Understanding the UEFA Super Cup: Format and Historic Winners
The UEFA Super Cup is a match organized by Europe’s football governing body to kick off the club season. It features a showdown between the champions of two major European tournaments from the previous campaign: the UEFA Champions League winner and the UEFA Europa League winner. This game serves as a curtain-raiser for the new season, often played in mid-August just before most domestic leagues begin.
Is the UEFA Super Cup a major trophy?
Though it might not be seen as the most prestigious prize in European football, the UEFA Super Cup still holds significance. The competing teams have already earned European silverware to qualify for this encounter, so securing this trophy is highly sought after by clubs across the continent.
Who will compete in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup?
The 2026 edition will feature Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. PSG claimed their second consecutive Champions League title last season and are the defending Super Cup champions after winning on penalties against Tottenham. Aston Villa, having won the Europa League in 2025/26 – their first major continental success since 2001 – will return to the Super Cup for the first time since 1982, when they defeated Barcelona over two legs.
UEFA Super Cup Format
By 2026, the Super Cup is contested as a single match. If tied after regular time, the game goes directly to a penalty shootout without extra time. This format has been in place since 2024, replacing the prior system which included 30 minutes of extra time following regulation draws.
Extra time and penalties rules
Previously, matches level after 90 minutes moved on to extra time, but that changed starting with the 2024 edition to reduce strain on players early in the season. Now, any draw at full time leads immediately to penalties.
Past Winners of the UEFA Super Cup
- 2025: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Tottenham (5-4 on penalties)
- 2024: Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta
- 2023: Manchester City 1-1 Sevilla (5-4 on penalties)
- 2022: Real Madrid 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
- 2021: Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (6-5 on penalties)
- 2020: Bayern Munich 2-1 Sevilla (after extra time)
- 2019: Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea (5-4 on penalties)
- 2018: Atletico Madrid 4-2 Real Madrid (after extra time)
- 2017: Real Madrid 2-1 Manchester United
- 2016: Real Madrid 3-2 Sevilla (after extra time)
- 2015: Barcelona 5-4 Sevilla (after extra time)
- 2014: Real Madrid 2-0 Sevilla
- 2013: Bayern Munich 2-2 Chelsea (5-4 on penalties)
- 2012: Atletico Madrid 4-1 Chelsea
- 2011: Barcelona 2-0 Porto
- 2010: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Inter
- 2009: Barcelona 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (after extra time)
- 2008: Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 Manchester United
- 2007: Milan 3-1 Sevilla
- 2006: Sevilla 3-0 Barcelona
- 2005: Liverpool 3-1 CSKA Moscow (after extra time)
- 2004: Valencia 2-1 Porto
- 2003: Milan 1-0 Porto
- 2002: Real Madrid 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
- 2001: Liverpool 3-2 Bayern Munich
- 2000: Galatasaray 2-1 Real Madrid (golden goal)
- 1999: Lazio 1-0 Manchester United
- 1998: Chelsea 1-0 Real Madrid
- 1997: Barcelona 3-1 Borussia Dortmund (aggregate)
- 1996: Juventus 9-2 Paris Saint-Germain (aggregate)
- 1995: Ajax 5-1 Real Zaragoza (aggregate)
- 1994: Milan 2-0 Arsenal (aggregate)
- 1993: Parma 2-1 Milan (aggregate)
- 1992: Barcelona 3-2 Werder Bremen (aggregate)
- 1991: Manchester United 1-0 Red Star Belgrade
- 1990: Milan 3-1 Sampdoria (aggregate)
- 1989: Milan 2-1 Barcelona (aggregate)
- 1988: Mechelen 3-1 PSV Eindhoven (aggregate)
- 1987: Porto 2-0 Ajax (aggregate)
- 1986: Steaua Bucharest 1-0 Dynamo Kiev
- 1984: Juventus 2-0 Liverpool
- 1983: Aberdeen 2-0 Hamburg (aggregate)
- 1982: Aston Villa 3-1 Barcelona (aggregate)
- 1980: Valencia 2-2 Nottingham Forest (away goals win)
- 1979: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Barcelona (aggregate)
- 1978: Anderlecht 4-3 Liverpool (aggregate)
- 1977: Liverpool 7-1 Hamburg (aggregate)
- 1976: Anderlecht 5-3 Bayern Munich (aggregate)
- 1975: Dynamo Kiev 3-0 Bayern Munich (aggregate)
- 1974: Ajax 6-1 Milan (aggregate)
