Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain strengthened their claim as Europe’s top club with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue scored either side of a debut goal by Villa teenager Brian Madjo in Salzburg, Austria, as PSG successfully defended the title it won 12 months ago after beating another Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur, on penalties.
The Super Cup pits the Champions League winners against the Europa League champions and was officiated by Somali referee Omar Artan.
The 34-year-old official unexpectedly found himself in the spotlight in June after being denied entry at Miami International Airport, despite having been selected by FIFA as part of its refereeing panel for the World Cup.
"This is amazing. Winning this trophy is amazing," Doue told TNT Sports.
"This is really difficult because before this, you have to win the Champions League. We did it again, and we won the Super Cup for the second time, so this is amazing for us."
Ahead of the start of their respective domestic seasons, both sides named relatively strong lineups.
PSG's starting XI featured nine players who lifted the Champions League trophy against Arsenal in May, including Vitinha, Joao Neves and captain Marquinhos.
French left-back Lucas Digne, who signed for the Parisians on Sunday, was on the bench against his old side.
Villa rested World Cup players Ezri Konsa, Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins, but Unai Emery handed debuts to midfielder Joao Gomes and striker Madjo.
Midfielder Boubacar Kamara also started for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in January.
PSG broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left and fired a powerful shot into the near post.
The Georgian began to overwhelm the Villa defense. Minutes later, he released left-back Nuno Mendes, whose cutback somehow evaded his onrushing teammates.
But Villa withstood the pressure and should have been level just before the half-hour mark when Madjo glanced a John McGinn cross wide.
The 17-year-old saw another couple of good chances go begging as it appeared Emery's team would go into halftime behind.
However, Madjo got his reward when Scottish veteran McGinn picked him out again in the box in the 45th minute. This time, Madjo lashed the ball with his left foot into the roof of the PSG net.
Emery responded to the swing in momentum by sending on Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele for new PSG recruit Maghnes Akliouche at halftime.
Villa kept up the pressure after the break, with Madjo and McGinn again combining to good effect. The 31-year-old McGinn forced Safonov to beat away his curling effort.
France international Doue raced down the right and curled the ball into the Villa net in the 61st minute but was initially denied by the assistant referee's flag.
VAR intervened, however, and determined that Villa right-back Matty Cash on the far side of the pitch was playing the PSG winger onside. The goal was awarded, to Doue's surprise and delight.
Luis Enrique sent on World Cup winner Fabian Ruiz with 15 minutes remaining to help PSG shore up the midfield as Villa searched for an equalizer.
Their best chance came inside the final 10 minutes when Tammy Abraham was just unable to reach Alysson's cutback inside the six-yard box.
"Not a good feeling. We can be proud of the game we did. We competed well," Villa's Emiliano Buendia said.
"They are top players. They get chances, they score and they won the game."
The Qatar-backed Ligue 1 champions held on to make a winning start to their new season, which they hope will end with a third consecutive Champions League title.
"It's so difficult to win consecutive tournaments, so you have to make the most of it, be ambitious and professional, and try to win again," PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal+. "That's our objective."
