Why is Ousmane Dembele benched for PSG vs Aston Villa in UEFA Super Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty)
Ousmane Dembele was named among the substitutes in the PSG vs Aston Villa clash.
Paris Saint-Germain are set to face Aston Villa in an exciting clash in the UEFA Super Cup 2026. The match will take place at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday night.
PSG booked their place in the fixture with a stunning win over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final. This marked their second Champions League title, making them only the second team to win the competition in back-to-back seasons.
They will face Aston Villa, who are the reigning UEFA Europa League champions. Head coach Luis Enrique named a strong starting XI for the French side. However, one key player’s name was missing from the starting line-up: Ousmane Dembele.
The winger, who is the current Ballon d’Or winner, was on the bench for tonight’s match. In his place, Enrique opted to play Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left wing. New signing Maghnes Akliouche, who joined from Monaco, started on the right flank. Desire Doue started as the striker.
Also Read: PSG vs Aston Villa: Full lineups confirmed for UEFA Super Cup 2026 final
Why is Ousmane Dembele not starting tonight?
Despite being one of the key players for the Parisian side, Dembele only managed a place on the bench for the UEFA Super Cup clash.
Despite his injury-prone record, Dembele is currently not out with an injury. However, Luis Enrique revealed in the pre-match press conference that many of his players who took part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 are still not back to full match fitness.
This might be the reason Dembele is not starting tonight’s game. The Frenchman played in eight matches for Les Bleus in the World Cup. According to media reports, he was determined to start the Super Cup clash,even returning early from his holiday in a bid to be fully match fit.
However, it seems that Enrique has opted for a safer route, instead giving Akliouche his first competitive start for Les Parisiens. Dembele, though, will look to make an impact off the bench if and when he is called upon by his manager.
Why is Ousmane Dembele benched for PSG vs Aston Villa?
He is benched because he is not yet at full match fitness, having played in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
When is PSG vs Aston Villa UEFA Super Cup 2026?
The match will be played on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on August 13.
Where is PSG vs Aston Villa being played?
The fixture takes place at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.