PSG

Last season’s runners-up, Arsenal, will play the likes of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Lille in the league phase.

Two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were handed meetings with Barcelona, Manchester City and Aston Villa, among their eight matches in the league phase of this season’s Champions League, when the draw took place on Thursday.

PSG, who beat Arsenal on penalties in Budapest in May to retain the trophy, will play Barcelona, Roma, Turkish champions Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia at home.

Luis Enrique’s team will travel to England twice to face City and Villa. They beat both teams on the way to winning their first Champions League title in 2025, and also defeated the latter in the UEFA Super Cup in Austria earlier this month.

The French champions will also go to Spain to play Villarreal and Italy to take on a Como side coached by Cesc Fabregas.

“I can’t say anything bad about the Champions League, but I won’t be watching the draw. I will be relaxing and going out on my bike, then we’ll take a look at the menu. But I would sign up for the same result as in the last two years,” Luis Enrique told reporters earlier Thursday.

PSG are aiming to become European champions for a third straight year, something only the Real Madrid of 2016 to 2018 have achieved in the last 50 years.

The first matches in this season’s league phase will be played between Tuesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 10, with the final games in late January. UEFA is expected to announce the full fixture schedule on Saturday.

Last season’s runners-up, Arsenal, the Premier League champions, will notably host Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Lille, as well as Sabah, the club from Azerbaijan who came through four two-legged qualifying ties to reach the league phase for the first time.

The Gunners have a tough list of away ties against Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.

Fenerbahce back, Viking in

Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool will be at home to Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens, while playing Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Austrian league phase debutants LASK away.

Manchester United, who were not in the first pot of seeds, have home games against Bayern, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah, and also a series of difficult away fixtures against Atletico, Sporting of Portugal, Villarreal and Como.

Other notable games include Manchester City visiting Barcelona and Real Madrid entertaining Inter, while last season’s Europa League winners, Villa, must go to Barcelona and play Dortmund at home. Unai Emery’s team will also tackle Istanbul giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

The latter are appearing in the Champions League proper for the first time since 2008/09 after beating Lyon in the playoffs this week.

New names in this season’s competition are Como, who have upset the traditional order in Serie A, and Sabah, while LASK made it to this stage for the first time after a stunning comeback win over Celtic in the playoffs.

Last year’s Norwegian champions Viking, from the city of Stavanger, have reached the Champions League proper for the first time, too, and they have a glamorous fixture schedule that includes Bayern, Atletico, Villa and Napoli.

This is the third season since the introduction of the new format for the Champions League, with 36 teams now all pooled together in one giant league and each playing games against eight different opponents.

This season’s final will be played at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 5, 2027.

Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal for Spain at the World Cup, has joined European champions Paris St-Germain from Barcelona.

The 26-year-old has signed a deal with the French champions until 2031 for a reported fee of about 50m euros (£42.7m).

He scored the extra-time winner against Argentina to help Spain claim their second men’s World Cup last month, while his stock had already risen considerably after a strong season with Barcelona.

The forward scored 21 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions, providing three assists, and helped Barcelona win the La Liga title.

PSG, managed by former Barcelona coach and player Luis Enrique, have won the Champions League in the past two seasons.

Torres is the second high-profile forward PSG have signed this summer after the arrival of Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco.

PSG added to their silverware collection on Wednesday by beating Aston Villa 2-1 to win the Uefa Super Cup.

Torres has been at Barcelona since 2022 having previously spent two years at Manchester City.

He has scored 25 goals in 65 appearances for Spain and made his debut for the national team under Enrique.

PSG could lose Bradley Barcola this summer, with the forward wanted by Liverpool.

Paris St-Germain have agreed a deal in principle to sign Barcelona forward Ferran Torres.

The fee for the Spain international will be around 50m euros (£42.7m).

Torres, 26, was given permission to miss training this week as he finalised his move.

Having scored an extra-time winner against Argentina to help Spain claim their second men’s World Cup this summer, Torres’ stock has risen considerably after a strong season with Barcelona.

Torres scored 21 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions, providing three assists, and helped Barcelona win the La Liga title.

PSG, managed by former Barcelona coach and player Luis Enrique, have won the Champions League in the past two seasons.

The Parisians could lose Bradley Barcola this summer, with the forward wanted by Liverpool.

Should the deal go through, Torres will be the second high-profile forward PSG have signed this summer after the arrival of Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco.

PSG added to their silverware collection on Wednesday by beating Aston Villa 2-1 to win the Uefa Super Cup.

Torres has been at Barcelona since 2022 having previously spent two years at Manchester City.

He has scored 25 goals in 65 appearances for Spain.

EXPLAINER

As the winners of the Champions League and Europa League face off, here is everything to know on the venue, history, quotes from the coaches and more.

The UEFA Super Cup is the annual game between the winners of European football’s top two competitions – the Champions League and the Europa League – and is seen as a curtain-raiser to the new season in Europe.

This year the French champions and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will take on English Premier League side Aston Villa, who are Europa League champions.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game.

When is the game being held?

The match kicks off at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday, August 12.

Where is the UEFA Super Cup being played?

Salzburg’s Red Bull Arena in Austria will host the final.

The 30,000-capacity stadium, which is referred to as Stadion Salzburg during UEFA matches, is usually home to Austrian Bundesliga team RB Salzburg.

How did PSG reach the UEFA Super Cup?

Paris Saint-Germain held their nerve in a cagey Champions League ⁠final in May to retain the title by beating ⁠Arsenal 4-3 on penalties as a tense showdown ended 1-1 after extra time, cementing the French side’s status among Europe’s modern greats.

Arsenal defender Gabriel blasted his spot kick over the bar at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, his miss confirming PSG as the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid completed their ⁠three-year reign from 2016 to 2018.

How did Aston Villa reach the UEFA Super Cup?

Aston Villa ended their 30-year trophy drought in style as spectacular goals from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia inspired a 3-0 win over Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul in May.

Unai Emery’s side took the lead late in the first half through Tielemans’ thunderous volley, before Buendia increased Villa’s advantage with a sublime curler seconds from the half-time whistle.

Morgan Rogers’ second-half goal finished off the outclassed Germans, sealing Villa’s first silverware since the 1996 League Cup and their first major European prize for 44 years.

Who is predicted to win the match?

According to Polymarket, PSG are the clear favourites with a 55-percent chance of winning in regulation time, with the likelihood of a draw at full time estimated at 25 percent and an Aston Villa win at 22 percent.

What is the history of the UEFA Super Cup?

It was officially introduced in 1973, with the European Cup/Champions League winners playing the Cup Winners Cup champions.

After the Cup Winners Cup was abolished in 1999, the winners of the UEFA Cup (subsequently rebranded as the Europa League) played the Champions League winners.

Who are the previous winners of the UEFA Super Cup?

Real Madrid are the most successful side in the fixture, having won six Super Cups. Barcelona and AC Milan have won five, while Liverpool have won four.

PSG are the reigning Super Cup holders after they beat Tottenham 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in last season’s tie.

Last 10 winners:

• 2025 – Paris St-Germain
• 2024 – Real Madrid
• 2023 – Manchester City
• 2022 – Real Madrid
• 2021 – Chelsea
• 2020 – Bayern Munich
• 2019 – Liverpool
• 2018 – Atletico Madrid
• 2017 – Real Madrid
• 2016 – Real Madrid

How to watch the UEFA Super Cup?

In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.

In the United States, the game will be shown on CBC Sports.

The full list of global broadcasters can be found here.

What happens if the game ends in a draw?

If the scores are level after regulation time, the match will go straight to a penalty shootout with no extra time to be played.

Who is the referee?

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was controversially denied entry to the US for the FIFA World Cup, will officiate the Super Cup.

PSG vs Aston Villa: Head-to-head

The two clubs have met twice in recent years, both in the 2024-25 Champions League quarterfinals.

PSG won the first leg 3-1 at Parc des Princes on April 9, 2025, while Aston Villa won the second leg 3-2 at home a week later – with PSG progressing 5-4 on aggregate.

What have the coaches said about the Super Cup?

PSG coach Luis Enrique:

“There are no doubts in my mind that it’s [the Super Cup] a really important trophy and Villa will be really competitive. If we look at the Premier League, there are five or maybe six Spanish coaches at the best teams.

“I think that Spanish football is at the top of world football in every regard, be it players, coaches or directors. Our game stands for a fun way of playing football, in that we seek out the ball, having it is our priority, and we adapt through possession to being solid defensively. I think it’s a great moment for Spanish football in a worldwide context and we should be proud of that.”

Aston Villa coach Unai Emery:

“We’re trying to be successful through, firstly, [building] a winning team, and then aiming for the positive consequences after it: winning trophies.

“To play the UEFA Super Cup is another opportunity to be there, the opportunity to win a trophy, to play against Paris Saint-Germain – the [best] team in the world now and another team we can compare [ourselves] with.”

Carrick has confirmed Marcus Rashford will rejoin the Manchester United squad for their trip to the Republic of Ireland.

Rashford, England team-mate Kobbie Mainoo and Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez are the final three players to return for United after the World Cup.

Although it was not expected Rashford would return to the club when he joined Barcelona on loan in July 2025, the La Liga champions failed to trigger a £26m option to buy the 28-year-old at the end of the season.

Despite interest elsewhere, there has been no deal, meaning Rashford will return to United for the first time since January 2025, when he moved to Aston Villa after falling out with former manager Ruben Amorim.

United are training at the plush Carton House hotel in Maynooth and have a friendly with Leeds United at Croke Park on 12 August.

They complete their pre-season programme against Amorim’s new club AC Milan in Wroclaw on 15 August, when Rashford could make his first United appearance since December 2024 if Carrick decides Wednesday is too soon.

A former team-mate, coach and manager of Rashford, it has been felt if anyone can patch up the relationship between club and player – which includes his number 10 shirt being given to Matheus Cunha who is also due to be on the trip after a minor injury ruled him out of the Gothenburg encounter – it is Carrick.

“I’ve played with him. I played in the game he made his debut, so we have a history,” Carrick said.

“We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together. Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie [Mainoo] and Lisandro [Martinez]. We look forward to seeing them.”

Lee Kang-In makes the switch to Atletico after helping Paris Saint-Germain to consecutive Champions League titles.

South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-In has agreed to join Atletico Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, the Spanish club.

Atletico said on Saturday the player would sign a contract through June 2031. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but it is reportedly between 35 and 40 million euros ($39.8m and $45.5m).

The 25-year-old Lee played all three group-stage games at the World Cup, where South Korea failed to advance after losing twice.

Born in Incheon, Lee moved to Spain when he was 10 to join Valencia’s training academy and ended up playing 62 games for the club. After a stint with Mallorca, he joined PSG in 2023, scoring 16 goals in 124 appearances.

He will now play for an Atletico side that finished La Liga in fourth place and reached the Copa del Rey final last season. Lee will help fill the creative void left by Antoine Griezmann, who has left for the MLS as Atletico’s all-time top scorer.