Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa meet in Salzburg on Wednesday for the UEFA Super Cup, the traditional curtain-raiser to the European club season. The match pits the Champions League holders against the Europa League winners, with kickoff at 9pm local time (19:00 GMT) at the Salzburg Stadium.
For PSG, a victory would make them only the fourth team in the modern era to retain the trophy, a feat last achieved by Real Madrid in 2016 and 2017. The French champions beat Tottenham on penalties in last year’s edition.
Aston Villa, under former PSG coach Unai Emery, are chasing their first Super Cup title. Emery has lost all three of his previous appearances in this fixture, while PSG boss Luis Enrique has won both of his.
PSG’s preparations have been complicated by the staggered return of their World Cup players. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, who impressed for France with six goals and two assists, only rejoined training on Monday, along with Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola. Spain’s Fabian Ruiz, a key figure in their semifinal win over France, also reported late.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who missed the tournament because Georgia did not qualify, has been back for weeks and is expected to start on the left wing. New signing Maghnes Akliouche, brought in from Monaco, could feature on the right.
There is speculation that Barcola, who scored three goals at the World Cup, might be on his way to Liverpool, which would open the door for Akliouche.
Lucas Digne, who joined PSG from Aston Villa on Sunday for a reported 10 million euros ($11.6m), could line up against his former teammates. The 33-year-old left-back, born in the Paris suburbs, first played for PSG in 2013 before stints at Roma, Barcelona, and eight years in the Premier League with Everton and Villa.
Villa enter their fourth full season under Emery with a reshaped squad. Key midfielders Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans have departed to Chelsea and Manchester United, respectively. New arrivals include Swiss World Cup star Johan Manzambi and Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes from relegated Wolverhampton, though Manzambi is sidelined with a knee injury.
Villa won the Europa League by beating Freiburg 3-0 in the final and are back in the Champions League for the second time under Emery.
The two clubs have met only twice before, both in last season’s Champions League. PSG won the first leg 3-1, and Villa took the second 3-2, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the aggregate deficit.
According to the Opta supercomputer, PSG are favourites, winning in 90 minutes in 45 percent of 10,000 simulations. Villa were given a 29.6 percent chance, while a draw—which would lead to extra time and possibly penalties—came in at 25.5 percent.
The match also carries political weight. UEFA has appointed Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred by the United States from officiating at the World Cup days before the tournament, citing unproven security concerns. Artan, named Africa’s best referee last season, will take charge in Salzburg—a move widely seen as a rebuke to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The rift between UEFA and FIFA has widened over Infantino’s aborted plan to sell a stake in the World Cup, with UEFA leading calls for his ouster.
PSG have several fitness doubts, including Barcola, Dembele, Doue, Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Hernandez, and Warren Zaire-Emery. Their likely lineup includes Safonov in goal; Zabarnyi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes in defence; Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Dro Fernandez in midfield; and Mbaye, Mayulu, and Kvaratskhelia up front.
Villa are without Leon Bailey (muscular), Johan Manzambi (knee), and Amadou Onana (knee). Alejandro Garnacho (facial), John McGinn (knee), and Emiliano Konsa, Emiliano Martinez, and Ollie Watkins are all doubtful. Their probable starting XI: Bizot; Cash, Lindelof, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Joao Gomes, Kamara; McGinn, Buendia, Garnacho; Abraham.
