Image source, Getty Images

For Rennes last season, Desire Doue scored four goals and created five assists in 31 Ligue 1 appearances while also creating 27 chances from open play.

This season though, the teenager has reached another level.

He has created the most open play chances per 90 minutes of anyone in Europe's top five leagues - 2.6 based on having played a minimum of 750 minutes.

Among midfielders and forwards, only Ousmane Dembele (13.5) has averaged more progressive ball carries than his 12.4 per 90 minutes in Ligue 1.

Doue also has an impressive 24 goal involvements this season, with only Dembele (39) and Bradley Barcola (33) contributing to more goals for PSG this season.

He has scored in each of his past four appearances for PSG in all competitions with five goals, and now has 13 goal involvements in his past 12 games, with eight goals and five assists.

Desire Doue this season:

• Matches played: 43
• Minutes played: 2,398
• Goals: 12
• Assists: 12

One of the youngest players in the PSG squad, Desire Doue’s influence in Luis Enrique's side has been significant this season.

The 19-year-old made a name for himself at Rennes, where he came through the academy before making his senior debut in 2022.

He became the youngest Frenchman to score in a European club competition when he netted an 89th-minute winner against Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League at the age of 17.

Doue recorded four goals and five assists for Rennes during the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season, prompting a fierce transfer battle between PSG and Bayern Munich for the youngster’s signature.

PSG eventually completed a deal thought to be in the region of 50m euros (£42.9m) and his talent has been there for all to see this season, with his brilliant strike against Aston Villa last night epitomising his flair, composure and confidence.

Paris St-Germain's attraction under Luis Enrique, and the quality that has made their Champions League rivals stand up and take notice, has been their teamwork.

Every player played their part in Wednesday's win over Aston Villa, but two individual performances also stood out - that of rising star Desire Doue and the "Georgian genius" Khvicha Kvaratskhelia...

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In 2022, Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi announced a change in the club's approach which saw them move from splurging on superstars to a more financially-sustainable plan of developing young talents.

A clear-out of the superstars followed as Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Neymar all left.

Luis Enrique took over as manager in 2023 and the departure of Kylian Mbappe, who ran down his contract to join Real Madrid, marked the end of an era at PSG.

The Ligue 1 side did not stand still though, as they brought in some of the most exciting prospects in world football.

Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Bradley Barcola, Lucas Beraldo, Manuel Ugarte, Joao Neves, Willian Pacho, Lee Kang-in and Desire Doue were among the hot prospects to arrive at Parc des Princes.

It doesn't mean assembling their current crop has come cheap.

Randal Kolo Muani (£76.4m) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (£59m) are among PSG's top five most expensive signings, while they also spent significantly to bring in Goncalo Ramos from Benfica.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Paris

The atmosphere inside Parc des Princes last night was one of raw excitement and expectation.

I have seen PSG twice here this season, when they beat Manchester City 4-2 and last night against Aston Villa, and they are an outstanding team that looks to be developing into the complete package.

They are so easy on the eye in possession but also have a thrilling attacking style.

Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were the star turns last night, but they have outstanding contributors everywhere.

After the "Bling Bling" era of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, this a genuine team rather than a mish-mash of individual superstars.

No wonder PSG fans were so excited as they poured into the bars and cafes near the stadium in Paris after another superb performance and win.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on Football Daily

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was absolutely unplayable.

At times they couldn't get near him. Unai Emery made the change at half time - Matty Cash went off and Axel Disasi came on and Disasi just never got into the pace of the game.

He never picked up the pace and he didn't know whether to stick or twist. He was getting beaten by Kvaratskhelia every single time. He changed over to the right hand side and then he had to deal with Bradley Barcola who came on and did exactly the same to him.

They really struggled defensively down that right hand side Aston Villa.

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Unai Emery's plan to beat that press looked to be working.

They withstood plenty of pressure in the opening exchanges before Morgan Rogers struck with a poachers' finish to round off a brilliant counter attack...

But Paris St-Germain always looked dangerous, and a moment of first-half brilliance from rising star Desire Doue restored parity...

PSG then pressed on in the second half, targeting Matty Cash's second-half replacement Axel Disasi with devastating effect...

Not sure we've ever given you Prince William's tactical analysis of a match before, but here's what he said to TNT Sports before kick-off. Fair to say he knows what he's talking about.

"We all saw the Liverpool game [against PSG].

"PSG's intensity, in the first leg they were unbelievable. They press very high, so I think, for Unai [Emery] tonight and the team, it's about managing that press.

"Unai likes it when teams come onto them and play a high press. But there's a limit.

"So can we get round the press? Can we beat it? So I'm thinking long-ball a bit and how they're going to get round the high press."

Image source, Reuters

Just joining us? Here's what we've been discussing so far this Thursday.

• Aston Villa are beaten 3-1 in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Paris St-Germain
• It was a game largely dominated by the Ligue 1 side, despite Morgan Rogers having given Villa the lead in the first half
• We've been analysing where it went right for PSG and wrong for Villa - Vitinha's pass map is probably a good indication of just how good the hosts were
• All to do for Unai Emery's side at home next week - have your say in our poll; can Villa overturn the 3-1 deficit?

More to come on Wednesday's result, plus we'll reflect on a captivating week in the Champions League as Raphinha stars in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund - watch all the goals here.

There was more said about Unai Emery's half-time changes on BBC's Match of the Day.

Axel Disasi was sent on in place of right-back Matty Cash, who had been booked as he struggled to keep Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in check.

MOTD pundit Stephen Warnock explained how Villa's defensive change from a back five in the first half to a back three in the second half ultimately "cost" the Premier League side in their 3-1 loss to PSG.

Click on the play icon to see his full analysis.

Thomas Hitzlsperger
Former Germany and Aston Villa midfielder on 5 Live

Well, it [Aston Villa's game plan] was working for the first 45 minutes. I think they looked really strong, and they defended well, a bit unusual for them as they are normally very exciting to watch. They had a really good game plan, and then in the second half they changed it and that played into Paris St-Germain's hands.

Prince William's concern about the PSG press played out in Aston Villa's 3-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes.

Former Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger said on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast that it looked as if manager Unai Emery had tempered Villa's usual style to try to counteract it...

Image source, EPA

Not only was Prince William at the game as a spectator yesterday evening but he also jumped on a bit of punditry for TNT Sports.

Well, not quite, but he did have a five-minute interview with former Rangers striker Ally McCoist and former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand prior to the game and his answers were well received.

The Prince of Wales spoke about PSG's intensity and pressure and how they were able to get under Liverpool's skin and discussed how Villa would have to combat that if they were to get a result.

Ferdinand quipped that he would be out of a job should he keep speaking so well in his analysis of the game, while there were numerous replies to the video clip on X calling him better than most current pundits.

In case you missed it, there were a couple of royal guests at the Parc des Princes yesterday evening.

The Prince of Wales, Prince William, was alongside his son Prince George and childhood friend Thomas van Straubenzee to watch their beloved Aston Villa.

While the result didn't go the way they wanted in the end, they certainly enjoyed the moment that Morgan Rogers put Villa in front.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images