Aston Villa face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League, a reminder of how much the club has changed. Unai Emery's side, Europa League winners returning after a season away, will host defending champions PSG and Borussia Dortmund, with trips to Barcelona and Galatasaray adding extra sparkle. The PSG visit evokes memories of the 2025 quarter-final when Villa nearly upset the eventual winners with a memorable comeback.

However, a very different Villa side will face PSG, with Emi Martinez moving to Chelsea and Ollie Watkins switching to Al-Hilal. Five starters are no longer at the club, Martinez is due to leave, and Amadou Onana is out injured until next year. The league phase begins on Tuesday, 8 September, leaving little time for new signings to adapt, so Emery must get his new-look side ready quickly.