As we enter the second week of August, many clubs are reaching the end of their seasons, while others are just beginning. This week we have a showcase of both ends of the spectrum, as another bumper midweek of action is ready to take place.

Wednesday 12th August: UEFA Super Cup: PSG v Aston Villa 20:00

With the league season in football coming very soon, there has been a litany of cup competitions already taking place. One of the biggest is the Super Cup final, in which Champions League winners PSG face off with Europa League champions Aston Villa in Salzburg.

PSG retained their Champions League crown after a hard-fought match against Premier League champions Arsenal. A drama-filled 1-1 draw after 120 minutes was finally ended with help from a now infamous missed penalty from Gunners defender Gabriel, who blazed his effort over the bar, which handed the win to the French side.

That piece of silverware added to an already stacked trophy cabinet for the Parisians who also took home the Ligue 1 and Trophée des Champions titles. They will no doubt be hungry for more, though, as they look to also retain the Super Cup.

Standing in their way is Aston Villa, who took home a primary European trophy for the first time since their European Cup win in the 1981/82 season. After a 44-year wait, they will be hoping for another to add to the cabinet under the stewardship of Unai Emery, who has been transformative for the Birmingham side.

Villa had another extremely impressive Premier League season last year, finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League regardless of their Europa League win.

There is still much to be seen in how both sides will get on this coming season, but a positive performance and a win in this one could be just the catalyst needed to kickstart another fruitful campaign for either team.

Date: 12/08/26
Time: 20:00
Venue: Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
The match will be shown on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max.



Thursday 13th August Betfred Super League: Leeds Rhinos v Leigh Leopards 20:00

From the Super Cup to the Super League, we now have another blockbuster battle a little closer to home, as high-flying Leeds Rhinos host playoff hopefuls Leigh Leopards in Round 23.

Leeds head into this one in fine form with just one loss in their last 11 matches and with standout victories among them, including wins over Hull KR, Warrington and last weekend's vital win over Wakefield.

Trinity were always going to be a tough test for Brad Arthurs men at Belle Vue on Friday, and that was shown when the home side went 16-0 up inside half an hour. That deficit was not to last, however, as Leeds conjured up a roaring comeback, scoring three tries in the second half to eventually win 24-22 and make the short trip across West Yorkshire with the spoils and a buffer at the top of the league.

Their gap to Wigan in second is just two points, but things could have been much more touchy if they had left Wakefield with nothing.
Hoping to knock them off their perch are Leigh Leopards, a side that has been performing well under the radar for a while now, with a good run of their own, having lost just once in their last seven matches.

They were only beaten by a Wigan side that looks to be storming into the top two but bounced back last weekend with a 22-14 win over league new boys York.

That win could prove to be vital as they gained more points on a struggling St Helens side that now sits well in seventh with a four-point buffer to the Leopards.

A win could result in an even better sitting in the top six; if other results go their way, they could end up in fourth, which would boost their confidence and chances of finishing in the playoffs. The world is good at this late stage of the season.

If the Rhinos are to win, they will be hoping it also creates a buffer for them over the chasing pack of Wigan, who are looking to get back to the top of English rugby league.

Date: 13/08/2026
Time: 20:00
Venue: Headingley Stadium, Leeds
The match will be shown on Sky Go.



Friday 14th August Betfred Super League: Hull FC v Castleford Tigers 20:00

Now to the bottom end of Super League, away from the promise of playoffs but still with pride on the line as two Yorkshire sides look to enter the final phase of the season on a high.

Hull FC are the worse off of the two sides, with 12 points and currently sitting just two places off the bottom in 12th.

They had been on a whopping seven-match losing run and had only won one of their last 11 before a matchup with St Helens brought them hope from the unlikeliest of places. Whilst Saints have not been in good form, they were expected to win against a Hull side in disarray and get closer to the top six.

Instead, the Black and Whites made the trip to Lancashire one to remember, as after a close first half in which scores were level 14-14, a flurry of tries in the opening 12 minutes of the second half saw them take the lead and win 32-18.

That victory will have given them confidence to face easier opposition in Castleford, who have had a very inconsistent 2026.

Despite statement wins over Leeds, St Helens and Wigan, they have struggled to put a string of performances together, which has led them to being towards the bottom and in 11th place with just seven wins from 22 matches.

Their last victory was that stellar performance against bitter rivals Leeds, but that was their only win in their last seven matches, and since then they have lost three on the spin.

All three have been by big scorelines too, none more than last weekend when they shipped 44 unanswered points to Hull KR. That match had to be played without head coach Ryan Carr, who has been stood down for ‘personal reasons’, with many fearing this could be the end of the Australians' tenure at Wheldon Road.

Despite a lack of results, many have praised Carr for his devotion to hard work and building up standings around the club.

As it looks as though Castleford enter another tumultuous period on and off the pitch, they will be hoping a victory could bring a slight ray of positivity, as much still hangs in the balance for Cas in terms of IMG grading for next year and how the club as a whole will progress going forward.

Date: 14/08/2026
Time: 20:00
Venue: MKM Stadium, Hull
The match will be shown on Sky Sports+ Sky Go