Super Cup: The trophy that eludes Emery

[Getty Images] It's the battle of the European champions when Aston Villa face Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup on Wednesday in Salzburg. PSG, who are the holders after beating Tottenham 4-3 on penalties last year, will bid to become the fourth team to successfully retain the trophy. This is Aston Villa's second appearance in the Super Cup, previously beating Barcelona 3-1 on aggregate in 1983 (0-1 away, 3-0 home). And whilst Unai Emery is widely considered a European competition mastermind, he has less luck in the Super Cup. He has lost all three of his appearances in this cup, including against Luis Enrique's Barcelona in 2015 whilst managing Sevilla. That came a year after Sevilla lost to Barcelona, but before losing on penalties to Chelsea with Villarreal in 2021. Villa go into this match looking to break the trend of Champions League holders coming out victorious too as the Europa League holders have won just once in the last 13 seasons.