Paris Saint Germain began their new season with another European trophy after beating Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on Thursday.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue scored for PSG. Teenager Brian Madjo found the net for Villa on his debut.
The win allowed PSG to retain the Super Cup. They had won the trophy last year after beating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties.
PSG started with nine players who featured in their Champions League final win over Arsenal in May. Vitinha, Joao Neves and captain Marquinhos were among them.
Villa coach Unai Emery left Ezri Konsa, Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins out of his starting side. He gave debuts to Joao Gomes and 17 year old Madjo.
PSG took the lead after 20 minutes.
Kvaratskhelia collected the ball on the left and moved inside before firing a powerful shot past the goalkeeper at the near post.
The Georgian continued to cause problems for Villa. He later sent Nuno Mendes into space, but his cross failed to find a PSG player.
Villa slowly found their way into the game.
Madjo had a good chance before the half hour mark when he met a cross from John McGinn. However, his header went wide.
The teenager did not waste his next big chance.
McGinn found him inside the box in the 45th minute. Madjo struck the ball with his left foot and sent it into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.
PSG coach Luis Enrique brought on Ousmane Dembele at half time as his side looked to regain control.
Villa still started the second half strongly. Madjo linked up with McGinn again, but PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov kept out McGinn’s curling effort.
PSG went back in front in the 61st minute.
Doue raced forward from the right and curled the ball into the net. The assistant referee initially ruled the goal out for offside.
VAR then checked the decision and found that Matty Cash had kept Doue onside. The goal stood and PSG took a 2-1 lead.
Villa pushed forward in search of another equaliser.
Their best late chance fell to Tammy Abraham. Alysson sent a ball across the six yard box, but Abraham could not reach it.
PSG held firm in the closing minutes and secured another trophy.
“This is amazing, winning this trophy is amazing,” Doue told TNT Sports.
Villa’s Emiliano Buendia admitted the defeat was difficult to accept but felt his team had competed well.
“They are top players. They get chances, they score and they won the game,” he said.
PSG coach Luis Enrique now wants his side to keep winning after another successful start to the season.
“It’s so difficult to win consecutive tournaments, so you have to make the most of it, be ambitious and professional, and try to win again,” he said. “That’s our objective.”
