CSKA Sofia host Maccabi Tel Aviv at the National Stadium Vasil Levski on August 13, with one foot already in the Europa League playoff round. The Bulgarian side produced a stunning 3-0 victory in the first leg, putting enormous pressure on their Israeli opponents.
Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa meet at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg on August 12, 2026, in the UEFA Super Cup final. The Champions League winners face the Europa League holders in the first major European trophy match of the new season.
PSG arrive as favorites, but the timing of the fixture creates an unusual situation. The World Cup ended only a few weeks ago, leaving many of PSG’s stars with limited preparation. Villa also have important absences, making this a fascinating tactical battle. ⚽
Nijmegen and Olympiacos meet at Goffertstadion on August 11, 2026, in the decisive second leg of their Champions League qualifying tie. The first meeting in Piraeus ended 0-0, leaving everything to be decided in the Netherlands. 🔥
Santa Clara welcome Nacional to Estádio de São Miguel on August 10, 2026, in the opening round of the new Liga Portugal campaign.
The matchup looks competitive on paper, but several factors favour the Azores side. Santa Clara enjoyed an excellent unbeaten pre-season, have home advantage and have dominated this fixture recently. Nacional, meanwhile, arrive with a new coach, significant squad changes and the departure of their leading scorer. ⚽
Arsenal welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Emirates Stadium on August 9 for the Emirates Cup final, with the Premier League champions looking to finish their home pre-season programme with another trophy.
