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, as the draw took place on Thursday.

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

Read morePSG parade Champions League trophy as they celebrate back-to-back titles

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

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.

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 Munich, 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, while also tackling 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 play-offs 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 play-offs.

Last year’s Norwegian champions Viking 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.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Go Media Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 26 NRL game between New Zealand Warriors and
Newcastle Knights. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm with New Zealand Warriors heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New Zealand Warriors vs.
Newcastle Knights
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday August 30, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Where: Go Media Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Odds

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Preview

The Warriors return to Auckland after an impressive 45-26 victory over South Sydney, a performance that reinforced their attacking momentum before the finals. Newcastle’s 44-24 loss to Manly halted a three-match winning run and exposed defensive problems against speed on the edges. The Warriors again field Taine Tuaupiki at fullback, with Luke Laulilii and Alofiana Khan-Pereira providing finishing power outside a mobile back row led by Kurt Capewell and Jacob Laban. Newcastle retains a dangerous spine featuring Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe, while Bradman Best and Dane Gagai give the visitors strike in the centres. The Knights can threaten if they create broken-field opportunities, but the Warriors’ forward platform, recent scoring form and familiarity with Go Media Stadium make them the more reliable selection.

Manchester City will be looking to put a couple of miserable Champions League campaigns behind them this season as they aim to reclaim the crown they won in 2023.

The Champions League is back and Manchester City now know who they will face in their bid to finish in the top eight of the 32-team league.

The Blues were drawn against PSG, Barcelona, Sporting, Porto, Napoli, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens

in Thursday’s draw. Enzo Maresca knows his team need a strong start to this season’s competition as they look to avoid another nerve-wracking league phase campaign.

City only just qualified for the playoff round when the new format was first introduced in 2024/25. Finishing 22nd out of 32, the Blues were paired with Real Madrid in the playoff round, and we all know how that finished.

2025/26 wasn’t without its complications either, but City did at least manage to squeeze into the top eight. While there was no need for a playoff round, City still failed to trouble the latter stages of the competition as they were beaten by Real Madrid in the round of 16.

But that’s all in the past and Maresca will hope he can be the man to take City back to the top of European football this season. With City’s fixtures now confirmed, we want you to tell us how many points you think the Blues will take from their eight league matches.

For context, 16 points from a possible 24 has been the number of points needed to finish in the top eight in the two seasons since the new league format was introduced.

Let us know in the poll below how many points you think City will win:

The top of this edge class has a chance to be special. Dylan Stewart vs. Colin Simmons could end up being Jadeveon Clowney vs. Khalil Mack for a new generation of draft fans. 

Outside of those two, the 2027 class is loaded with prospects who look the part but relatively short on prospects who play the part. The good news is that this far out from the draft, the former is often more important than the latter. It will be a very fun class to track this fall for just that reason.

Positional rankings:  IOL • S • LB • DT • TE • OT • RB • CB • EDGE • WR • QB

Note: ⭐️ represents each player’s 247Sports star rating as a high school recruit

Class strength rating: 9/10

• Player type: Do-it-all edge
• Early grade: Top 10

Dylan Stewart’s absurd physical talent has been on display since the first time he stepped on a college field.

His combination of bend and burst looks closer to that of a cornerback than a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end. He’s the closest physical specimen to Myles Garrett since Garrett came out of Texas A&M in 2017. 

While Stewart’s strength hasn’t progressed the same way Garrett’s did after his freshman year — Garrett gained 30 pounds at Texas A&M to reach 270 by his junior year, while Stewart is listed at 250 — even 90% of Garrett is still an elite edge rusher in the NFL. He doesn’t need to show any more to be a top-10 pick.

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• Player type: Speed rusher
• Early grade: Top 10

Colin Simmons is the modern prototype speed rusher, the kind who can get by in the 240s because he’s so athletic and overtly physical. With how much defenses use stunts and slanting blitzes, those kinds of athletes are incredibly valuable. If you’re slow out of your stance against him, you’re toast. He’s yet another prospect who doesn’t have to play another down to go top 10.

Renner’s 2027 NFL Draft big board: Preseason top 100 as Arch Manning headlines a potentially historic class

Mike Renner

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• Player type: 4-3 defensive end
• Early grade: Late Day 1/Early Day 2

There were a couple of defensive linemen on Clemson last year who entered the season with a lot more hype, but by the end of the year, no one was more effective than Will Heldt. 

At 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, it’s hard not to see some pre-breakout Aidan Hutchinson when watching Heldt’s tape. That’s because at that size, he doesn’t so much win with pure power but rather bend and agility. He’s got a whirlwind spin move that he deploys in obvious passing situations that will be even more of a weapon in a defense without so many schemed rushes.

I’d like him to get better as a pure bull rusher, but as someone who’s relatively young for a senior (he turned 21 in February), there’s still time for improvement in that regard.

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• Player type: 4-3/3-4 defensive end
• Early grade: Early Day 2

I got to Sahir West‘s tape late in the summer and most certainly did not expect a James Madison transfer to UCLA to be one of the most physically impressive defensive ends in the class. At 6-foot-3 and 279 pounds, 

Sahir West can move. Obviously, you’d expect an end that big to win with power, and he does, but there are a handful of times a game when he leaves offensive linemen grasping at air.

He didn’t even get many true pass-rushing opportunities last season, as James Madison heavily featured three-man rushes, and he still notched seven sacks. If he can pin his ears back more this fall, his production should soar.

• Player type: Toolsy project
• Early grade: Day 2

Don’t let Tennessee’s heavy edge rotation, which kept Jordan Ross largely under wraps last season with just 249 snaps, make you think Ross is a normal backup. He’s a former five-star with an ideal edge-rusher frame, bend and explosiveness. It’s all there physically for him to end up a first-rounder. 

You see flashes of everything, but nothing is particularly consistent. That’s not too concerning, though, for an inexperienced redshirt freshman. It’s really just a matter of reps and block awareness at this point. If he gets those at LSU, he’ll fly up boards.

• Player type: Toolsy project
• Early grade: Day 2

Yhonzae Pierre‘s scouting report is eerily similar to the man above him on this list except he’s just a year older. Pierre barely saw the field his first two seasons at Alabama before a breakout eight-sack campaign last fall.

The only thing standing between him and a first-round selection is consistency in his power. He has the physical tools to be a bull rusher and hard edge-setter, but he ran hot and cold in both regards on tape.

• Player type: Power end
• Early grade: Day 2

Matayo Uiagalelei is a former five-star who started as a true freshman for Oregon in 2023 and has gotten steadily better ever since. He’s never quite made the leap to dominance, though, which may be due to the fact that he’s young for his grade and only turned 21 in July. He’s a power player who wins through opponents’ chests.

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• Player type: Sub-package rusher
• Early grade: Late Day 2

While every other prospect in this top 10 has a relatively ideal frame for the edge position in some way, Clev Lubin decidedly does not. He’s got a squatty build for an edge with shorter arms and a bit of an awkward gait. 

When he fires off the line to rush the passer, though, it’s like someone strapped NOS to his back. Add a relentless motor, and it’s easy to see him still working out in the league despite not being the prototype.

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• Player type: Power end
• Early grade: Late Day 2

It’s rare to describe an Ohio State defensive lineman as a project with legendary line coach Larry Johnson, yet that’s where I see Kenyatta Jackson Jr. in his development. That’s not terribly encouraging for a player heading into his fifth year, but Jackson has traits that are going to be hard to give up on — especially his play strength. 

He’d line up as a 3-technique in bear fronts last year and stack-and-shed guards with ease. That kind of ability will at least give him a high floor against the run at the next level.

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• Player type: Toolsy project
• Early grade: Late Day 2

This is a tall top 10, and Boubacar Traore fits right into that mix at 6-foot-5. He looks the part coming off the bus, and his high-end flashes do as well. He came back from a torn ACL in 2024 to be Notre Dame’s best pass rusher last year. 

I just wish he played with more active hands, as he has a lot of rushes where I’m not sure what he’s even trying to do.

Ranking all 191 first-round NFL Draft picks since 2020: Best, worst selections of the decade

Mike Renner

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Three names to watch

Note: These aren’t necessarily the next three players in my rankings, but rather three prospects who caught my eye for one reason or another.

Chris Cole and Quintavius Johnson (Georgia)

When watching tape of Chris Cole and Quintavius Johnson, former Georgia first-rounder Jalon Walker came to mind for both. With Cole, it’s the role he played last year as an off-ball/on-ball hybrid that was similar to Walker’s in 2024, and I could easily see Cole making a similar transition to the edge. Truthfully, his body type is even more suited for it than Walker’s.

With Johnson, it’s the overt physicality that Walker played with. He’s a grown man in the run game, even if his pass-rushing bag is a work in progress.

Teitum Tuioti (Oregon)

Teitum Tuioti may not have the prototypical traits of an early-round defensive end, but he knows how to play the position inside and out. He should, after all, as his father has been Oregon’s defensive line coach since the 2022 season. While I trend more toward the athletes in summer scouting, by the time the pre-draft process rolls around, I’m a sucker for pass rushers with a well-refined toolbox.

Taylor Wein (Oklahoma)

Taylor Wein is a distinctly different type of defensive lineman from everyone else on this list. At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, he’s a bit of a tweener, and his most impressive reps came rushing from the interior. That’s because lateral agility is his calling card. He can knife around guards with ease. His best bet may be continuing to bulk up to play on the interior with the way the NFL game is going.

Superlatives

• Most NFL ready: Colin Simmons (Texas)
• Most versatile: Sahir West (UCLA)
• Best pass rusher: Colin Simmons (Texas)
• Best vs. run: Teitum Tuioti (Oregon)
• Most athletic: Dylan Stewart (South Carolina)
• Top non-Power-4: Braydin Ward (Marshall)
• If only they were bigger: Marquise Lightfoot (Miami (FL))

WWE could be heading toward a chaotic weekend, with several stars sitting on the edge of dramatic character changes. Sunday Night’s Main Event already features Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton. Meanwhile, the ongoing Bloodline war has become complicated following Royce Keys’ return alongside OTM. With the stakes rising on both RAW and SmackDown, Triple H has several opportunities to reshape the landscape before the event.

Here are two face turns and two heel turns that could happen before Sunday Night’s Main Event:

#4. Face turn: Jacob Fatu leaves The Bloodline

Jacob Fatu has increasingly looked like a man who does not completely fit into Roman Reigns’ version of The Bloodline. Although he has been serving as the faction’s enforcer, his recent actions have raised questions about where his loyalty truly lies.

Fatu did not help Roman when Solo Sikoa turned against him. He also failed to assist The Usos when they were dealing with Royce Keys and OTM. Those moments could eventually become the final evidence that the Samoan Werewolf has no interest in blindly following the OTC’s orders.

A face turn would make sense because Jacob Fatu has the credibility to become one of WWE’s dangerous antiheroes. He would not need to suddenly become a smiling babyface. Instead, he could simply walk away from The Bloodline, refusing to fight his family’s battles unless he chooses to.

WWE could make the moment bigger by having Roman Reigns demand Fatu’s loyalty. The latter could refuse, attack a Bloodline member, and officially leave the faction before Sunday.

#3. Heel turn: Former Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes turning heel before Sunday Night’s Main Event could completely change the dynamic of his feud with Randy Orton. However, the company has already made physical contact between the two extremely risky. Nick Aldis has ruled that if either man gets physical before their match, they will never receive another Undisputed WWE Championship opportunity.

That means Cody cannot simply attack Orton to establish himself as the villain. Instead, The American Nightmare could turn on the WWE Universe with his words.

Cody could use his upcoming promos to complain about how fans have treated him despite everything he has accomplished. Rather than playing the beloved babyface, he could start talking down to the audience, mocking their expectations, and claiming that he no longer needs their approval.

This would be particularly effective because Randy Orton has already mocked The American Nightmare as the ultimate “good guy” and questioned his clean-cut persona.

Thus, Cody Rhodes embracing the darker side of his personality without laying a finger on Orton would also allow WWE to respect Aldis’ stipulation while gradually transforming him into a heel. By the time Sunday Night’s Main Event arrives, fans could find themselves wondering whether The Viper is actually the lesser evil.

#2. Face turn: Randy Orton

Randy Orton becoming the clear babyface would be one of WWE’s easiest turns to execute.

Orton already has the history and credibility to receive a huge reaction. However, his rivalry with Cody Rhodes gives WWE an ideal reason to push him in that direction. If Cody becomes increasingly aggressive, The Viper can position himself as the veteran trying to stop The American Nightmare before he goes too far.

The beauty of an Orton face turn is that WWE would not need to completely change his personality. The Viper can remain dangerous, sarcastic, and unpredictable while directing those qualities toward a more justified cause.

Thus, a confrontation with The American Nightmare on SmackDown could establish the dynamic. If Cody Rhodes lashes out at fans and Randy Orton reminds him to blame himself and not the WWE Universe, the crowd would naturally rally behind Orton.

By Sunday, Orton could enter as the fan-favorite challenger while Cody embraces his darker side.

#1. Heel turn: Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa could finally reunite with The Bloodline and embrace his heel persona again. The current situation makes the potential turn especially logical.

Solo initially rejected falling back in line with Roman Reigns, choosing instead to remain aligned with LA Knight. However, Royce Keys and OTM have now made it clear that they are a serious threat, attacking Solo, Knight, and The Usos on WWE RAW.

With the numbers increasingly against them, Sikoa could realize that he and Knight cannot handle Keys and OTM alone. That could force him to reconsider Roman’s offer.

The Street Champion could eventually turn on LA Knight and return to the OTC, officially rejoining The Bloodline. The move would instantly make the faction more dangerous while establishing Solo Sikoa as a heel once again.

Also, it would set up a major Bloodline war against Keys and OTM, with Solo choosing family over his temporary alliance with Knight.