Maghnes Akliouche made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain during their UEFA Super Cup victory over Aston Villa, stepping straight into the starting lineup less than four weeks after his first World Cup appearance and six days after his transfer was finalized, according to reports from Le Parisien. The 24-year-old French international played the opening 45 minutes as a false nine in manager Luis Enrique’s tactical setup before being substituted at halftime.
A Rapid Insertion Into the Starting XI
The swift transition from Monaco to Paris gave Akliouche only five days of training with his new club before stepping onto the pitch. Placed in an attacking trio alongside Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the newcomer absorbed the tactical demands of a high-stakes European final without the benefit of a full preseason to build chemistry. According to Le Parisien, the player stated he had “hâte de porter ce maillot” (looked forward to wearing this jersey) ahead of the fixture.
Luis Enrique turned to the former Monaco playmaker to fill the void typically occupied by Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé started on the bench following a truncated return to training.
Tactical Role and First-Half Observations
Operating primarily as a false nine, Akliouche prioritized safe, assured touches rather than high-risk individual dribbles. Le Parisien noted that his early actions involved distributing the ball efficiently to teammates like Désiré Doué and Joao Neves. He handled physical pressure from Aston Villa central defenders Victor Lindelöf and Pau Torres without getting knocked off balance, drawing strategic fouls when trapped in tight spaces.
His movement off the ball caught the eye of the technical staff. By dropping deep behind the midfield trio and springing forward into space, he created passing lanes and relieved pressure from his wingers. However, with limited training sessions alongside a partially depleted squad, the natural understanding required for sharper final-third combinations remained a work in progress.
Halftime Adjustment and Next Steps
At the interval, Luis Enrique opted for a tactical shift, withdrawing Akliouche in favor of Ousmane Dembélé. While Akliouche’s debut lacked individual fireworks, coverage highlights a solid and promising foundation built on tactical discipline and relentless work rate.
The French club secured the UEFA Super Cup title, marking their first silverware of the campaign. Akliouche’s ability to operate across multiple midfield and attacking positions offers Luis Enrique considerable squad depth as domestic and European schedules accelerate.
What Comes Next
Paris Saint-Germain turns its attention toward domestic competition and the Trophée des Champions match against RC Lens scheduled for Sunday.
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