This Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg. Here is a look at the highs and lows of the match.
The Highs
❤️ Back-to-back wins confirming a winning culture.
Even without hitting their peak form, PSG retained the UEFA Super Cup, achieving another back-to-back European triumph. Paris struggled against an enterprising Aston Villa side but once again found the resources to win a high-stakes knockout match. This ability to win despite imperfect preparation reinforces the impression left over recent seasons: the squad has developed a genuine winning culture.
Kvaratskhelia and Doué: stepping up when it counts.
Big matches continue to showcase the same key players. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia broke the deadlock with a powerful strike after beating Matty Cash, while Désiré Doué provided an assist before scoring the winning goal. Named Man of the Match, the Frenchman confirmed his ability to make a direct impact on major occasions. The talent is obvious, but his consistency in finals is becoming truly impressive.
Marquinhos the leader; Zaïre-Emery already tireless.
When the Parisian defense began to wobble, Marquinhos made numerous interventions and tried to keep the team structure afloat. The captain remains the true leader of the backline. Ahead of him, Warren Zaïre-Emery displayed remarkable fitness, putting in a huge amount of running and making a crucial tackle on João Gomes. Matvey Safonov also deserves a mention for several important saves that kept Paris in the lead.
The Lows
Pacho still struggling to find his feet.
Willian Pacho had a difficult evening up against Brian Madjo. Often outmuscled in challenges, the Ecuadorian failed to contain the young forward during Aston Villa’s equalizer. His positioning and defensive aggression also lacked precision in several situations involving the English side. After a disjointed pre-season, Pacho still seems to be finding his feet and regaining peak physical fitness.
Nuno Mendes lacked his usual influence.
The Portuguese player did create a few attacking opportunities, but his performance was marred by too many inaccuracies. Less explosive, less incisive in his forward runs, and occasionally caught out defensively, Nuno Mendes never truly dominated his flank. His partnership with Pacho on the left side also lacked composure—a performance a far cry from the standards the Parisian full-back has set in recent months.
Playing a final before being truly ready.
The main issue goes beyond individual performances. PSG had to play a European final as their first competitive match, dealing with staggered returns following the World Cup and a necessarily truncated pre-season. Naturally, several players lacked match sharpness, while some key figures were not yet ready to start. Paris overcame the challenge, but this schedule unnecessarily exposes players to injuries and early-season poor form.
