Super Cup live blog - Matchday in Austria!
Men
11 August 26
It’s UEFA Super Cup week, and we’re out here in Salzburg ahead of Aston Villa’s curtain-raising clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Unai Emery’s Europa League winners meet PSG – who retained their Champions League crown in May – on Wednesday at Stadion Salzburg, with both sides looking to lift the Super Cup for the second time in their history.
The sun is shining in Austria, and thousands of Villans are descending on the city in anticipation of what should be another cracking game.
We’ll be setting the scene as we build-up to the final, showing you around the city, capturing all the pre-match excitement and following the team and fans’ adventure ahead of the game.
Follow our coverage via the live blog below as we post updates in the countdown to kick-off...
UTV! 💜
Tuesday, August 12 - 6.40pm (local time)
Tonight's stage. 🏟️
We've arrived at Stadion Salzburg ahead of tonight's Super Cup clash, and that is where our pre-match coverage on this live blog will end.
From the UEFA Fan Festival to Kapitelplatz and Salzburg Cathedral to Fortress Hohensalzburg, you've followed our journey to and around this brilliant city, which has been a hotbed of claret and blue activity and excitement ahead of the game.
We hope we have managed to bring Austria to life for those of you following from home, and if you're here with us, enjoy the game, sing loud and proud and get behind your Villans.
We're now switching over to our live blog of the game in the match centre, which will have minute-by-minute updates of the match, due to kick off in two hours and 20 minutes. Follow that here.
UTV! 💜
Tuesday, August 12 - 6.06pm (local time)
And that's all from the Villa Fan Park at Kapitelplatz!
Thank you for joining us in Salzburg - you've helped create a brilliant pre-match atmosphere as we look ahead to the Super Cup, and we hope you've enjoyed the sun.
Have a look at Villans showing their colours in the centre here.
Tuesday, August 12 - 5.34pm (local time)
"It means so much to me. Unai Emery, this team has genuinely brought me out of a really dark place.
"I can’t put it into words, how much this team needs to me, and the success we’ve had over the (past few) years."
We caught up with a host of Villans at the official Fan Park at Kapitelplatz earlier today, discussing memories from Istanbul and excitement ahead of tonight's clash.
Read 'How we got here', here.
Tuesday, August 12 - 4.40pm (local time)
Villa boys (and girls!) are taking over, and the Champions League awaits for them...
But first, the Super Cup! Pre-match excitement is bubbling away in the city of Salzburg, with kick-off now just a little over 4️⃣ hours out. ⏳
Tuesday, August 12 - 3.48pm (local time)
Plenty of claret and blue on show in the Villa Fan Park - as anticipation builds ahead of kick-off! 💜
Tuesday, August 12 - 3.10pm (local time)
Finishing touches at Stadion Salzburg ahead of kick-off this evening... 🏟️
Tuesday, August 12 - 2.08pm (local time)
A quick stop off to see our friends at Red Bull World, Salzburg! 🥤
Tuesday, August 12 - 12.31pm (local time)
Tonight's prize... 🏆
Tuesday, August 12 - 12.20pm (local time)
We're here at the Villa Fan Park at Residenzplatz!
In the shadow of the breathtaking Fortress Hohensalzburg castle on top of the hill, the park is filling up nicely with Villans in the baking hot heat and sunshine.
Are you planning on heading down? Please be advised that we are on the OTHER SIDE of the Dom zu Salzburg, just a little further than the official UEFA Fan Festival site.
Come and say hello - we're here until 6pm local time and there are shuttle buses running to Stadion Salzburg every half-hour! 👋
Full details and directions here.
Tuesday, August 12 - 9.40am (local time)
Villa in Salzburg. 🎹😎
Tuesday, August 12 - 9.32am (local time)
Good morning from Salzburg - it's matchday!
Unai Emery's men take on PSG at Stadion Salzburg in a little under 12 hours, with action getting underway at 9pm here in Austria and 8pm back at home.
Today, we'll be heading to the official Villa Fan Park at Kapitelplatz to see how the Villans who have travelled are getting ready for kick-off, before heading to Stadion Salzburg and soaking up all the pre-match atmosphere, as action gets underway.
UTV! 💜
Tuesday, August 11 - 9.33pm (local time)
And that's a wrap for Matchday-1, as Unai Emery, John McGinn and Victor Lindelöf sit down for their pre-match press conference at Stadion Salzburg, looking ahead to tomorrow's Super Cup action.
Watch the full pre-match press conference via VillaTV now, by clicking below...
Tuesday, August 11 - 9.04pm (local time)
Beside Unai in the press conference, Victor Lindelöf and John McGinn looked ahead to PSG.
When asked for the Parisians' biggest threat, the Swedish international said: "They have world-class players in every position, so it’s difficult for me to sit here and pick just one player."
With the Super Cup signifying the start of another season in which the Villans will compete in Europe, the defender also spoke on the pleasure of playing in the Champions League.
Lindelöf added: "It’s always going to be a challenging season when you play in Europe, but that’s all we want to do.
"We want to compete at the highest level and that means playing in all competitions and especially in Europe.
"So, I’m looking forward to it, but of course, you need a good squad as well which is available and ready to perform when we have games, because there’s going to be many, many games during the season, but I think the squad is ready for that, and we’re looking forward to it as well."
Tuesday, August 11 - 8.22pm (local time)
We've heard from Unai Emery, who has confirmed that he will be without Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martínez, who were given an extended break after the World Cup.
Read his full team news report here.
Tuesday, August 11 - 7.19pm (local time)
Arrived in Salzburg. 👊✈️
The Villans have landed on Austrian soil ahead of tomorrow's Super Cup, and are at Stadion Salzburg checking out their surroundings.
We're due to hear from Unai Emery and two of his players very shortly, and will keep you posted on the pre-match press conference...
Tuesday, August 11 - 6.35pm (local time)
"It’s going to be a difficult match."
Those were the words of Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, who spoke at PSG's pre-match press conference at Stadion Salzburg alongside captain Marquinhos.
Read his views on the Villans in full, by clicking here.
Tuesday, August 11 - 5.41pm (local time)
How we got here.
A 3-0 win over SC Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20 booked our spot in the Super Cup as Europa League winners.
Reflect on an unforgettable, history-making evening on the banks of the Bosphorus, as Unai Emery's men secured the club's first trophy for 30 years...
Tuesday, August 11 - 5.11pm (local time)
We've met before... 👀
Tomorrow's game against PSG will be only our third meeting in history with the French champions, after THAT double-legged Champions League Quarter-Final tie in the 2024/25 season.
Cast your mind back to that encounter, and a quite unforgettable European night under the lights at Villa Park, by clicking here.
Tuesday, August 11 - 4.46pm (local time)
Willkommen im Stadion Salzburg. 👋
We've touched down at the venue for tomorrow night's clash, which is all set up and looking resplendent ahead of Super Cup action.
We'll be bringing you updates from PSG's press conference with Luis Enrique, Marquinhos and Vitinha - which is due to get underway any moment now - and also from Villa's pre-match presser a little later this evening.
Tuesday, August 11 - 4.33pm (local time)
Final prep, done. ✅
The Villans trained at Bodymoor Heath this morning for the final time ahead of the Super Cup, shortly before departing for Salzburg.
View a full gallery of images by clicking here.
Tuesday, August 11 - 4.21pm (local time)
The Villa Faithful are showing up in their numbers and enjoying the Fan Park! 😁🏆
Tuesday, August 11 - 3.58pm (local time)
Cashy is hoping to bring another trophy back to B6 but admits Villa are up against the best side in the world.
“It’s a special game for us," he said.
"It’s another opportunity to go and win a trophy, so hopefully we can give it our all and give it a good go.”
Read the full piece with our No.2 here.
Tuesday, August 11 - 3.20pm (local time)
Also in the Fan Park, we caught up with husband and wife Graham and Dawn.
Originally from Cambridge, Graham moved to San Francisco 10 years ago after meeting Dawn, who was born in New Jersey. They've flown 11 hours from San Fran, and did the same to Istanbul in May.
"It's just remarkable," Graham admitted.
"I went to the '82 final as well - my dad took me to that. These events don't happen all the time, and I feel you've got to take advantage when it does.
"Unai Emery is a genius. The team is changing a little bit this year, so we'll see what happens."
Asked on how she thinks the Villans will get on against PSG, Dawn added: "We're going for 2-1.
"We met 14 years ago, and it took about five years for me to get into it, now I'm probably more of a fan than he is! I absolutely love it."
Tuesday, August 11 - 3.14pm (local time)
Sunshine at Bodymoor Heath earlier as Unai Emery took his squad through their final training session before the game.
They'll soon be departing for Salzburg. 🛫
Tuesday, August 11 - 3.07pm (local time)
Our opponents have landed in Austria... 🇫🇷
Tuesday, August 11 - 2.37pm (local time)
Inside the UEFA Fan Park, we bumped into Villa fans Mateusz and Maciek (pictured below, left and right respectively).
The friends have travelled to Salzburg from Poland, where they are from, with Mateusz having followed the Villans since the 2018/19 Championship season.
He explained: "I started following because I was getting more into football ad I was looking for a team.
"I had a FIFA career mode with Aston Villa for five years, then I started following the games!"
On the game itself, he added: "If we win and beat PSG, it would be really good. If we lose, it's still only pre-season.
"Overall, it's a cool experience, I've never been to Salzburg before."
Tuesday, August 11 - 2.06pm (local time)
Salzburg is heating up as the afternoon wears on, with more and more Villans arriving in the city.
We've visited the Mozart statue, climbed up to Fortress Hohensalzburg and checked out Kapitelplatz - where the official Villa Fan Park will be held tomorrow! 🙌
Tuesday, August 11 - 1.45pm (local time)
Ten yellow and three red cards - the 1983 UEFA Super Cup had an edge to it.
But it didn't stop Villa triumphing against Barcelona in the second leg to win 3-1 on aggregate.
Relive the momentous occasion...🍿
Tuesday, August 11 - 1.24pm (local time)
Unai Emery has been reflecting on Aston Villa's stature in world football ahead of the Salzburg showpiece.
Competing in the UEFA Super Cup is the latest high point of the Spaniard's tenure, which has seen the club grow into a force domestically and in Europe.
“How we are going to play, enjoying the moment we will have with our supporters for this Super Cup, is something for our history and future of this club," he said.
"It’s really fantastic, because we are in the top positions when we are having matches like we are going to play."
Read the full interview with Unai here.
Tuesday, August 11 - 12.56pm (local time)
The UEFA Super Cup is a key date on the European football calendar.
It pits the winners of Europe's two top prizes against each other in a one-off match, offering the winner a chance to get their campaign up and running with a medal around their necks and a trophy in hand.
Tuesday, August 11 - 12.28pm (local time)
Memories to last a lifetime. 💜
Tuesday, August 11 - 12.04pm (local time)
We're at the UEFA Fan Festival to soak up the atmosphere, with fans of both sides getting ready for matchday.
There's activities, live entertainment on stage and even the opportunity to have your photo with the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup trophies! 🤩
Tuesday, August 11 - 11.30am (local time)
The sun is out in Salzburg, and Super Cup fever is taking over the city, as we edge closer to matchday... ☀️🏆
Tuesday, August 11 - 10.05am (local time)
A very good morning from Austria. Take a look at the stunning Salzburg skyline! 🏙️🇦🇹
