To give them a little more rest, the two players could see some minutes later in the match if necessary. Maghnes Akliouche and Warren Zaïre-Emery will replace them.

This will be Luis Enrique’s starting XI: Matvey Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Warren Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Maghnes Akliouche, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

PSG’s fate will be determined by whether they win, draw, or lose against Unai Emery’s side. Aston Villa will also be missing key players, as Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa will not play.

Fighting for another UEFA Super Cup title

Paris Saint-Germain will fight for their second UEFA Super Cup title, looking to add another European trophy to their collection after winning their first back in August 2024. In that historic edition played at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, the newly crowned Champions League winners mounted an agonizing late comeback to draw 2–2 against Tottenham Hotspur before triumphing 4–3 in a tense penalty shootout.

Now returning as the reigning champions of Europe, the French powerhouse aims to duplicate that success and secure another Super Cup for their growing cabinet.

Dembele’s importance to the team

Ousmane Dembele enjoyed an explosive 2025–26 campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, emerging as one of the club’s most dangerous attacking weapons. Across 40 appearances in all competitions, the dynamic winger tallied 20 goals and 11 assists in 2,200 minutes of play.

His impact was felt most heavily on the biggest stages, where he registered 10 goals and 7 assists in 22 Ligue 1 matches, alongside 8 goals and 2 assists in 13 UEFA Champions League appearances to help propel PSG to continental glory.

To add historical weight to the matchup, it is worth noting that despite being two historic European clubs, PSG and Aston Villa, which are without Emiliano Martinez, have only met twice in official competition.

Both matches took place in the 2024-25 Champions League quarterfinals. In the first leg, PSG earned a 3-1 victory in Paris, while Aston Villa secured a 3-2 win in England in the second leg. The aggregate score finished 5-4 in favor of PSG, sending the French club to the semifinals. That leaves each team with one win in their head-to-head history, though PSG claimed the overall tie.

What happens if PSG win vs Aston Villa?

If PSG win, the French team claims the trophy and is crowned Super Cup champion, as this single-game showdown features the winners of Europe’s top competitions in the Champions League and the Europa League. It would mark the first title of the season for Luis Enrique’s squad, while Aston Villa would walk away empty-handed.

What happens if PSG and Aston Villa tie?

The rule is straightforward. If the score remains level after 90 minutes, the match goes straight to a penalty shootout to decide the champion. No extra time will be played, meaning there will not be 30 additional minutes of play in the event of a draw—a rule fans have seen before.

This rule applies for a second consecutive season, after last year’s UEFA Super Cup was decided directly by penalties following a tie, with Paris Saint-Germain claiming the title against Tottenham.

What happens if PSG lose vs Aston Villa?

If PSG lose to Aston Villa, the French team will leave without the title, allowing Unai Emery’s squad to capture the trophy in an unexpected upset over the two-time Champions League winners. Furthermore, over the last 26 finals, the Europa League champion has won on only eight occasions.

“They are not here – Konsa, Watkins and Martinez because they finished their season on 19th July and I gave them four weeks to rest, it’s completely necessary,” the manager said via the team’s official website.

In his comments, Emery also mentioned his goalkeeper, as Emiliano Martinez will also miss this match for the same reason. The manager lamented their absences: “Of course, if they were here, maybe we could have more chances.”

Aston Villa’s predicted XI

With new faces such as recently signed Alejandro Garnacho, alongside several of the heroes from that historic final against Freiburg, these are the 11 players Unai Emery would field to face PSG.

Marco Bizot; Ian Maatsen, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelöf, Matty Cash; João Gomes, Boubacar Kamara; Alejandro Garnacho, Emiliano Buendía, John McGinn; Tammy Abraham.

The absence of Watkins and Konsa

The absence of both Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa severely undermines Aston Villa’s backbone ahead of the Super Cup clash. Missing Watkins deprives Unai Emery’s side of its main focal point in attack, as the striker tallied 19 goals and 5 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions during the 2025–26 season.

Meanwhile, Konsa’s absence leaves a massive void in Villa’s central defense, where the English defender logged over 3,000 minutes as the defensive anchor throughout the campaign. Without their top goalscorer and defensive leader, Villa will face an uphill battle to contain PSG’s dynamic attack while generating enough counter-attacking threat to claim the trophy.

Seeking their second UEFA Super Cup title

Aston Villa enter the 2026 UEFA Super Cup seeking to add a second Super Cup to their continental cabinet, building upon a proud European heritage that began with their famous 1981–82 European Cup triumph and their subsequent 1982 UEFA Super Cup victory over Barcelona.

Following decades of European campaigns—which also included a UEFA Intertoto Cup title in 2001—the Villans reached new heights by claiming the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League. Now boasting four major UEFA honours, Unai Emery’s side aims to further cement its historic international legacy by lifting the trophy once again.

How to watch PSG vs Aston Villa in the USA

PSG vs. Aston Villa will be available to watch on CBS Sports Network, TUDN USA and Univision in the United States, giving viewers with a participating TV provider access to the UEFA Super Cup.

Fans have additional streaming options. Fubo, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, the TUDN App and ViX are also among the available streaming services for soccer coverage, while Paramount+ remains the direct option.

Can I watch PSG vs Aston Villa for free?

Eligible new Fubo subscribers can watch PSG vs. Aston Villa for free through Fubo‘s 5-day free trial. It currently offers a free trial on select plans, and its CBS Sports Network page specifically provides access through a free trial.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa meet in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup with European silverware on the line at Stadion Salzburg in Austria. PSG qualified as the reigning Champions League winners after beating Arsenal on penalties in the 2025/26 final, while Aston Villa earned their place by defeating Freiburg in the Europa League final in May.

For PSG, the match offers a chance to start the new European season by adding another trophy to an already historic run. Luis Enrique‘s side is looking to become only the second team in the modern era to win consecutive UEFA Super Cups, following Real Madrid’s back-to-back triumphs in 2016 and 2017.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are returning to the Super Cup for only the second time in club history. Their previous appearance came in 1982/83, when they defeated Barcelona 3-1 on aggregate to lift the trophy. Unai Emery‘s team will now try to add another European title after winning the 2025/26 Europa League, which was Villa’s first European trophy since 1983.

The matchup also carries extra intrigue because these teams already produced a dramatic Champions League quarter-final in 2025. PSG advanced 5-4 on aggregate, winning the first leg 3-1 in Paris before Aston Villa won the return 3-2 at Villa Park. Villa’s comeback attempt ultimately fell short, but the tie demonstrated how competitive the matchup can be.

PSG vs Aston Villa: Predicted Lineups

PSG (4-3-3): Matvey Safonov; Illia Zabarnyi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Dro Fernández; Ibrahim Mbaye, Senny Mayulu, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Marco Bizot; Matty Cash, Victor Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen; João Gomes, Boubacar Kamara, McGinn; Emiliano Buendia, Alejandro Garnacho, Tammy Abraham.

Aston Villa head into this clash with notable absentees. Emiliano Martinez isn’t playing against PSG today as the Argentine goalkeeper was given time to rest after making it all the way to the World Cup final. Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa aren’t playing for Aston Villa either, as both were also given more time off after playing the third-place game with England.

What time is the PSG vs Aston Villa match?

The PSG vs. Aston Villa match in Austria kicks off on Wednesday, August 12, at 3:00 PM ET. The game will be played at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, with UEFA confirming a 9:00 PM local kickoff.

• Eastern Time: 3:00 PM
• Central Time: 2:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 1:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 12:00 PM

In his last outing for Aston Villa, Martinez kept a clean sheet as the Villains thrashed Freiburg 3-0 to crown themselves Europa League champions. During warmups for that final, “Dibu” suffered a fracture to the ring finger on his right hand, which prevented him from being at 100% during the 2026 World Cup. However, that’s not why Martinez will miss the UEFA Super Cup against PSG.

Instead, Martinez is still away from the team on vacation after reaching the World Cup final on July 19. Far from being controversial for the team, however, it was agreed upon with head coach Emery, who confirmed that “Dibu” won’t be part of Aston Villa’s starting lineup against PSG—and won’t even be on the squad for the Super Cup.

Emery confirms Martinez is unavailable for Super Cup

“Emiliano Martinez is wrapping up his holidays this week,” Emery admitted about Martinez’s status during Aston Villa’s press conference ahead of the UEFA Super Cup matchup against PSG. The Argentine goalkeeper won’t be the only notable absentee, either.

In addition, English internationals Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins are also on holiday after being part of the Three Lions’ squad that won bronze at the 2026 World Cup. As Emery explained, the three players who reached the latter stages of the tournament were given a four-week break. Aston Villa expect the trio to be back next week.

Maybe it will come back to bite the Villains, who need all the help they can get against European kings PSG. Still, Villa were always going to be underdogs, and this may serve as even more fuel for them.

Who will replace Martinez in goal?

With Martinez unavailable to Emery and his staff, all signs point to Marco Bizot protecting the net for the Villains against the Parisiens. The Dutch goalkeeper appeared in four games for Villa during the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League, all of them during the league phase, and conceded only one goal in a 2-1 win over FC Basel.

Home of FC Salzburg in the domestic league, it will be the first time in history that this stadium hosts a UEFA club final. The venue has a capacity of approximately 30,000 spectators, and a sellout is expected.

This will be the 14th time this final is played between the UEFA Champions League winners and the UEFA Europa League winners. The 2025 edition was held at Stadio Friuli, home of Udinese, in Udine.

How does PSG come into this match?

Paris Saint-Germain punched their ticket to the 2026 UEFA Super Cup after capturing the UEFA Champions League title in dramatic fashion. The French giants secured their spot in the showdown by defeating Arsenal in a tense penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw through extra time in the 2026 Champions League final.

Aston Villa’s historic title

Aston Villa etched their name into European soccer history by capturing the 2026 UEFA Europa League title in dominant game. The English side claimed the trophy with a resounding 3–0 victory over German club SC Freiburg in the final played at Tüpraş Stadium in Istanbul on May 20, 2026.

The most recent precedent

Prior to their 2026 UEFA Super Cup clash, Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa have met just twice in official European competition, locking horns in the quarter-finals of the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League.

PSG took the first leg 3–1 at the Parc des Princes before Villa pulled off a thrilling 3–2 comeback win at Villa Park in the return leg. Though the English club claimed a memorable home victory, the French giants advanced 5–4 on aggregate, leaving the all-time head-to-head record perfectly balanced at one win apiece.

His rise has been remarkable, particularly given the historic significance of his achievements for Somalia. He was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025 after officiating at the highest level of African club soccer.

His profile also carries an unusual World Cup chapter. FIFA selected him for the 2026 World Cup, but he was unable to participate. Now, his UEFA Super Cup appointment offers another major international stage.

How old is Omar Artan?

Omar Artan is 34 years old. The Somali referee was born in 1992 in Mogadishu, Somalia, although some databases do not list an exact date of birth. Reuters and the Associated Press both identify Artan as 34 in 2026.

He has risen quickly through the international refereeing ranks despite his relatively young age. He has been on FIFA’s international referee list since 2018 and has become one of CAF’s leading officials.

What nationality is Omar Artan?

Omar Artan is Somali. The 34-year-old referee was born in Somalia and represents the country internationally. UEFA identifies him as a Somali referee in its announcement of his appointment for the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.

When did Omar Artan become a referee?

Onar Artan became a FIFA-listed international referee in 2018. Before reaching the international stage, he developed as a referee in Somalia’s domestic soccer system.

His FIFA appointment in 2018 marked the beginning of a rapid rise that eventually took him to major CAF competitions and international tournaments.

His progression was particularly notable because Somalia has historically had limited representation among officials. He subsequently became the country’s first referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations and the first Somali official to take charge of a CAF Champions League final.

Has Omar Artan ever refereed at the FIFA World Cup?

Omar Artan has never refereed a FIFA World Cup match. He was selected by FIFA as one of the referees for the 2026 World Cup, which would have made him the first Somali referee to officiate at the tournament, but he ultimately could not participate.

FIFA had included him among the seven African referees selected for the 2026 tournament. CAF’s official list named him alongside Mustapha Ghorbal, Amin Mohamed, Pierre Atcho, Dahane Beida, Jalal Jayed and Abongile Tom.

However, he was denied entry to the United States ahead of the tournament and was subsequently unable to take part. The Associated Press reported that he was removed from FIFA’s final group of World Cup officials after being denied entry over what U.S. authorities described as vetting concerns.

The missed opportunity was significant because he would have made history as the first Somali referee at a FIFA World Cup. Instead, his next major international appointment became another historic milestone: UEFA selected him to referee the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.

Omar Artan’s career highlights

• FIFA international referee since 2018: Artan has been part of the FIFA international referee list since 2018, establishing himself as an international official at a relatively young age.

• Africa’s top refereeing stage: Artan became one of CAF’s leading officials and was selected to officiate major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations. CAF’s official records list him among the tournament’s referees.

• CAF Champions League final: One of the biggest milestones of his career came when Artan refereed the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final. CAF identifies the assignment as one of the most notable matches he has handled.

• CAF Men’s Referee of the Year 2025: His performances earned him the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year award in 2025, putting Artan among the continent’s elite match officials.

• Selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: FIFA selected Artan as one of the referees for the 2026 World Cup. The appointment represented a historic opportunity for Somalia, but he was ultimately unable to participate after being denied entry to the United States.

• Historic UEFA Super Cup appointment: In June 2026, UEFA appointed Artan to referee the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg. The appointment came through UEFA and CAF’s cooperation agreement and represents the first time a Somali referee has been selected to officiate the competition.

• A landmark moment for African refereeing: The UEFA Super Cup assignment is particularly significant because it takes an African referee outside the CAF competition structure and places him in charge of a major UEFA fixture. UEFA described Artan as an experienced young official who had already proven himself at the highest level of CAF competitions.

However, that’s still a ways ahead in the calendar. Coming off the win over Arsenal, Many players on PSG will now be headed to the 2026 World Cup. When they get back from the biggest tournament in international soccer, they’ll have more than enough time to rest and gear up for the UEFA Super Cup.

The 2026 UEFA Super Cup will be held on Wednesday, August 12th. Just as it did in the Champions League, PSG will vie to repeat as Super Cup champions, as well. Last year, Les Parisiens defeated Tottenham in a penalty shootout after coming back from down 2-0. As for Aston Villa, they have won an European Super Cup before. The Villains will chase their first under the UEFA format.

2026 UEFA Super Cup details

On August 12, PSG and Aston Villa will meet at Stadion Salzburg in Austria. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm (Eastern Time) and 9:00 pm (Central European Time). Stadion Salzburg, home of FC Salzburg, will host a club final for the first time.

In the country that cradled renowned musicians like Mozart and Beethoven, PSG and Aston Villa have been treated to pleasant tunes. The two sides were victorious in their last visits to Austria. PSG defeated Red Bull Salzburg by a score of 3-0 in a league-phase match during the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. As for Villa, they took down Red Bull Salzburg in January 2026 in an electric 3-2 showdown, en route to their latest continental conquest.

PSG’s road to Super Cup

PSG finished 11th in the league-phase standings of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. They eliminated AS Monaco in the play-off round by an aggregate score of 5-4. In the round of 16, Les Parisiens knocked Chelsea out in dominant fashion by an aggregate score of 8-2. PSG also steamrolled Liverpool in the quarterfinals with back-to-back 2-0 wins at Parc des Princes and Anfield.

In the semifinals, the reigning champions took down Bayern Munich in a final before the final by an aggregate score of 6-5. In the final, PSG needed a penalty shootout to take down Arsenal, who finished as runner-ups without losing a game, and have nothing to show for but a silver, second-place medal.

Aston Villa’s path to UEFA Super Cup

Aston Villa finished second in the league-phase standings of the UEFA Europa League, securing 21 of a possible 24 points. In the round of 16, the Villains knocked out LOSC Lille by an aggregate score of 3-0. In the quarterfinals, Aston Villa routed Bologna by an aggregate score of 7-1.

A 4-0 win in the second leg against Nottingham Forest was more than enough to overcome the 1-0 loss in the first leg, and the Villains were off to the final. In the championship match, the Villains dominated from start to finish, defeating Freiburg by a score of 3-0. Aston Villa scored 17 goals and allowed just 2 during the knockout stages, en route to one of the most dominant performances in UEFA Europa League history.

The UEFA Super Cup crowns the first champion of the European season, pitting the reigning Champions League winner against the Europa League champion in a one-off match to open the campaign.

PSG claimed last season’s Champions League title in dominant fashion, routing Inter Milan 5–0 in the final at Allianz Arena. Tottenham, meanwhile, captured the Europa League trophy with a 1–0 win over Manchester United in the final at San Mames Stadium.

This will be the first appearance for both clubs in the UEFA Super Cup, as each lifted its respective European trophy for the first time in team history. Son played a key role in Tottenham’s Europa League final victory but will not be available for today’s match.

Why is Son Heung-min not playing for Tottenham?

Son will not be available for today’s UEFA Super Cup final, as he is no longer part of Tottenham, having been sold to LAFC earlier this transfer window for a reported league-record fee of $26 million.

The South Korean forward announced in an emotional press conference on Saturday, August 2, during Tottenham’s pre-season tour, that he would be leaving the club after a decade in the Premier League.

The 33-year-old forward made his official MLS debut on Saturday, August 9, coming off the bench to play just over 40 minutes in a 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire FC.

While logic might suggest the Champions League winners should always be favored, the history of this one-off match has shown that the Europa League champions are more than capable of springing an upset.

The last team to achieve this feat was Atletico Madrid in 2018. In a thrilling contest in Tallinn, the Europa League holders, led by Diego Simeone, faced their fierce rivals, Real Madrid, fresh off their Champions League triumph. The match turned into a roller coaster of emotions, finishing 4-2 in extra time thanks to goals from Diego Costa, Saul Niguez, and Koke.

With that victory, Atletico Madrid not only lifted the trophy but also proved that grit and determination can overcome pedigree, sealing one of the most memorable wins for a team coming from Europe’s second-tier competition.

How many times have the Europa League representative beat the Champions League winner?

Throughout the history of the UEFA Super Cup, winners of the UEFA Cup/Europa League have managed to prevail on seven occasions. This is even more notable when considering that in the early years of the competition, there wasn’t a direct link between the European Cup champions and the Cup Winners’ Cup, the forerunner of the UEFA Cup/Europa League.

Here is the complete list of UEFA Cup/Europa League winners defeating Champions League holders:

• Ajax (1973): The first UEFA Cup champions to win the UEFA Super Cup, defeating AC Milan, champions of the European Cup.
• Anderlecht (1976): Beat Bayern Munich.
• Juventus (1984): Defeated Liverpool.
• Parma (1993): Overcame AC Milan.
• Liverpool (2001): Topped Bayern Munich.
• Zenit Saint Petersburg (2008): Beat Manchester United.
• Atletico Madrid (2012): Defeated Chelsea.
• Atletico Madrid (2018): Most recent winners from the Europa League to claim the trophy, beating Real Madrid.

The UEFA Super Cup is a reminder that in soccer, pedigree and history do not always guarantee victory. Clubs emerging from the Europa League, motivated by the chance to prove themselves against the continent’s giants, have written some of the competition’s most thrilling chapters.

Who holds the most titles in the competition?

While Europa League winners have delivered historic shocks, the Super Cup’s honors list is dominated by Champions League royalty. Real Madrid lead the way with six titles, followed closely by AC Milan and Barcelona with five each, showing that despite the epic triumphs of clubs from Europe’s secondary tournament, the competition’s history has largely been shaped by the continent’s most decorated teams.

After the 26-year-old declined to renew his contract, which runs through 2026, PSG head coach Luis Enrique confirmed that Donnarumma would not be part of the squad for the final — or moving forward.

“I am 100% responsible for this difficult decision. If it were easy, anyone could do it. These decisions are about the profile of the goalkeeper my team needs,” Luis Enrique told reporters on the press conference prior to the game.

Donnarumma’s camp, however, suggested the absence stems from internal club matters. “If there was talk of a renewal, it meant Gianluigi was part of PSG’s future plans. I don’t think the coach could have changed his mind in just a month,” his agent Enzo Raiola told Sky Sport.

The goalkeeper himself addressed the situation in a heartfelt social media post. “Unfortunately, someone has decided I can no longer be part of the group or contribute to the team’s success. I am disappointed and heartbroken. I hope to have the chance to look the fans at the Parc des Princes in the eyes one last time and say goodbye the right way,” the former AC Milan goalkeeper wrote.

Who will replace Donnarumma in goal?

Luis Enrique has two strong options to fill the starting role left vacant by Donnarumma, who had been PSG’s undisputed No. 1. One is Matvei Safonov, the Russian goalkeeper who served as the backup during Donnarumma’s tenure. Safonov has made 17 appearances for PSG and has been named to the squad for the clash against Tottenham.

The other candidate is Lucas Chevalier, a recent $47 million signing from Lille. The 23-year-old Frenchman is highly regarded by Luis Enrique for his skill with the ball at his feet — a trait that fits perfectly with the manager’s tactical approach.

However, the manager has ultimately opted for Chevalier, the recent signing, to make his PSG debut today against Tottenham, marking the 23-year-old goalkeeper’s first career appearance in a final.