UEFA Super Cup: PSG Champions Again After Protest for Substitution Room

JAKARTA - Champions League champion Paris Saint-Germain successfully back-to-back in the UEFA Super Cup. PSG is back to be champions for the second time in a row after defeating Aston Villa 2-1 in the match at the Red Bull Arena Stadium, Salzburg, Austria, Thursday, August 13, 2026 WIB.

The European Super Cup or UEFA Super Cup final was marked by PSG's protest. Because of that, the French Ligue 1 elite team got a smaller locker room than Aston Villa, which occupied the locker room that Red Bull used as the owner of the stadium. Meanwhile, PSG uses the guest team's locker room.

The PSG protest was apparently accepted by UEFA so that they were allowed to use the referee's dressing room. This makes the PSG dressing room wider just like Villa.

The locker room incident did not affect the performance of Les Parisiens. Luis Enrique's team showed strength again over the English Premier League team to win the Super Cup.

When winning the trophy in 2025 or last season, PSG also met Tottenham Hotspur, the Premier League team who became the Europa League champion. PSG performed the best after winning on penalties.

PSG will meet the English team again in the 2026 Champions League final. This time, they face Arsenal, Tottenham's neighbor in North London. Despite having difficulties and conceding a goal first, PSG won the penalty shootout.

When returning to the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, PSG met Villa, who was the Europa League champion. Through a tight battle because The Villans showed fighting spirit against the best team at the moment, two goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue brought PSG to match the record of AC Milan and Real Madrid who managed back-to-back in the Super Cup.

Villa manager Unai Emery's failure to stop PSG's pace has again delayed hopes of lifting the trophy. Emery has a record as the coach who has won the Europa League the most. He has brought three different clubs with five times to be champions but has always failed when stepping into the Super Cup.

In the 2025/2026 edition, Emery led Villa to a trophy for the first time after defeating Freiburg 3-0. Only Villa failed to repeat the success 44 years ago when winning the Super Cup by defeating Barcelona 3-1 in 1982.

In that match, Villa was actually able to keep up with PSG. Both teams took turns to pressure. But PSG finally took the lead after Kvaratskhelia broke into the goal of Marco Bizot who replaced Emiliano Martinez in the 20th minute.

Kvaratskhelia, who looked fit after the 2026 World Cup, received a pass from the midfield who then outwitted Matty Cash before unleashing a powerful shot that Bizot failed to save.

After falling behind 1-0, Villa tried to bounce back and take control of the game. They created several opportunities through striker Brian Madjo. Even Madjo's header in front of the goal should have tied the score. Only, the ball still bounced.

The 17-year-old's attempt to change the score finally bore fruit. When the first half was over, Madjo broke PSG's goal after receiving a cross from John McGinn. His shot successfully defeated goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, making Madjo the youngest player to score a goal in the Super Cup. The score changed to 1-1 and lasted until halftime.

Entering the second half, Villa continued to play offensively. Madjo again presented a threat to PSG's defense. A good opportunity was obtained by Madjo but could be thwarted. Safonov.

When Villa put pressure, but PSG was finally able to score the second goal through Doue in the 60th minute. Receiving a breakthrough pass, Doue then greeted the ball. Villa players thought Doue was in an offside position so they didn't try to chase the player who easily broke into Bizot's goal.

The assistant referee actually raised a flag indicating that Doue was offside. However, the Somali referee Omar Artan then reviewed the incident via VAR. As a result, Doue was declared onside by the first referee from Africa who led this European match so that PSG won 2-1.

Villa who was disappointed with the referee's decision tried to get up and catch up. Only their efforts did not bear fruit. The score 2-1 for PSG lasted until the end of the match.

Enrique said his team was satisfied with being able to meet the target of winning the European Super Cup again. According to him, the players showed a mentality and ambition that did not decrease even though they were not in the best condition.

"Before the game, we knew it would be difficult. But we were able to develop the game because the players know what to do. We are not in the best condition. But once again we showed how our DNA and fans helped us win trophies and keep the standard of the game high," said Enrique as quoted by the UEFA website.

"It must be admitted that it is not easy to win trophies. We know that the team still has weaknesses. But I am happy to have the opportunity to handle a team with a good mentality," he said.

"Our mentality now is to try to win the Champions League for the third time in a row. We still have the ambition and the belief to achieve it. Of course it will be difficult but that's our goal," said the former Spain and Barcelona coach.