Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa will kick off the new European season when they face each other in the UEFA Super Cup 2026 final on Wednesday, August 12 at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. Red Bull Arena will host the PSG vs Aston Villa UEFA Super Cup match, marking Salzburg’s first time hosting a UEFA club competition final.
Champions League winners PSG will take on Europa League champions Aston Villa in a high-profile curtain-raiser. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET (8:00 PM BST / 3:00 PM ET).
With both squads still recovering from the demands of the World Cup and pre-season preparation limited, team selection remains a major talking point. Here is the latest team news and predicted starting XIs for both sides.
PSG vs Aston Villa Match Details
- Competition: UEFA Super Cup 2026 Final
- Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
- Venue: Red Bull Arena (Stadion Salzburg), Salzburg, Austria
- Kick-off: 21:00 CET
PSG Team News & Injury Update
Luis Enrique faces several fitness questions after a large group of players only returned from international duty this week.
Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi, Fabián Ruiz, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Lucas Hernández and Bradley Barcola are all listed as doubts due to limited training time.
Captain Marquinhos, Vitinha, João Neves and Nuno Mendes are expected to be available after featuring in recent friendlies. Young prospects such as Ibrahim Mbaye and Senny Mayulu are pushing for starts.
Matvey Safonov is expected to start in goal ahead of Lucas Chevalier.
PSG Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Matvey Safonov
- Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes
- Midfielders: João Neves, Vitinha, Dro Fernández
- Forwards: Ibrahim Mbaye, Senny Mayulu, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Other Possible Lineup: Donnarumma – Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes – Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves – Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
- Possible changes: If Dembélé is passed fit he could start in place of Mayulu or Mbaye. Hakimi is likely to reclaim the right-back spot if available.
Aston Villa Team News & Injury Update
Unai Emery also has selection headaches. Leon Bailey (muscle), Johan Manzambi (knee) and Amadou Onana (knee) are confirmed absentees.
Alejandro Garnacho (facial injury), John McGinn (knee) and several players returning from the World Cup — including Emiliano Martínez, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins — are fitness doubts.
New signings João Gomes and Alejandro Garnacho are both expected to be involved, while Marco Bizot is set to start in goal if Martínez is not fully ready.
Aston Villa Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Marco Bizot
- Defenders: Matty Cash, Victor Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen
- Midfielders: João Gomes, Boubacar Kamara
- Attacking Midfielders: John McGinn, Emiliano Buendía, Alejandro Garnacho
- Striker: Tammy Abraham
- Other Possible Lineup: Martinez – Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne – Kamara, Tielemans – Rogers, McGinn, Rashford – Watkins
- Possible changes: If fit, Ollie Watkins could replace Abraham, while Emiliano Martínez would take the gloves. Konsa remains an option in central defence.
Tactical Preview
PSG are expected to dominate possession and look to control the tempo through Vitinha and João Neves. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be the main creative threat from the left, while the young attacking options will look to exploit spaces behind Villa’s full-backs.
Aston Villa under Unai Emery are likely to sit in a compact shape and look to counter quickly. The combination of Buendía’s creativity and Garnacho’s pace on the break could cause problems for a PSG defence that has had limited competitive minutes together this summer.
Both managers will treat the game carefully. With the Premier League and Ligue 1 seasons about to begin, rotation and player management will be key factors.
Key Battles to Watch
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia vs Matty Cash — The Georgian’s dribbling against Villa’s experienced right-back.
- João Neves / Vitinha vs João Gomes / Kamara — Midfield control will be crucial.
- Marquinhos’ leadership against Villa’s attacking transitions.
Match Prediction
Despite the fitness concerns, PSG remain clear favourites on paper. Their depth and quality should eventually tell, but Villa are well-organised and capable of making the game difficult.
- Predicted Score: PSG 2-1 Aston Villa
A tight contest is expected, with the Champions League winners likely to edge it through individual quality in the final third.
Ticket info for the UEFA Super Cup
The application phase for UEFA Super Cup 2026 tickets has ended, and registration is no longer available.
Where to Watch PSG vs Aston Villa UEFA Super Cup 2026 Final?
Fans can watch the PSG vs Aston Villa UEFA Super Cup 2026 Final match broadcast on major networks including Paramount+ (USA), and various European broadcasters. Check local listings for coverage in your region.
