Kvaratskhelia and Doué ensure PSG edge Aston Villa to retain Super Cup

FIERCE DESIRE: PSG's Desire Doue celebrates after scoring the winner. Pic: AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader.

Paris Saint-Germain 2 Aston Villa 1

Unai Emery's wait for Super Cup glory continues as Paris Saint-Germain added to their silverware collection by once again besting a Premier League club.

Goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué either side of a reply from Aston Villa's giant debutant Brian Madjo proved just enough in Salzburg for the Champions League holders.

Villa, last season's Europa League winners, gave them a run for their money however and might even have prevailed had 17-year-old Madjo not fluffed a series of chances before finally finding the net.

So, despite winning the Europa League a record five times with three different clubs, Villa manager Emery has still to avoid defeat in Europe's highest-profile pre-season friendly. For Luis Enrique though it was a 13th trophy in just three years at the PSG helm.

The Parisians won the Super Cup this time last year, coming back from 2-0 in both 90 minutes and a penalty shoot-out to disappoint Tottenham, who of course went on to disappoint their fans throughout the rest of the season.

With key men either having left or still resting following World Cup exploits it was very much a pre-season style starting line-up from Emery.

Madjo and ex-Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes were handed debuts while Boubacar Kamara started for the first time since suffering a knee injury in January. PSG in contrast kicked off with nine of the side that had beaten Arsenal in the Champions League final, with new left-back Lucas Digne - signed from Villa - on the bench.

Villa, who almost knocked PSG out of the Champions League in a thriller two seasons ago, made the perkier start, with Kamara rolling a long-ranger marginally wide.

The first real chance was PSG's however with Marco Bizot, in goal to give World Cup finalist Emi Martinez an extra break, batting away an effort from Doué.

Kvaratskhelia had set that up with some quick feet in the box and was back to open the scoring in the 20th minute. This time Doué was the supplier, locating the Georgian Messi on the left of the box to chop on to his right foot and leather a shot through Bizot.

Villa could - and probably should - have been level seven minutes later when Madjo rose to meet John McGinn's cross. The goal was at the teenager's mercy but his header dropped wide of the back post.

Another came his the rookie's way when George Hemmings, filling the play-maker gap vacated by Morgan Rogers' defection to Chelsea, burst forward but Madjo's shot lacked the necessary bend and fizzed well off target.

Incredibly two more great chances were spurned by the youngster before the break. The first saw the ex-Metz man head another pinpoint McGinn crossover from five yards; in the second he located post rather than net from Villa's next attack.

But it turned out to be fifth time lucky for the teenager. Again McGinn delivered, this time to the back post where Madjo out-muscled Willian Pacho to force the ball in at a tight angle. The champions of Europe had been all over the place at the end of the first 45 minutes.

Enrique sent on Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé for the second period but goalkeeper Matvey Safonov was soon required to stop McGinn making it 2-1 in a pleasingly open contest.

Yet Villa switched off to allow Doué to put the French side back in front on the hour mark. The forward did well to curl across Bizot having sped through on the right but he looked well offside and a delayed flag indicated the linesman agreed. VAR showed Matty Cash, late in stepping up, had played him on however - to the surprise of everyone, goalscorer included.

Villa worked hard to level again but a link up between substitutes Tammy Abraham and Alysson saw the ball flash across goal rather than into it and Emi Buendia sent a header wide deep into added time.

Paris Saint Germain (4-3-3): Safanov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes (Hernandez 75); Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves (Ruiz 75); Akliouche (Dembele 46), Doue (Mayulu 87), Kvaratskhelia (Beraldo 89).

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Cash, Lidelof, Torres (MIngs 79), Maatsen; Kamara (Bogarde 72), Gomes (Barkley 79); McGinn (Alysson 73), Hemmings, Buendia; Madjo (Abraham 72).

Referee: Omar Artan.