis Enrique is expected to continue to welcome more key players back in the match in Salzburg.
Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Hernandez and Warren Zaire-Emery can all play if they are in good shape.
On Aston Villa's side, Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Gomes may make official debuts. However, Johan Manzambi will be absent due to a knee injury sustained while playing for the Swiss national team.
Captain John McGinn is also leaving open the possibility of playing due to injury in the friendly match with BG Pathum United last week.
Expected lineup:
PSG: Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves, Mbaye, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
Aston Villa: Bizot, Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, Gomes, Kamara, Hemmings, Buendia, Garnacho, Watkins.
The match between PSG and Aston Villa takes place at 2:00 a.m. on August 13 (Vietnam time).
