Hayq vs Olympia Yerevan - Cup

The history between Hayq and Olympia Yerevan lends this Cup fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on August 24, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

There is little to choose between Hayq and Olympia Yerevan on paper, and the Cup encounter should reflect that balance. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. Olympia Yerevan's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Carrick spoke to the media before his captain was seen limping, but did explain why he didn't take him off despite the commanding position his team were in.

Pressing intensity will define the contest. Hayq will seek to win the ball high up the pitch and suffocate Olympia Yerevan's build-up, while the visitors will aim to play through the pressure and exploit the spaces it leaves behind. Amad won possession in the PSG half before laying the ball off for Bryan Mbeumo to score.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. Arsenal have already seen one offer rejected and are expected to return with an improved proposal, while Villa continue trying to secure the England defender on a new contract.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. Whatever the outcome, the Cup fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Manchester City will begin another Premier League season with major uncertainty hanging over the club after league chief executive Richard Masters admitted the long-awaited verdict on their financial case has taken longer than expected.