Super Cup: PSG and Aston Villa meet again in Salzburg as Unai Emery enters new era with test against European kingpins

"We were really suffering. I do not think this team has been dominated in this way."

The words of Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique after holding off a late surge from Aston Villa in a nine-goal thriller on aggregate to progress to the Champions League semi-final on April 15, 2025.

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Unai Emery's side were given little chance heading into the second leg at Villa Park. Morgan Rogers had provided a shock lead in Paris but the celebrations were cut short by Desire Doue's equaliser soon after.

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia then fired the eventual tournament winners ahead before Nuno Mendes dealt a late sucker punch to make it 3-1 heading into the reverse fixture.

Villa had a mountain to climb and very nearly summited it.

What happened when the two sides last met?

Early goals from Achraf Hakimi and Mendes again seemed to all but seal Villa's fate. Their return to Europe's elite competition was coming to an underwhelming end. Outmanned and overwhelmed by PSG's embarrassment of riches.

Then came the chaos. Youri Tielemans' deflected strike sparked hope. John McGinn's solo run and finish sent Villa Park into raptures. Ezri Konsa's goal following magic from Marcus Rashford turned hope into real belief.

Three goals in 23 minutes, including two within two minutes of each other.

"We were playing at a level that was not befitting of the Champions League," Enrique admitted after the game. "Villa had chances to equalise.

"The opponent had to take risks because they were going out of the competition. They attacked with real intensity and in front of a great crowd as well.

"At 2-0, we nearly had Villa on the canvas. We reached a point where perhaps it was too easy, a bit of overconfidence, and that gave Villa a chance."

The comeback fell short. Villa emerged victorious in the battle but ultimately lost the war, bowing out with their heads held high with a 3-2 win on the evening but a 5-4 defeat on aggregate.

The chances Enrique referenced to level the scoreline were tantalising, every avenue thwarted by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was handed Player of the Match by Sky Sports' Adam Bate.

But now, 484 days after their last meeting in Europe, the two sides face off again and much has changed for both teams.

PSG go from strength to strength

After being pushed to the brink of elimination by Villa, PSG went on to sweep Arsenal aside in the semi-finals and dismantled Inter Milan in the final to lift their first Champions League trophy.

A triumph which fuelled Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or-winning year, alongside a plethora of team honours.

Since then PSG have won two league titles, the French Cup, one Super Cup, two French Super Cups and lifted the Champions League once again last season.

The team itself remains intact. Dembele, Kvaratskhelia and Doue are the diamonds going forward. Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves sit behind in a well-balanced and star-studded midfield.

Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho and Mendes make up the backline, with Matvey Safonov in goal.

Add Bradley Barcola, Ilya Zabarnyi, Ibrahim Mbaye, Maghnes Akliouche and Villa cult hero Lucas Digne, playing his former side just days after completing his return to Paris, and you have a squad filled with depth and world-class talent.

A formidable and settled opponent that will cause problems for the very best of teams on even the best of days.

To add to that challenge, Villa will be tasked with navigating the fixture following a summer of upheaval in the aftermath of ending their 30-year wait for a trophy in Istanbul.

A new era for Emery at Villa

After guiding Villa back into the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the top flight and Europa League glory, Emery has been forced into reshaping his squad due to several notable exits.

Morgan Rogers has left to join Chelsea in a record-breaking £117m move, while Youri Tielemans has made a £35m switch to Manchester United.

Two fundamental players within Emery's squad, cornerstones of the recent success. Their absences will be felt but the shrewd and swift additions of Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi and a potential revival for Alejandro Garnacho make for an exciting new era.

Of the 16 players who featured for Villa in their last meeting against PSG, five have left the club and Amadou Onana, who started the game, will also be absent due to an ACL injury.

The shaping of their squad is still yet to reach its final form; left-back Matteo Ruggeri and midfield general Joao Palhinha are two further additions possibly on the horizon.

But in a welcome boost, Villa will be hopeful of the returns of key players such as Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez for this fixture, who all link up with the squad for the first time this summer after being away on their respective post-World Cup breaks.

Captain John McGinn has also been pictured in training after an injury scare during the pre-season win against Pathum United in Asia.

Same teams but a different challenge

PSG arrive into this tie as champions of Europe once again, armed with a squad that not only has an abundance of talent but one that has matured together to become a dominant force in world football.

Villa, meanwhile, are embarking on a new challenge. There are fresh faces to integrate, important players to replace and a return to the Champions League to navigate.

The club are aiming to build on recent success and ensure nights like their win in Istanbul against Freiburg become a staple of their future, rather than a fond memory of the past.

The Super Cup in Salzburg offers a chance for both teams to add to their long lists of silverware but for Villa, it is also an opportunity to measure themselves against the very best once more.

"I feel like the club is in a new era, with this possibility to fight for trophies," Emery told UEFA ahead of the game. A new era, indeed, and possibly the perfect opponent to put it to the test against.

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