Saint-Germain and Aston Villa compete for the European Super Cup

Paris - AFP - After a trophy-laden season, French club Paris Saint-Germain have a new opportunity to add another title to their cabinet from the start of the campaign, as they face English side Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup tomorrow, Wednesday, in Salzburg.

For Spanish manager Luis Enrique, who has gradually reintegrated his players over recent weeks as those who participated in the World Cup returned from their holidays, a new arduous season begins. The club, which won the Champions League for the second consecutive time at the end of last season, does not intend to leave anything to its rivals.

A year ago, Paris Saint-Germain were forced to rely on a penalty shootout to defeat another English club, Tottenham (2-2, 4-3 on penalties), and claim the title of the previous edition of the Super Cup, which pits the Champions League winner against the Europa League champion.

That match took place under relatively similar circumstances for the Parisian giant, occurring just one month after their loss in the Club World Cup final to English side Chelsea in the United States, which further shortened their preparation period for the new season.

However, the challenge is more complex this year, with a later return to training for a large number of players who remained in action until the final of the 2026 World Cup (July 18 and 19), including Spaniard Fabian Ruiz and Frenchmen Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Dayot Upamecano.

These players did not return to the club’s training center in Paris until yesterday, Monday, so their participation in tomorrow’s match in Austria remains uncertain.

In contrast, Paris Saint-Germain are expected to be able to rely on their new signings against Aston Villa: striker Magnin Akliouche, who joined from French club Monaco, and defender Luca Dini, a former Villa player returning to the French capital.

For their part, after the club won its first major trophy in 30 years, two of Aston Villa’s key stars departed: English striker Morgan Rogers and Belgium national team captain Youri Tielemans.