Saint-Germain Retains UEFA Super Cup Title

French club Paris Saint-Germain, the UEFA Champions League winners, retained their UEFA Super Cup title by defeating English side Aston Villa 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg on Wednesday.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (20th minute) and Desire Doue (62nd minute) scored for Paris Saint-Germain, while young player Bryan Mbeumo netted Aston Villa’s goal in his debut appearance for the club (45th minute).

The UEFA Super Cup pits the winners of the Champions League against the winners of the UEFA Europa League. Paris Saint-Germain beat English club Arsenal on penalties in the continent’s premier competition, while Aston Villa thrashed German opponents Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final.

Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Super Cup last year for the first time in their history, defeating English club Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling match decided by penalties.

Although he confirmed he was “happy” with his team’s victory, Luis Enrique did not miss the opportunity to point out, as he had done the eve of the match in Salzburg, Austria, that his players are “not yet at the physical readiness required to compete throughout the season.”