PSG Edges Aston Villa 2-1: Young Star Madjo Scores, But Doue Seals the Victory!

IN the heart of Red Bull country, Aston Villa did not get the lift-off they sought for their new era.

They were not given the famous wings everyone talks about around here – but nor did they have theirs clipped.

And, even in defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Unai Emery will take heart about what the future holds during a week he has spoken positively about a “new era”.

This was a fourth Super Cup defeat of the Spaniard’s managerial career and he will wonder quite how.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue struck either side of debutant Brian Madjo, 17, to secure the win for PSG.

But Villa, and especially Madjo, had plenty of chances to make this another European night to remember.

Madjo hit the post during a pulsating end to the first half and there were shades of the Villa from recent seasons – the one that loved to blood the noses of Europe’s elite.

That is promising given the team picked for this season-opener in Salzburg was very different to the side that booked a spot in it.

Just five of the players that started the Europa League final in Istanbul were in the XI for this game, and there was the added blow of new signing Alejandro Garnacho missing out due to concussion.

Emery had decided to leave World Cup stars Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins out of the squad, giving them an extra week’s rest.

And that made for a weakened side, especially after the summer departures of key trio Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans.

PSG, in contrast, went strong, with nine of the 11 that beat Arsenal in May’s Champions League final starting.

Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele were the two to miss out, with new signing Maghnes Akliouche and Warren Zaire-Emery replacing them.

With these two sides just coming to the end of their pre-seasons, there were plenty of loose touches and passes on show in the opening stages.

But the one man who did not look rusty was Kvaratskhelia.

After a summer off where he was watching the top stars shine at the World Cup, the Georgian looked in the mood.

And it was his goal after 20 minutes that broke the deadlock, with a stinging shot leaving Villa keeper Marco Bizot no chance.

It was made by a lovely shimmy from Kvaratskhelia – showcasing hip movement that Shakira would be proud of – and the Villa defenders were left for dead.

PSG tried to kick on from there and a stunning clipped-pass from their star winger set left-back Nuno Mendes away, but no one was there to turn home the cross.
The floodgates did not open for the French side and, instead, Villa roared back into the game.

Madjo was excellent up top, bullying defenders and demonstrating why he cost £10million from Metz in January.

Fifa’s rules on the international transfer of minors meant he was unable to play until now after a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this month.

And we will surely see plenty of him this season after his goal levelled the game on the stroke of half-time.

John McGinn’s excellent cross to the back post made it and you could not argue that it was no more than Emery’s side deserved.

It was a goal that will be remembered for some time.

Firstly, as Madjo became the youngest player to score in the Super Cup, overtaking Patrick Kluivert who was 19 when he bagged in 1996.

And secondly, because a Villa fan went viral on social media for celebrating it with a moony.

Before that it was Madjo feeling red faced after missing some great chances. He had gone close with a header from another wicked McGinn delivery and struck the post after a rampaging run that left PSG defenders on the floor.

On another day, he could have had a hat-trick and Villa would have been in dreamland.

PSG had the luxury of throwing on Dembele at the break as they tried to regain some control.

It was his France team-mate Doue, however, that put the Champions League holders back in front just after the hour mark.

The winger’s curling effort was originally ruled out for offside, but VAR intervened to reignite the pyro party behind the PSG goal.

Villa were not disheartened by that and debutant Joao Gomes came close to an equaliser with less than 20 minutes to go.

The bench brought energy, too, with Alysson’s cross somehow not turned home by Tammy Abraham when the goal felt like it was gaping.

And even right at the death there was one more chance. This time it was Emi Buendia heading wide.

But Luis Enrique’s side held on to become only the second team in history to retain the Super Cup.