- PSG face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg. Get team news, key players, tactical analysis and our prediction.
Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa meet in Salzburg on Wednesday with the first European trophy of the new season at stake. PSG arrive as Champions League holders, while Villa return to the Super Cup for the first time since 1982 after winning the Europa League under Unai Emery.
Match information
Fixture: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa Competition: UEFA Super Cup Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Kick-off: 7:00 PM UTC Venue: Red Bull Arena, Salzburg, Austria Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan Teams: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Aston Villa Match: Final
Key players to watch
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia: Kvaratskhelia could be particularly important for PSG because his ability to carry the ball through pressure and create chances from wide areas gives Villa's defense a problem that cannot be solved purely through possession control.
Emiliano Buendia: Buendía could be one of Villa's most important creative outlets, particularly with Watkins unavailable. His ability to operate between the lines and find runners could help Villa exploit the spaces behind PSG's midfield.
Team News
Villa has started their preseason preparation early and played 5 preseason friendly games, where they suffered losses against Porto, Bayern, and Real Sociedad, while PSG has played just two preseason friendlies, losing against Mallorca and drawing against Manchester United.
Aston Villa will miss a couple of their key players due to injury and rest after the World Cup campaign. Ezri Konsa, Emiliano Martinez, and Ollie Watkins will not feature in the match despite being named in the squad. Unai Emery confirmed that players will undergo necessary rest, as they were part of the national team in the latter stages of the World Cup.
The Villans will also miss club-record signing Johan Manzambi due to a knee injury and Leon Bailey, as he has minor injury concerns and ongoing discussions with Hull City for a move. Amadou Onana will be unavailable as he is ruled out with a long-term ACL injury.
PSG are not having reported major injury issues, and their players who were part of the national team in later stages are also expected to feature for some minutes in Salzburg.
Where the game could be won
Aston Villa will try to control the game to stop consistent threats from wider areas through Mbaye and Kvaratskhelia. But PSG has players capable of changing the game even if Villa controls long periods; however, Villa has had a longer preseason preparation and more collective minutes, which could help them early in the match.
Prediction
Villa's greater match preparation could give them an advantage in the opening stages, particularly in their pressing coordination and physical rhythm. However, PSG's individual quality means Villa cannot rely solely on their preparation advantage.
Score Prediction: Aston Villa 1–0 PSG