On Wednesday, August 12, Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League winners) face Aston Villa (Europa League winners) at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg (kick-off at 9 PM, CET) in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. As with every match, here is a look at the Parisians’ opponents.
Aston Villa’s situation –
A club with a rich history, Aston Villa has endured difficult times, having to fight their way back up to the Premier League at the end of the 2018–2019 season. This came a year after their takeover by investors Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, and followed a near-miss in the promotion play-offs.
The rebuilding process was particularly successful, featuring relatively prudent transfer windows by the league’s standards (spending €100 million per summer). It took time; there was even a worrying spell during the 2022–2023 campaign when the club was fighting to avoid relegation. However, in October, manager Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard, and the Spaniard orchestrated a remarkable turnaround.
This led to a fourth-place finish in the 2023–2024 season and Champions League qualification—a campaign that saw them lose to PSG in the quarter-finals. The “Villans” have now established themselves as consistent contenders at the top of the Premier League. Having finished fourth last season, Aston Villa would have qualified for the Champions League even without their Europa League victory—a win that also earned them the right to play PSG in this Super Cup.
The 2026 summer transfer window –
Source: Transfermarkt.
Departures:
Arrivals:
Key statistics –
During the 2025-2026 season, Aston Villa had the league’s 7th-best attack with 56 goals scored (the top team, Manchester City, had 77, while the bottom team, Wolverhampton, had 27) and the 5th-best defense, conceding 49 goals (Arsenal had the best defense, conceding 27, while the bottom team, Burnley, conceded 75).
In the Premier League, the Villans’ top scorer was Ollie Watkins (30-year-old forward); his 16 goals placed him 4th in the league (Erling Haaland topped the list with 27 goals). Lucas Digne (33-year-old left-back) and Morgan Rogers (23-year-old attacking midfielder/winger) were the English club’s top assist providers with 6 assists each, ranking among the top 9 in the Premier League (Bruno Fernandes led with 21 assists).
Aston Villa’s 6 friendly matches –
Only the Villans’ possession is shown, and Aston Villa’s shots are listed first (where data is available).
21/07/2026 (friendly) – Walsall vs. Aston Villa: 0-5. Formation: 4-2-3-1.
25/07/2026 (friendly) – Porto vs. Aston Villa: 2-1. Formation: 4-2-3-1.
28/07/2026 (friendly) – Aston Villa vs. Real Sociedad: 2-4. Formation: 4-2-3-1.
01/08/2026 (friendly) – Indonesia XI vs. Aston Villa: 1-3. Formation: 4-2-3-1.
04/08/2026 (friendly) – Pathum United vs. Aston Villa: 1-3. Formation: 4-2-3-1. August 7, 2026 (friendly) – Aston Villa vs. Bayern Munich: 1–2. Played a 4-4-2 formation. 44% possession. 8 shots to 16.
The squad:
Out – Bailey, Manzambi, Onana (injury), Watkins, Martinez, Konsa (training).
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1):
Abraham
Garnacho – Buendia – McGinn
Gomes – Kamara
Maatsen – Torres – Lindelöf – Cash
Bizot
Substitutes: Wright, Asemota, Cissé, Rowe, Barkley, Bogarde, Nedeljkovic, Alysson, Guessand, Madjo.
Aston Villa’s playing style.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side does not hesitate to play a high line and look to inflict damage upon winning back possession. The priority is not necessarily dominating possession, but rather playing quickly to create chances—particularly by attacking through the middle and playing balls in behind the defense. However, the Villans are also capable of adapting and sitting deeper to play on the counter-attack. It is difficult to predict exactly what approach they will take here, given that neither team is at 100% fitness; there could well be periods of dominance and vulnerability for both sides.
