Having excelled in the group stage of the last Europa League with seven wins from eight matches, Aston Villa gave Lille no chance in the round of 16 (3–0 on aggregate), before thrashing Bologna in the next round 7–1 over two legs. The club from Birmingham then comfortably won their all-English clash against Nottingham Forest 4–1, before seeing off Freiburg 3-0 in a one-sided final. The win saw Aston Villa lift continental silverware for the first time in 44 years.
For their part, Paris Saint-Germain also made a big impression. After narrowly overcoming Monaco in the play-offs for a place in the last 16 (5–4 on aggregate), the Parisians sent out a strong message to the rest of Europe with an 8-2 triumph over Chelsea. In the quarter-finals, Luis Enrique’s men showed no nerves against Liverpool 4–0, before clinching their place in the final following a legendary two-legged tie against Bayern Munich that finished 6–5 on aggregate. In Budapest, Paris lifted their second Champions League trophy in as many years by beating Arsenal on penalties (1–1, 4–3 on pens.)!
3 – Paris Saint-Germain are set to contest their third European Super Cup, following defeat to Juventus in 1997 and victory over Tottenham in 2025.
4 – Aston Villa won four of their last five matches of the 2025–26 season (one draw), scoring at least two goals in each game.
5 – Of the last six UEFA Super Cup matches involving an English side, five have been decided on penalties, including the four most recent ones.
5 – Les Rouge et Bleu have scored in their last 28 matches in all competitions, a run that dates back to January 2026.
In goal for the English side, regular first-choice 'keeper Emiliano Martínez is a doubt. A World Cup finalist with Argentina, the Villains’ iconic goalkeeper has only just returned to training and could be replaced by Dutch international Marco Bizot. In front of the former Brest goalkeeper, Unai Emery could field a central defensive partnership of Pau Torres and Victor Lindelöf. The latter would then benefit from the belated return of Ezri Konsa, the defensive linchpin who is not yet ready to start. England international Tyrone Mings, who missed the World Cup, is available but is expected to start on the bench.
On the right-hand side of defence, Matty Cash is expected to start. The Polish full-back has become one of the key players for Villa, just like Ian Maatsen on the opposite flank. In midfield, the Spanish manager will have to cope with two significant absences: those of Amadou Onana and star signing Johan Manzambi, both of whom were injured during the World Cup in North America. However, France international Boubacar Kamara is back and could line up alongside João Gomes. The Brazilian international is one of the new faces at the Brummies, and he is likely to be preferred to Lamare Bogarde.
In midfield, Ross Barkley’s future remains uncertain, and it is captain John McGinn who could complete Aston Villa’s midfield – provided he has recovered from the knee injury he sustained during preseason. As for the attack, the Villains will have no shortage of options, despite the uncertainty surrounding Leon Bailey and the late return of Ollie Watkins, who was also on international duty with England at the World Cup. On the wings, Ivory Coast international Evann Guessand is the favourite to start on the right, whilst new signing Alejandro Garnacho will be competing with Emiliano Buendía for the left-wing spot.
Of the two Argentine internationals, it is the latter who is expected to start at the Stadion Salzburg. He will notably be tasked with feeding Tammy Abraham, who is tipped to start as centre-forward against Les Rouge et Bleu. Unless, that is, the very young Brian Madjo (17) makes a surprise appearance in the Brummies’ starting eleven…
