Aston Villa have confirmed their starting line-up to face Paris Saint-Germain in tonight’s UEFA Super Cup, with Unai Emery making several major selection decisions in Salzburg.
Marco Bizot starts in goal, while Ian Maatsen, João Gomes and Emi Buendía are all named in the XI. John McGinn captains Villa, but Tammy Abraham has been left on the bench as Emery turns to Madio and Hemmings in attack.
Confirmed Aston Villa line-up vs PSG
Aston Villa XI: Bizot; Cash, Lindelöf, Pau, Maatsen; Kamara, McGinn; Buendía, João Gomes, Madio, Hemmings.
Substitutes: Wright, Asemota, Mings, Barkley, Abraham, Bogarde, Nedeljkovic, Alysson, Cisse, Rowe, Burrowes, Lynch.
Bizot’s inclusion was expected after Villa confirmed that Emiliano Martínez would miss the final alongside Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins.
Emery revealed before the game that all three were being given additional recovery time following their involvement at the World Cup, with none travelling to Salzburg. Villa confirmed the absences in their official team-news update.
ReadAstonVilla previously looked at the impact of the trio being ruled out in our latest Aston Villa team news.
The biggest surprise comes further forward.
Abraham has to settle for a place among the substitutes, while Madio and Hemmings are handed enormous opportunities on the European stage. Buendía also starts, with Gomes joining Kamara and captain McGinn among Villa’s midfield options.
Alejandro Garnacho is not included in the matchday squad shown in Villa’s confirmed team graphic.
Victor Lindelöf partners Pau Torres in the defensive unit, with Matty Cash and Maatsen also starting ahead of Bizot.
Villa face the reigning Champions League holders having qualified for tonight’s showpiece by winning the Europa League, and Emery has trusted a bold-looking XI as the club chase another piece of European silverware.
