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PSG win back-to-back UEFA Super Cups with victory over Aston Villa
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Kvaratskhelia and Doue earn a win for Paris Saint-Germain as 17-year-old Brian Madjo’s goal is in vain for Aston Villa.Paris Saint-Germain have won the UEFA Super Cup for a second straight year by beating Aston Villa 2-1 thanks to Desire Doue’s second-half goal in the annual curtain-raiser to the European football season.Doue’s 61st-minute strike on Wednesday after running onto Ousmane Dembele’s pass was initially ruled out for offside, only for the goal to be awarded following a video review, with Matty Cash adjudged to have marginally played him onside.PSG’s Desire Doue scores their second goal past Aston Villa’s Marco Bizot [Angelika Warmuth/Reuters]Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s powerfully struck opener in the 20th minute was cancelled out by a volley from Brian Madjo, a 17-year-old striker making his competitive debut for Villa days after getting approval to play following a dispute with FIFA over his registration. He became the youngest player to start and score in a UEFA Super Cup final.Aston Villa’s Brian Madjo scores their first goal [Angelika Warmuth/Reuters]It is the first of a possible six trophies this season for PSG, who became the first team to win back-to-back Super Cup titles since Real Madrid (2016 and 2017).Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Trump says ousting FIFA boss Infantino would be ‘terrible’ mistakelist 2 of 4Palestinian club football to restart in September after Gaza war suspensionlist 3 of 4Liverpool fans seek clarity on Bezos bid to buy stakelist 4 of 4Argentina’s Messi not certain to play ‘much longer’ after father’s deathend of listThe Super Cup is an annual early-season match between the most recent winners of the Champions League (PSG) and Europa League (Villa).The game in Salzburg, Austria, was refereed by Omar Artan, the Somali official whom the United States barred from officiating at the FIFA World Cup days before the start of the tournament due to vetting concerns. US officials claimed Artan had connections to “terrorist” organisations, without providing proof.PSG’s Desire Doue with referee Omar Artan during a VAR review, which led to his goal being awarded [Angelika Warmuth/Reuters]UEFA responded by picking Artan – a referee judged the best in Africa last season – to take charge of the Super Cup in a power play by European football’s governing body amid its increasing disconnect with FIFA.The disharmony has increased since, with UEFA leading a campaign to remove Gianni Infantino from the FIFA presidency over his recent aborted plan to sell an interest in the World Cup.Artan was the first non-European referee to take charge of the Super Cup and issued three yellow cards, all of them to Villa players.
The UEFA Super Cup is the annual game between the winners of European football’s top two competitions – the Champions League and the Europa League – and is seen as a curtain-raiser to the new season in Europe.This year the French champions and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will take on English Premier League side Aston Villa, who are Europa League champions.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Barca eye three-peat as Mourinho back at Madrid in new La Liga seasonlist 2 of 4FIFA decries ‘concerted’ effort to undermine Infantino as crisis deepenslist 3 of 4Lionel Messi’s father dies aged 68 after a long illnesslist 4 of 4FIFA President Gianni Infantino denies claims UEFA paid off alleged loverend of listHere’s everything you need to know about the game.When is the game being held?The match kicks off at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday, August 12.Where is the UEFA Super Cup being played?Salzburg’s Red Bull Arena in Austria will host the final.The 30,000-capacity stadium, which is referred to as Stadion Salzburg during UEFA matches, is usually home to Austrian Bundesliga team RB Salzburg.General view inside Stadion Salzburg in Salzburg, Austria [File: Jasmin Walter/Getty Images]How did PSG reach the UEFA Super Cup?Paris Saint-Germain held their nerve in a cagey Champions League final in May to retain the title by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties as a tense showdown ended 1-1 after extra time, cementing the French side’s status among Europe’s modern greats.Arsenal defender Gabriel blasted his spot kick over the bar at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, his miss confirming PSG as the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid completed their three-year reign from 2016 to 2018.How did Aston Villa reach the UEFA Super Cup?Aston Villa ended their 30-year trophy drought in style as spectacular goals from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia inspired a 3-0 win over Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul in May.Unai Emery’s side took the lead late in the first half through Tielemans’ thunderous volley, before Buendia increased Villa’s advantage with a sublime curler seconds from the half-time whistle.Morgan Rogers’ second-half goal finished off the outclassed Germans, sealing Villa’s first silverware since the 1996 League Cup and their first major European prize for 44 years.Buendia celebrates after Rogers scores Villa’s third goal in the Europa League final [Umit Bektas/Reuters]Who is predicted to win the match?According to Polymarket, PSG are the clear favourites with a 55-percent chance of winning in regulation time, with the likelihood of a draw at full time estimated at 25 percent and an Aston Villa win at 22 percent.What is the history of the UEFA Super Cup?It was officially introduced in 1973, with the European Cup/Champions League winners playing the Cup Winners Cup champions.After the Cup Winners Cup was abolished in 1999, the winners of the UEFA Cup (subsequently rebranded as the Europa League) played the Champions League winners.Who are the previous winners of the UEFA Super Cup?Real Madrid are the most successful side in the fixture, having won six Super Cups. Barcelona and AC Milan have won five, while Liverpool have won four.PSG are the reigning Super Cup holders after they beat Tottenham 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in last season’s tie.Last 10 winners: 2025 – Paris St-Germain 2024 – Real Madrid 2023 – Manchester City 2022 – Real Madrid 2021 – Chelsea 2020 – Bayern Munich 2019 – Liverpool 2018 – Atletico Madrid 2017 – Real Madrid 2016 – Real Madrid How to watch the UEFA Super Cup?In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.In the United States, the game will be shown on CBC Sports.The full list of global broadcasters can be found here.What happens if the game ends in a draw?If the scores are level after regulation time, the match will go straight to a penalty shootout with no extra time to be played.Who is the referee?Somali referee Omar Artan, who was contr
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