PSG

Bayern Munich remain top of the league standings after staging a road win over reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Bayern Munich have made it 16 wins from 16 games this season to underline their credentials as early UEFA Champions League favourites, beating holders Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 away as Luis Diaz scored two goals and was shown a red card.

The Colombian winger struck twice on Tuesday before being sent off for a violent tackle on Achraf Hakimi on the stroke of half-time.

PSG, who reduced the arrears through Joao Neves, dominated possession after the break but failed to make it fully count and slipped to their first defeat in the competition since last season’s quarterfinal second leg against Aston Villa.

The result kept Bayern top of the 36-team league on a maximum 12 points with PSG in third, three points adrift and with more injury concerns after Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele were replaced early.

“Most importantly I hope that it’s not too bad for Hakimi. We went through this in the US [at the Club World Cup against PSG] with [Jamal] Musiala,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said at a news conference.

“What I tell players is that when there’s some hype, don’t believe it. We’ve won 16, but from tomorrow onwards, it’s back to zero. Nobody has won the Champions League today.”

His PSG counterpart, Luis Enrique, echoed that point of view, saying: “Today’s standings mean nothing. What matters is February, March, April, May.”

“It’s always hard to lose at home. We need to assert ourselves and play better. We faced a well-organised team, especially physically. We couldn’t get our game going,” PSG captain Marquinhos said.

“There are still some positives to take from this match. The team remain ambitious, but we have to do better. They were superior to us. In the second half, we were on top, but it was after the red card.”

Ten-man Bayern hold on for dramatic victory

Dembele made his first Champions League start of the season, but his night was short-lived, the France forward being replaced by Lee Kang-in after 25 minutes.

PSG, who had beaten Bayern 2-0 in the Club World Cup quarterfinals in July, came out flying with their trademark high pressing but were caught cold in the fourth minute when Diaz smashed home after Lucas Chevalier had parried Michael Olise’s effort.

Dembele thought he had levelled midway through the half, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside as PSG pressed but looked unusually fragile at the back.

Moments later, Manuel Neuer pulled off a spectacular save to deny Bradley Barcola, who had raced to a pinpoint long ball from Fabian Ruiz.

Bayern stayed a step ahead, and after Serge Gnabry struck the post, Diaz pounced on a sleepy Marquinhos to steal the ball and slot home a second in the 32nd minute.

Diaz’s evening ended abruptly just before half-time when he was shown a straight red card for a brutal lunge on Hakimi, who limped off in tears with a suspected ankle injury.

Long possession spells ensued for PSG in the second half, but the hosts lacked a cutting edge until the 74th minute when substitute Neves reduced the arrears with a spectacular scissor kick from Lee’s cross.

Neves came close to levelling a few minutes later with a header as PSG further increased the pressure. Despite the hosts’ late flurry, Bayern held firm.

Victor Gyokeres ends drought with brace in Arsenal’s 4-0 win against Atletico, while PSG hit seven and Barcelona six.

Arsenal stormed to a third successive Champions League victory by blowing away Atletico Madrid 4-0 thanks to a devastating second-half broadside at the Emirates Stadium.

What had been a compelling clash with little between the sides in the first period on Tuesday became an Arsenal rout, with goals by Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and a brace from Viktor Gyokeres leaving Diego Simeone’s side shell-shocked.

Shortly after Julian Alvarez hit the crossbar for the visitors, Gabriel broke the deadlock by heading in a Declan Rice free kick in the 57th minute.

Martinelli finished off a sweeping move seven minutes later, and Gyokeres then prodded his first goal of the night via a deflection as Arsenal ran riot, with the Swede ending a nine-game scoring drought for club and country.

Gyokeres then bundled in his second, as Atletico were again unable to deal with a set piece.

Victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to nine games and put them on nine points in the group phase, well on the way to qualifying for the knockout phase.

Atletico have three points and will have to dust themselves down after their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an abrupt end.

Holders PSG hit magnificent seven at Leverkusen

Paris Saint-Germain scored seven, Barcelona hit six, and Erling Haaland struck his 24th goal of the season on an action-packed night.

PSV Eindhoven routed Italian champions Napoli 6-2, while Inter Milan had a big win to maintain their own perfect starts in Europe.

It is defending champions PSG that lead the way at the top of the standings after a wild 7-2 win against Bayer Leverkusen in a match that saw both teams reduced to 10 men.

Barcelona’s 6-1 win against Olympiakos saw them bounce back from a loss to PSG at the start of the month.

Last season’s finalists Inter beat Union Saint-Gilloise by the same score.

Haaland’s goal helped Manchester City to a 2-0 win at Villarreal.

Fermin Lopez hat-trick and Rashford brace for Barcelona

Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick and Marcus Rashford hit two goals as Barcelona ran riot.

Barca took full advantage when the Greek champions went down to 10 men after a contentious red card for Santiago Hezze in the second half, scoring four goals to complete the rout.

It was Lopez’s first hat-trick of his career, with Lamine Yamal also on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.

Olympiakos had no answer when Hezze was shown a second yellow card in the 57th minute, despite replays appearing to show he did not make contact with Marc Casado, who was trying to pull him back.

Just three minutes earlier, the visitors had got back into the game at 2-1 after Ayoub El Kaabi’s penalty.

Two clinical finishes from Lopez had given Barcelona a 2-0 half-time lead. Then, with the extra man, the Spanish champions overwhelmed Olympiakos with four goals in 11 minutes – starting with Yamal’s spot kick.

Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, now has four goals in three games in the Champions League this season.

Kazakh team Kairat picked up their first point in European football’s elite club competition with a 0-0 draw against Pafos.

Ramos’ 90th minute goal capped off a come from behind win at Barcelona in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.

Paris St Germain battled back from a goal down to grab a 2-1 win over Barcelona in a gripping Champions League encounter, with the defending champions overcoming a raft of injuries to secure a valuable victory away from home.

Barcelona started well on Wednesday, and their pressure paid off in the 19th minute when Marcus Rashford delivered a precise pass across the box to Ferran Torres, who slid in to beat the offside trap and slot past PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

PSG, however, responded tenaciously, despite missing captain Marquinhos and their starting attacking trio of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue.

They took control of proceedings and equalised in the 38th minute when Nuno Mendes embarked on a dazzling run down the left, beating three defenders before setting up 19-year-old Senny Mayulu, who finished clinically into the bottom corner.

After substitute Lee Kang-in hit the post with a shot from the edge of the box in the 83rd minute, PSG finally scored a deserved winner from a quick counter in the 90th, with Achraf Hakimi crossing for substitute Goncalo Ramos to fire home from close range.

“Very disappointing feeling at the end, when you concede in the last minute of the game, to lose at home, you have to be disappointed,” Barcelona captain Freddie de Jong told Movistar+.

“They [PSG] were better in the final stages, in the second half in general. We began the game better. So it went back and forward, but it’s true, they were better in the second half.”

Man City and Juventus held but Arsenal and Newcastle win

Manchester City had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Monaco after Eric Dier scored a 90th-minute penalty for the hosts.

Villarreal and Juventus also ended 2-2 after Renato Veiga’s late equaliser.

Arsenal beat Olympiakos 2-0, with Gabriel Martinelli netting after 12 minutes and Bukayo Sako sealing the win in injury time.

“We want to be creative, we know the quality we have in the team,” Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard said.

“Everyone can see the quality and depth in the squad now, it is a feeling from every single player on the pitch that you want to keep your place.”

On Arsenal finishing second in the English Premier League for three consecutive seasons and being knocked out of the Champions League in the semifinals last year, Odegaard added: “We have used everything that happened to us in a good way and have also brought a few new players in – hopefully this is going to be our year.”

Nick Woltemade is doing his best to make Newcastle fans forget about Alexander Isak.

The club-record $93m signing scored his third goal in four starts for Newcastle to set up the 4-0 rout of Union Saint-Gilloise.

The German international was signed to fill the sizable void left by Isak’s contentious move to Liverpool. And he has made an instant impact.

His 17th-minute goal at Lotto Park might not have been the prettiest — diverting Sandro Tonali’s goalbound shot past Kjell Scherpen — but it got Newcastle off to the perfect start. It also highlighted his useful knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Woltemade has now scored in back-to-back games after his goal against Arsenal on Sunday. He still has some way to go to prove he can replace Isak, who scored 54 goals in 78 Premier League starts for Newcastle, but the early signs are promising after his move from Stuttgart.

Anthony Gordon struck twice from the penalty spot — scoring either side of halftime to put Newcastle in control, and substitute Harvey Barnes added a fourth.

Qarabag maintained its 100 percent start to the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Copenhagen. Abdellah Zoubir and Emmanuel Addai were on target for the Azerbaijani team.

Follow our live build-up with full team news before our text commentary stream of the league phase encounter.

Full men’s rankings

Here are the rankings of the top 30 men’s players in the world…

30. Michael Olise

29. Florian Wirtz

28. Virgil van Dijk

27. Declan Rice

26. Erling Haaland

25. Denzel Dumfries

24. Fabian Ruiz

23. Jude Bellingham

22. Alexis Mac Allister

21. Serhou Guirassy

20. Lautaro Martinez

19. Joao Neves, Paris Saint-Germain

18. Scott McTominay, Napoli

17. Robert Lewndowski, Barcelona

16. Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid

15. Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal

14. Desire Doue, Paris Saint-Germain

13. Harry Kane, Bayern Munich

12. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Paris Saint-Germain

11. Pedri, Barcelona

10. Nuno Mendes, Paris Saint-Germain

9. Gianluigi Donnarumma,  Paris Saint-Germain

8. Cole Palmer, Chelsea

7. Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid

6. Achraf Hakimi, Paris Saint-Germain

5. Raphinha, Barcelona

4. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

3. Vitinha, Paris Saint-Germain

2. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona

1. Ousmane Dembele, Paris Saint-Germain

Liverpool edge thriller at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League with an injury-time winner from captain Virgil van Dijk.

Title holder Paris Saint-Germain roared to victory in the opening game of their Champions League defence, and Liverpool found yet another late winning goal in its stunning start to the season.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk soared to score with a header in the second minute of stoppage time to seal a 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid when it seemed his team was going to waste a two-goal lead seized after just six minutes.

Bayern Munich and Inter Milan both won rematches of past finals – against Chelsea and Ajax, respectively – to start their eight-game league-phase programmes, and newcomers Bodo/Glimt and Pafos impressed with hard-earned draws on the road.

PSG cruised to a 4-0 win at home over Atalanta and had the luxury of a penalty miss by Bradley Barcola not mattering much in the end.

Liverpool seemed to be sailing with early goals from Andy Robertson and a typically fine strike by Mohamed Salah, but was pegged back by Marcos Llorente’s goals in first-half stoppage time and the 81st.

Llorente also scored twice at Anfield in 2020 when Atletico eliminated the then-defending champion in the round of 16.

“We need to maybe get back to winning a bit simpler and easier,” Liverpool’s Robertson told TNT Sports after the game.

“It’s a great thing to be able to go to the end, but when you are 2-0 up, it should have been a more comfortable night.”

Bayern held off Chelsea 3-1 with two goals from Harry Kane, whose England teammate Cole Palmer scored an impressive goal for the visitors.

It was a very belated revenge for Bayern losing the 2012 final to Chelsea in its home stadium.

Inter got two powerful headed goals from Marcus Thuram in its 2-0 win at Ajax, which beat the Italians in the 1972 European Cup final.

Norway’s champion Bodo/Glimt had a second-half penalty kick saved and trailed by two goals late at Slavia Prague, before rallying to level at 2-2 in the 90th.

Pafos grinded out a 0-0 draw at Olympiakos after playing with 10 men from the 26th minute. Journeyman Brazilian midfielder Bruno Felipe was sent off for a second yellow-card foul.

Russian-owned Pafos is the first Cypriot team in the Champions League main phase since 2017, and Bodo/Glimt ended Norway’s 18-year absence.

London City Lionesses agreed a £1.4m world record deal to sign Paris St-Germain midfielder Grace Geyoro on deadline day in the Women’s Super League.

The WSL newcomers also activated teenage Spain international Lucia Corrales’ release clause and paid around £430,000 to bring her in from Barcelona.

The addition of Geyoro, once confirmed by the clubs, would mean London City have made 16 permanent signings during a busy summer in which wealthy American owner Michele Kang showed she was willing to invest in her side.

Geyoro’s anticipated arrival comes after London City made a late move for the France international in the window, adding further stardust to an impressive squad.

The agreed fee beats the £1.1m ($1.5m) paid by Orlando Pride to Tigres UANL for Mexico winger Lizbeth Ovalle last month, which at the time was the highest fee paid for a player in the women’s game.

The 28-year-old Geyoro, who has 103 caps for France, was a key player for PSG and has until now spent her entire senior career there, picking up valuable experience in the Champions League.

She is widely considered one of the most exciting midfielders in Europe and started three of France’s four matches at Euro 2025, scoring twice as they reached the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Corrales, 19, who made her full Spain debut in March but was not called up for Euro 2025, joins London City on a four-year deal.

Corrales was one of the first female graduates of Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy, making her Liga F and Champions League debuts in the 2022-23 campaign, before spending last season on loan at Sevilla.

Since securing promotion, London City have signed several high-profile players including Jana Fernandez from Barcelona, Danielle van de Donk from Lyon, former Manchester United captain Katie Zelem and 74-cap England forward Nikita Parris.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a season-long loan deal for Paris St-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani.

The 26-year-old has been linked with Premier League clubs for several months, with interest from Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham.

He is set to move to Tottenham on transfer deadline day after personal terms were agreed with Thomas Frank’s side.

Kolo Muani spent last season on loan at Juventus, scoring eight goals in 16 Serie A games.

The former Nantes and Eintracht Frankfurt forward joined PSG in September 2023 and has won two Ligue 1 titles.

Kolo Muani also has 31 senior caps for France, scoring in the 2022 World Cup semi-final victory over Morocco and playing in the final defeat by Argentina.

French forward Mathys Tel was one of two Tottenham players to miss their penalties in the UEFA Super Cup defeat by PSG.

Tottenham has slammed the “cowards” who racially abused French forward Mathys Tel in the wake of the team’s loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup after a penalty shootout.

The 20-year-old Tel, who is Black, was one of two Tottenham players who failed to convert their penalties as they lost the shootout 4-3 to PSG after a 2-2 draw.

“We are disgusted at the racial abuse that Mathys Tel has received on social media following last night’s UEFA Super Cup defeat,” Tottenham said in a statement.

“Mathys showed bravery and courage to step forward and take a penalty, yet those who abuse him are nothing but cowards – hiding behind anonymous usernames and profiles to spout their abhorrent views.”

Tottenham said the club will work with the authorities and social media platforms to take “the strongest possible action against any individual we are able to identify”.

“We stand with you, Mathys,” Spurs added.

Tel, who joined the team on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich in the offseason after a loan spell last season, went on as a substitute in the 79th minute when Tottenham was 2-0 ahead.

He hit his shootout penalty wide.

In making a decision that has surprised many in world football, Luis Enrique believes Chevalier will improve PSG even more, especially with his team’s playing style.

The French keeper has been likened to a five-a-side player due to the quality of his touch, vision and ability to break lines with his passing from the back.

Chevalier can effectively turn into an outfield player for PSG when in possession as they look to build an attack from their own defensive line.

Replacing Donnarumma will be tough, but he stepped up successfully as Lille’s first choice in the 2022-23 season after just a season in Ligue 2 with Valenciennes. Pressure should not be an issue.

Chevalier was named Ligue 1’s best goalkeeper last term with 11 clean sheets as his side finished fifth, while earning a call-up to France’s senior squad.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The goalkeeper situation is a huge decision from Luis Enrique. Gianluigi Donnarumma is the best shot stopper and he is the best version of the older-style goalkeeper, but they have been replaced by the modern-day keeper who play in the defensive third.

“Luis Enrique is leaning into the way that modern teams want to play and build from the back. PSG are looking for that ninth degree, that tiny little bit of percentage of advantage and with Lucas Chevalier they feel they can further refine their style.”

Signs of what Chevalier will bring were seen during his debut against Spurs, with PSG opting to go short on goal-kicks and showing no fear when using him in general play.

He should have done better with Cristian Romero’s header that put the Premier League side 2-0 ahead, but showed great reflexes in a stunning save to push Joao Palhinha’s effort on to the bar, although Micky van de Ven netted the rebound for Spurs’ opener.

Chevalier then stopped Van de Ven’s penalty in the shootout as PSG won after a superb comeback from 2-0 down.

It was a bold move by Luis Enrique to drop Donnarumma and turn to the Frenchman, but one that could prove a masterstroke in the future if Chevalier lives up to great expectations.

Tottenham let slip a two-goal lead as late PSG strikes sent European football’s season opener to penalties in Italy.

Paris Saint-Germain beat Tottenham 4-3 on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup, completing a remarkable rally after scoring two late goals to take the match to a shootout.

It secured the fifth trophy of 2025 for the French club.

Lee Kang-in scored in the 85th for PSG, and fellow substitute Goncalo Ramos grabbed an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time to make it 2-2 in regulation.

Nuno Mendes converted the clinching penalty in the shootout for PSG.

“I am proud. We haven’t [had] much preparation, but you could see that football is not only about the physical aspect – it is also about the mental aspect, being in the right place, having the right tactics,” PSG captain Marquinhos told broadcaster Canal Plus.

“They sat back a lot after going 2-0 up, and it is dangerous to invite PSG to come at you like that.”

The Super Cup is an annual early-season match between the most recent winners of the Champions League (PSG) and Europa League (Tottenham), and it was hardly going to script when the English club took a 2-0 lead early in the second half.

Defenders popped up with Spurs’ goals, with Micky van de Ven showing quick reactions to prod home the opener in the 39th minute after new PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier tipped Joao Palhinha’s shot onto the crossbar.

Chevalier – playing ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who announced Tuesday he was leaving PSG – might have been unlucky with the first goal but was to blame for the second after failing to keep out a header from newly appointed Tottenham captain Cristian Romero in the 48th.

Tottenham is further along in its preparations for the new campaign than PSG, whose players have only just returned to training after being involved in the Club World Cup until mid-July, and looked much sharper at Stadio Friuli.

PSG finished strongly, though, and hit Tottenham with late goals as Lee smashed in a low shot from the edge of the area and Ramos headed home Ousmane Dembele’s right-wing cross.

In the shootout, Vitinha missed PSG’s first attempt, but the French team then converted four in a row. Van de Ven and Mathys Tel failed to score for Tottenham, whose manager, Thomas Frank, was taking charge of his first competitive match with the Premier League team.

Frank took over in the offseason following the firing of Ange Postecoglou, who led Tottenham to its first trophy in 17 years with a victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May.

“I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world – maybe the best in this moment in time,” Frank told TNT Sports.

“I think we had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes until the 2-1 goal. Then, of course, that shifted a little bit the momentum, but there was so much positive.

“I am so proud of the team, the players, the club, the fans. I think there is a lot to be happy with. It is a flip of a coin when you go into a penalty shootout.”

PSG completed the Champions League-Ligue 1-Coupe de France treble last season, also winning the Trophee des Champions in January. The team lost the Club World Cup final to Chelsea.

Substitute Lee Kang-in produces a brilliant strike from the edge of the box to bring Paris Saint-Germain back into the game as Tottenham’s lead is cut to 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup final in Udine.

MATCH REPORT: UEFA Super Cup – Tottenham v Paris Saint-Germain

Available to UK users only.

Goncalo Ramos gets on the end of a fizzing Ousmane Dembele cross as Paris Saint-Germain come from two goals down to draw level with Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup final in Udine.

MATCH REPORT: UEFA Super Cup – Tottenham v Paris Saint-Germain

Available to UK users only.

THE Super Cup will take place at the Stadio Friuli TONIGHT.

Champions League kings PSG will take on Europa League winners Tottenham in a huge clash ahead of the new season.

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In May, Spurs ended their 17-year trophy drought with a stunning 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Bilbao final.

New Tottenham boss Thomas Frank will get the chance to claim silverware in his first competitive match at the helm as he looks to lead the Lilywhites to the Super Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

The former Brentford boss will know it will be a big ask for Spurs as they face a PSG side who were the best team in Europe last season.

But this summer, the French giants failed to add the Club World Cup to their four trophies last term after they were thrashed 3-0 by Chelsea in the final.

Luis Enrique’s side will be looking to bounce back and add more silverware to their ever-expanding collection.

But it’s not just a trophy up for grabs in Udinese, with the Super Cup having huge cash incentives for both clubs.

What is the Super Cup prize money 2025?

Both PSG and Spurs will earn £3.4million each for playing in the Super Cup.

Whichever team goes on to lift the trophy, they will pick up an extra £900,000.

Meaning the Super Cup winner will bank a total of £4.3million.

How to watch the Super Cup 2025

• The Super Cup will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.
• You can live stream the match via the discovery+ app/website.
• Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog for minute-by-minute updates.

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Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season

Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur
What: UEFA Super Cup
Where: Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy
When: Wednesday, August 13 at 9pm (19:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 5pm (15:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

The first major trophy of the season is up for grabs and UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will be targeting a fourth title in the calendar year when they face Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur.

Luis Enrique’s Parisians swept all before them on home soil and in Europe last year, although success wasn’t to follow on the global stage in the summer.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank inherits a side that secured their first European trophy in more than four decades. The north Londoners, however, finished only one place above the relegation zone in the English Premier League.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match being played at the home of Italian side Udinese.

What is the UEFA Super Cup?

The competition pits the winners of the previous season’s UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League competitions.

How did PSG and Tottenham qualify for the Super Cup final?

PSG hammered Inter Milan 5-0 in the final of last season’s UEFA Champions League.

French teenage sensation, Desire Doue, scored twice and provided an assist as the Italians were swept aside in Munich.

Tottenham overcame Manchester United 1-0 in the final of the UEFA Europa League.

Brennan Johnson scored the only goal of the game in the first half. It wasn’t enough to save Ange Postecoglu’s job as manager, as the Australian was sacked two weeks later following the 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

What trophies did PSG win in their treble last season?

PSG sealed the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season by an incredible 19 points – despite easing off for the final three-winless matches.

The Parisians also sealed the French Cup, beating Reims 3-0, a week before the Champions League final.

What happened to PSG at the UEFA Club World Cup?

Following their treble, PSG had the chance to follow in the footsteps of Manchester City, who lifted five trophies in a calendar year in 2023.

Pep Guardiola’s side followed up the domestic and European treble with wins in the Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) that year.

PSG’s chance to replicate that unique achievement was ended by a shock 3-0 defeat by unfancied Chelsea in the final of this year’s expanded CWC.

Every winner since 2000…

Who’s next? 🤷‍♂️#SuperCup pic.twitter.com/j0Ykxaj94m

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 12, 2025

Who are the UEFA Super Cup holders?

Spanish giants Real Madrid beat Italian side Atalanta 2-0 in the final in Monaco last year.

Real were the Champions League holders, having overcome Germany’s Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final the previous season.

Atalanta also topped a German side in the Europa League final the year before, as they beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.

Are Real Madrid the record UEFA Super Cup winners?

Yes. The Spanish giants’ victory against Atalanta in 2024 was a record-extending sixth Super Cup victory. It was also the fifth time in 11 years that Los Blancos lifted the trophy.

What happens if you win the UEFA Super Cup?

Both finalists have already qualified for this season’s UEFA Champions League based on their European victories last season.

UEFA retains the official trophy, but a replica, alongside 40 gold medals, are presented to the winners to keep.

How much money does the UEFA Super Cup winner get?

The winners will receive a cheque for 5 million euros ($5.8m) in prize money.

The runners-up don’t fare too badly, receiving 4 million euros ($4.64m).

PSG team news

Midfielder Joao Neves is suspended following his red card in the FIFA World Cup final defeat by Chelsea.

Conversely, Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez were both suspended for that final but are free to return for this match.

New signing from Lille, Lucas Chevalier, could start in goal with rumours that Gianluigi Donnarumma could be about to leave the club.

Tottenham team news

James Maddison tore his ACL in the preseason friendly with Newcastle United and is now set to miss most of the forthcoming campaign.

Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin and Dominic Solanke all remain sidelined, while Destiny Udogie is also a doubt.

Spurs last week waved goodbye to their captain, Son Heung-min, who joined Major League Soccer side Los Angeles.

Paris Saint-Germain predicted starting XI:

Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

Tottenham Hotspur predicted starting XI:

Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr; Johnson, Richarlison, Kudus

Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain sign Ukraine international defender Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth.

Paris Saint-Germain have signed centre back Illia Zabarnyi from Premier League club Bournemouth on a five-year contract, with the 22-year-old becoming the French club’s first Ukrainian player in history.

Financial details were not disclosed but media reports on Tuesday said the transfer fee was worth about 63 million euros ($73m).

The Ukraine international was a key part of Bournemouth’s defensive lineup last season, making 36 appearances as the club achieved positive goal difference in a Premier League campaign for the first time, finishing ninth.

Zabarnyi is the latest Bournemouth defender to depart this summer after Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid and Milos Kerkez signed for Liverpool.

“I’m very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain, the best club in the world, with the best project. I am here to give everything I have on the pitch and I’m looking forward to making my debut and meeting the fans,” Zabarnyi said in a statement.

Zabarnyi made his senior debut at his hometown club Dyanmo Kyiv before joining Bournemouth in January 2023 on a five-and-a-half year contract.

The English club awarded Zabarnyi, known for his aggressive defending and dominance in aerial duels, with a contract extension until 2029 after an impressive 2023-2024 campaign.

“We’re delighted to continue the strengthening of our squad with the signature of Illia Zabarnyi. Illia is a talented international player and a great professional. He will make a major contribution to everything that we are building long-term at Paris Saint-Germain,” PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.

Champions League winners PSG, who also lifted the Ligue 1 and French Cup titles last season, face Tottenham Hotspur for the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

The Parisians have also already had nine players nominated for this year’s Ballon d’OR award.

Bournemouth expected at least one defender to be sold this summer but to lose three has been a shock, according to sources inside the club.

Each move has been difficult to turn down, though, with such high fees on offer from three of the world’s biggest clubs.

But the lengthy negotiations with PSG have shown Bournemouth have been doing deals on their terms, albeit with an acceptance each player has wanted to take the next step in their career.

The Cherries, who more than tripled the £12.8m paid to sign Huijsen from Juventus six months earlier, did not expect his £50m release clause to be seen as value for money by suitors within a year.

Real Madrid won the race but Huijsen attracted a lot of other interest – including from Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea – after a brilliant season at Vitality Stadium.

Diakite fills one of the gaps at centre-back and £14.4m Frenchman Adrien Truffert has been signed to fill the Kerkez hole – and a further central defender is being sought.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga – who opted to join Arsenal from Chelsea instead of Bournemouth – and they also signed teenage forward Eli Junior Kroupi in February.

Manager Andoni Iraola also wants a striker to add competition for Evanilson, given Enes Unal remains out having suffered a serious knee injury last season.

Nine players from treble-winning Paris Saint-Germain have been nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or this year, along with the club’s coach Luis Enrique, as France Football announced its list of nominees.

Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha are all on the list of 30 players nominated on Thursday for the big prize.

Dembele scored 35 goals and claimed 16 assists in all competitions as PSG won the Ligue 1 title, French Cup and Champions League and were Club World Cup runners-up to Chelsea.

Other nominees include Barcelona’s Raphinha (34 goals, 25 assists), Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (34 goals, 23 assists), who was named Premier League Player of the Season, and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (34 goals, five assists).

Scott McTominay, who won Serie A’s Most Valuable Player after guiding Napoli to the title, was also nominated as the first Scotsman in 38 years to make the shortlist. Barca’s Lamine Yamal (18 goals, 25 assists) made the cut while the 18-year-old winger was also nominated for the Kopa Trophy for best Under-21 player, an award he won last year.

Five England players were nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or after their Euros triumph, including goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson.

Marta, who came out of retirement to lead Brazil to the women’s Copa America title at the age of 39, was also nominated. Along with Luis Enrique, Enzo Maresca, who guided Chelsea to the Club World Cup title, and Liverpool’s Arne Slot, who won the Premier League crown in his first season at the club, were nominated for the men’s Coach of the Year award.

Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmati are the current holders of the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards, respectively.

The former spent most of last season injured with Manchester City, while Bonmati was a defeated finalist at Euro 2025 as England overcame Spain.

The women’s coach nominees are led by Sonia Bompastor, who won a domestic treble at Chelsea, Renee Slegers, who took Arsenal to their second Champions League crown, and Sarina Wiegman, after she helped England retain their Euros title.

Ballon d’Or nominations in full

Men: Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Desire Doue, Denzel Dumfries, Serhou Guirassy, Viktor Gyokeres, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Robert Lewandowski, Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappe, Scott McTominay, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Michael Olise, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Raphinha, Declan Rice, Fabian Ruiz, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Vinicius Jr, Vitinha, Florian Wirtz, Lamine Yamal

Women: Sandy Baltimore, Barbra Banda, Aitana Bonmati, Lucy Bronze, Klara Buehl, Mariona Caldentey, Sofia Cantore, Steph Catley, Temwa Chawinga, Melchie Dumornay, Emily Fox, Cristiana Girelli, Esther Gonzalez, Caroline Graham Hansen, Hannah Hampton, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Amanda Gutierres, Lindsey Heaps, Chloe Kelly, Frida Leonhardsen-Maanum, Marta, Clara Mateo, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Caroline Weir, Leah Williamson

Men’s coach of the year: Antonio Conte, Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick, Enzo Maresca, Arne Slot

Women’s coach of the year: Sonia Bompastor, Arthur Elias, Justine Madugu, Renee Slegers, Sarina Wiegman

Men’s club of the year: Barcelona, Botafogo, Chelsea, Liverpool, Paris St Germain

Women’s club of the year: Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, OL Lyonnes, Orlando Pride

Yashin trophy men: Alisson Becker, Yassine Bounou, Lucas Chevalier, Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Emi Martinez, Jan Oblak, David Raya, Matz Sels, Yann Sommer

Yashin trophy women: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Daphne van Domselaar

Men’s Kopa Trophy: Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsi, Desire Doue, Estevao, Dean Huijsen, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rodrigo Mora, Joao Neves, Lamine Yamal, Kenan Yildiz

Women’s Kopa Trophy: Michelle Agyemang, Linda Caicedo, Wieke Kaptein, Vicky Lopez, Claudia Martinez Ovando

Paris Saint-Germain which the Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi denies the alleged rape of a woman in 2023.

French prosecutors on Friday called for Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi to face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Moroccan international denies.

The Nanterre prosecutor’s office told the AFP news agency that they had requested that the investigating judge refer the rape charge to a criminal court.

“It is now up to the investigating magistrate to make a decision within the framework of his order,” the prosecutor’s office told AFP in a statement.

Hakimi, 26, played a major role in PSG’s run to their first Champions League title, with the full-back scoring the opener in the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the final in May.

Hakimi, who helped Morocco to their historic run to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, was charged in March 2023 with raping a 24-year-old woman.

Hakimi allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home on February 25, 2023, in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife and children were away on holiday.

The woman went to a police station following the encounter, alleging rape and was questioned by police.

Although the woman refused to make a formal accusation, prosecutors decided to press charges against the player.

She told police at the time that she had met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram.

On the night in question, she said she had travelled to his house in a taxi paid for by Hakimi. She told police Hakimi had started kissing her and making non-consensual sexual advances, before raping her, a police source told AFP at the time.

She said she managed to break free to text a friend who came to pick her up.

Contacted by AFP after Friday’s development, Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin described the call by prosecutors for a trial as “incomprehensible and senseless in light of the case’s elements”.

“We, along with Achraf Hakimi, remain as calm as we were at the start of the proceedings.

“If these requisitions were to be followed, we would obviously pursue all avenues of appeal,” she added.

“My client welcomes this news with immense relief,” Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the woman, told AFP.

Hakimi, born in Madrid, came through the youth system at Real Madrid before joining Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2018.

He went on to make 73 appearances for the German club.

He moved to Inter Milan in 2020 and then on to PSG in 2021, where he has established himself as an integral part of the team.

In Qatar, Hakimi was a cornerstone of the Morocco team that became the first African or Arab nation to reach the semifinals of a World Cup.

Six weeks ago in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain overwhelmed one of Europe’s top teams in the UEFA Champions League final, earning a trophy and recognition as the world’s best club team.

On Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., PSG handed that mantle to Chelsea, which routed the exhausted Parisians 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final, PSG’s worst loss in nearly two years.

So ended the first expanded Club World Cup, a tournament manufactured mainly to monetize the sport while lengthening the season six weeks for some teams — both PSG and Chelsea were playing for the 65th time in 48 weeks — and further congesting an already crowded schedule for others. And though it attracted more than 2.4 million fans overall, more than a quarter of the games drew fewer than 17,000 people, four got less than 9,000 and the competition overall averaged about the same attendance as the top 25 summer friendlies played in the U.S. last summer.

That’s after FIFA, the event’s organizer, drastically reduced ticket prices and, in some cases, let people in for free. So why did we play this tournament at all?

Well, the best answer is the Club World Cup served as a dress rehearsal for the real World Cup, which will be played at the same time and in some of the same stadiums next year. And if what FIFA learned from the club tournament doesn’t force it back to the drawing board to make some major changes for next summer — especially to kickoff times — it will be an education wasted.

The biggest takeaway was the weather. It was way too hot (and humid and stormy and just generally yucky).

Chelsea played three of its seven games in temperatures described by local weather authorities as “extreme,” meaning people were told to avoid strenuous physical activity or, in some cases, to even avoid going outdoors. (Sunday’s final kicked off in 81-degree temperatures and 69% humidity, conditions that necessitated two hydration breaks.)

“The heat is incredible,” Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said in Spanish before the final. “The other day I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was dizzy. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous.”

But it’s not just the danger to players FIFA should worry about (although that, clearly, is paramount). The conditions also change the way the game must be played, making it far less attractive to viewers.

“The speed of the game is not the same. Everything becomes very slow,” Fernandez said. “Let’s hope that next year they change the schedule.”

Wydad AC’s Cassius Mailula, center, and Mohamed Moufid try to cool off during a FIFA Club World Cup group match against Al Ain FC in Washington on June 26.

(Julia Demaree Nikhinson / Associated Press)

For the Club World Cup, many games started at midday or in the early afternoon so they could be broadcast in prime time in Europe and Africa. But the conditions on the field were often oppressive as a result.

MetLife Stadium, where Sunday’s final was played, will host eight World Cup matches, including the final, next summer. And while the kickoff times for that tournament won’t be revealed until the World Cup draw in December, BBC Sport said it has learned FIFA plans to start many East Coast games at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time.

FIFA issued a statement earlier this month that suggested it is not taking the problem near seriously enough, touting the hydration breaks, in which matches are halted so players can get a drink, as “significant and progressive measures … being taken to protect the players from the heat.”

FIFPRO, the union representing international soccer players, isn’t being so dismissive.

“From a health and safety perspective, this [extreme heat] is something that must take priority over commercial interests with regards to the safety of the players,” Alexander Bielefeld, the union’s director of policy and strategic relations, said on a conference call. “Heat conditions are not happening in a vacuum. The debate on extreme heat is not happening in a vacuum.

“It’s actually quite foreseeable.”

According to FIFPRO, at least three games at the Club World Cup should have been suspended or postponed because of extreme weather. It was so hot during a group-play game in Cincinnati, in fact, Borussia Dortmund’s bench players stayed in the locker room, watching the first half on TV.

The last World Cup that played in the U.S., in 1994, remains the hottest in history, which is remarkable for a tournament that since been played in Africa and the Middle East. That year Mexico and Ireland faced off in Orlando, Fla., where midday temperatures hit 105 degrees. And it was 100 degrees on the field for the final, which kicked off at noon at the Rose Bowl. (Not surprisingly that game ended in a scoreless draw, as did the 1999 Women’s World Cup final, played at the Rose Bowl under equally as oppressive conditions. Both games were decided in penalty kicks.)

More severe weather is all but certain next year.

“What you’re seeing right now is very typical,” Ben Schott, operations chief with the National Weather Service, told the Athletic. “Next year we may be going through the same thing.

That’s not good since a half-dozen Club World Cup games were delayed or halted by weather this summer, including Chelsea’s round-of-16 win over Benfica in Charlotte, N.C. That match was paused for two hours because of lightning.

“I can understand that for security reasons, you have to suspend the game,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said. “But if you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition.”

FIFA had a chance to protect its most valuable property, the World Cup final, by scheduling it for one of the four roofed stadiums chosen to host games in the U.S. in 2026. Instead it will tempt fate — and the weather gods — by playing the final at open-air MetLife.

If there were a silver lining to these storm clouds — I’m trying to be positive here — it’s that coaches and players are now keenly aware of what awaits them next summer, giving them ample time to get ready.

“We’re going to come prepared next year,” said Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram, a French international. “There’s a lot of players that are doing the Club World Cup that will be doing the World Cup with their countries next year. So I think it’s a good preparation.”

Let’s hope FIFA is preparing as well. Because if the heat was on for the Club World Cup, it will be even warmer for the organizers of the real World Cup next summer.

⚽ You have read the latest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Corner of the Galaxy” podcast.