Now Reading: Doue strike seals Super Cup for PSG after 2-1 win over Aston Villa
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Doue strike seals Super Cup for PSG after 2-1 win over Aston Villa
Paris Saint-Germain retained the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in Salzburg. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 20th minute, but Villa teenager Brian Madjo equalised on…
The Story in Brief
Paris Saint-Germain retained the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in Salzburg. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 20th minute, but Villa teenager Brian Madjo equalised on his debut just before halftime. Desire Doue thought he had put PSG back in front only to be flagged offside, but VAR overturned the call, ruling Villa's Matty Cash had played him on. PSG held on to win their second consecutive Super Cup after beating Tottenham on penalties last year.
Villa, returning to the Champions League this season, started debutants Joao Gomes and Madjo but rested World Cup campaigners Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins. PSG were without several key players who had just returned from World Cup duty. The match was officiated by Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been denied entry to Miami Airport in June while attending the World Cup.
The Indian Opinion
Some billed this as a rusty PSG against a well-drilled Villa midfield, but the scoreline suggests the champions' individual quality could not be overcome by a full pre-season alone. The narrative that Villa's rebuilt engine room would trouble PSG ignored the simple fact that world-class players like Vitinha and Joao Neves do not need five friendlies to find their level. The real question now is whether Villa's thin squad can sustain a Champions League campaign, or whether clubs with greater resources will always find a way in the end. Wednesday's result offered no fresh answers.
Sources (3): hindustantimes.com, hindustantimes.com (2), sports.ndtv.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
