Fresh from another Champions League triumph, Paris Saint-Germain will look to add more silverware when they face Europa League winners Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday evening.
The annual curtain-raiser takes place at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, with Luis Enrique aiming to win the trophy for a second successive year, while Unai Emery hopes to guide Villa to just the second UEFA Super Cup success in the club’s history.
PSG arrive in Austria as favourites after another hugely successful campaign. The French champions defended their Champions League crown by overcoming Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final and now have the opportunity to become only the fourth club to retain the UEFA Super Cup.
The Parisians have endured a mixed pre-season, losing 3-0 to Mallorca before drawing 1-1 with Manchester United, but those results came with several key players still absent following the World Cup.
Villa’s preparations have been far busier, with Emery overseeing six friendlies ahead of the new campaign. Three wins have been balanced by three defeats, the latest a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich, although performances have steadily improved as new signings have settled into the squad.
The Europa League winners have undergone significant change since lifting the trophy in Istanbul. Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans have departed, but Alejandro Garnacho, Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi have arrived as Villa attempt to build another side capable of challenging on multiple fronts.
Team news for PSG vs Aston Villa
PSG have welcomed several World Cup stars back into the fold, including Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and captain Marquinhos. Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Hernandez and Warren Zaire-Emery could also feature after returning to training.
Summer signing Maghnes Akliouche is available, while the French champions have lost Goncalo Ramos, Randal Kolo Muani and Lee Kang-in during the transfer window. Bradley Barcola’s future also remains uncertain amid continued transfer speculation.
Villa are without new signing Johan Manzambi after the midfielder suffered a knee injury during Switzerland’s World Cup campaign, while Amadou Onana remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury.
John McGinn is also a doubt after picking up a knock in pre-season, although Boubacar Kamara has returned to action after his lengthy spell out.
Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Gomes are both pushing to make their competitive debuts for the Midlands club, while Emery will assess the fitness of Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez before naming his starting side.
Expected line-ups for PSG vs Aston Villa
PSG: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Mbaye, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
Aston Villa: Bizot; Cash, Lindelof, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Joao Gomes, Kamara; Hemmings, Buendia, Garnacho; Watkins.
How to watch PSG vs Aston Villa
Kick-off: 8:00pm BST, Wednesday 13 August
Venue: Red Bull Arena, Salzburg, Austria
TV/live stream: TNT Sports and discovery+ (UK)
The stats for PSG vs Aston Villa
- PSG are aiming to become only the fourth club to successfully defend the UEFA Super Cup
- The Champions League winners have lifted the UEFA Super Cup in each of the last seven editions
- PSG have scored in 28 consecutive competitive matches
- Aston Villa defeated Freiburg to win last season’s Europa League
- Unai Emery has lost all three of his previous UEFA Super Cup appearances
Prediction for PSG vs Aston Villa
PSG should be much closer to full strength than they were during pre-season and possess greater continuity than a Villa side adapting to several new faces.
Emery’s team are capable of making life difficult, but the European champions have consistently delivered on the biggest occasions under Luis Enrique.
Prediction: PSG 2-0 Aston Villa
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