This Wednesday, in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, Paris Saint-Germain faced Aston Villa at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg. After a match in which the Rouge et Bleu put in a promising—albeit occasionally inconsistent—performance, they secured a 2-1 victory. Here are our ratings for the Parisian players.
Goalkeeper –
Matvey Safonov (7) – He could do nothing about the opening goal but later made several crucial saves with the score at 1-1 and 2-1. The Russian is cementing his status as PSG’s starting goalkeeper.
Defenders –
Achraf Hakimi (6) – He looked in great shape for the start of the season; his physical condition is impressive. Naturally, however, the Moroccan lacked a bit of precision at times.
Marquinhos (6.5) – A solid match for the Parisian defender and captain, though he wasn’t exactly commanding.
Willian Pacho (4.5) – He struggled against Madjo—something we aren’t used to seeing. The defender was notably completely beaten on the equalizer but recovered well afterwards.
Nuno Mendes (7) – The left-back is already in form, making runs that provide a huge boost both defensively and offensively. Unfortunately, he came off with cramps in the 71st minute. Replaced by Lucas Hernandez in the 73rd minute.
Midfielders –
Vitinha (5.5) – A fairly comfortable match in possession, though he was rarely seen doing defensive work.
João Neves (7) – Impressively active; he was invaluable, particularly in winning back possession. He did go through a tougher spell—understandable for a first match. Replaced in the 73rd minute by Fabian Ruiz.
Warren Zaïre-Emery (7) – He still isn’t the most creative player, but the Parisian academy product pulled off a few interesting passes. Above all, he once again put in a massive defensive shift, including some crucial recovery tackles—such as his double intervention in the 73rd minute.
Forwards –
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (7) – The Georgian was everywhere in the first half, whether defending, dribbling, setting up teammates, or scoring. The second half was—understandably—a bit tougher. Nevertheless, the forward looks to be in excellent form. Replaced by Lucas Beraldo in the 87th minute.
Maghnes Akliouche (6) – In his debut, Akliouche showed impressive comfort on the ball, particularly through his movement. He wasn’t at his creative peak—to be expected for a first outing—but he played cleanly and put in the defensive work. Replaced at halftime by Ousmane Dembélé (5). He provided the assist for Doué but was subsequently a bit too wasteful when it came to finishing chances.
Désiré Doué (6) – A difficult first half for Doué, marked by some sloppy play and a few fouls. However, he stepped up his game in the second half and became more creative. He even coolly scored the goal that made it 2–1. Replaced in the 86th minute by Senny Mayulu.
Coach –
Luis Enrique (8) – This first competitive match of the season was far from straightforward, given the squad’s uneven fitness levels and an opponent that demanded serious respect. Yet, he found the right formula to secure a cohesive performance and the win, all without any injuries.
