PSG showdown will show how much Villa have changed

Brian Madjo scored when Aston Villa lost to Paris St Germain in the Super Cup [Getty Images] The Champions League draw is another reminder that Aston Villa are back among the elite - but also how much change there has been. Europa League winners Villa, returning to the competition after a season away, will host defending champions Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund. Trips to Barcelona and Galatasaray add an extra sparkle while Unai Emery's side also face Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking and Slavia Prague. PSG's visit will naturally evoke the memories of the 2025 quarter-final when Villa so nearly upset the eventual winners with a memorable comeback. Although it will be a very different Aston Villa side which will face the defending champions, with Emi Martinez's move to Chelsea and Ollie Watkins' switch to Al-Hilal due to go through before the deadline. Five of the starting XI are no longer at the club, while Martinez is due to leave and Amadou Onana is out injured until next year. It will, though, remain a chance to avenge the Super Cup defeat in Salzburg earlier this month. A trip to the Nou Camp awaits and it is the standout game for Villa in the league phase but, if Emery can add to his squad in what is expected to be a frantic last few days of the transfer window, he can be confident they can progress. The first league-phase matches will be played on Tuesday, 8 September so there will be little time to bed any further new faces so Emery must get his new-look side to adapt quickly.