Impenetrable Iran set new World Cup qualifying record

Paulo Dybala to Paris Saint-Germain?

Dybala, previously linked to Manchester United, Tottenham and PSG, is reportedly facing an uncertain future in Turin.

Juventus could be prepared to exchange players with PSG.

TOP STORY – DYBALA OUT, ICARDI IN?

Juventus are considering a swap deal that would send Paulo Dybala to Paris Saint-Germain in exchange for Mauro Icardi, according to Calciomercato.

Dybala has struggled for form in 2020-21, while contract negotiations with Serie A champions Juve have so far proved fruitless.

Icardi was linked to Juve prior to joining Ligue 1 holders PSG permanently from Inter and the Argentina forward could swap clubs with Dybala.

ROUND-UP

 TodoFichajes says Arsenal are s…

Julian Nagelsmann knows Bayern Munich could slip up if they are not at full throttle when they face Stuttgart due to having one eye on a showdown with Paris Saint-Germain next week.

Borussia Dortmund can replace Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table if they avoid defeat against RB Leipzig on Friday.

Bayern will be looking for a 13th consecutive away victory over Stuttgart and go into Saturday s game on the back of a 3-0 win over third-placed Union Berlin.

The Bavarian giants will then take on PSG in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie next Wednesday and hold a 1-0 lead courtesy of Kingsley Coman s goal at the Parc des Princes.

Bayern head coach Nagelsmann says there is no chance the reigning champions will take Stuttgart lightly a…

Xavi scored a superb free-kick and set up the winner as Al Sadd overcame Pakhtakor 2-1 in the AFC Champions League to go top of Group D.

With Al Ahli having beaten 2018 runners up Persepolis 2-1 earlier on Monday, Al Sadd got off the mark nine minutes in when Xavi – who netted a double in a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture two weeks ago – curled in a sublime set-piece from 20 yards.

Pakhtakor restored parity through Egor Krimets close-range header, and that looked set to be enough for a point until Baghdad Bounedjah regained possession deep in the visitors half, exchanged a quick one-two with Xavi and picked out the bottom-right corner in the 87th minute.

In Abu Dhabi, Leonardo scored four as Al Wahda came from two goals down to beat Al Rayyan 4-3 in a thrilli…

Graham Potter knows Chelsea s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund can be a special night after they finally returned to winning ways.

The Blues will welcome the Bundesliga side to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for the second leg of their last-16 tie as they look to overturn a one-goal deficit.

Chelsea head into the match on the back of a first win in seven games after a 1-0 victory over Leeds United on Saturday, handing them a much-needed boost to their flagging season.

Potter, who has been in need of positive results to ease the pressure on his position, is looking forward to the chance to back it up with success in Europe.

I agree it s a big game, an exciting game, he said. [It is] a chance to go through to the last eight of the Champions League…

Danny Simpson hopes to persuade Leicester City team-mate Jamie Vardy to stay at the club, even if it is just for one more season.

England international Vardy scored 24 Premier League goals as Leicester won the 2015-16 title under manager Claudio Ranieri.

The forward has since been linked with a move to top-flight rivals Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger apparently ready to trigger a £20 million release clause in the player s contract.

Full-back Simpson revealed he s spoken to his club colleague with regards his future, although Vardy is not expected to make any announcement while away with the national team at Euro 2016.

I have spoken to Jamie. Everyone wants him to stay. We would like everyone to stay, even if it s just for one more year, Simpson t…

Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj have returned to training with Manchester United but remain doubtful for the trip to Stoke City.

Spaniard Herrera has been out of action since mid December through injury but is closing in on a return, while Januzaj is also back in action after illness.

Herrera trained today [Tuesday] for the first time with us but, yes, they don t have match rhythm, boss Louis van Gaal told a media conference.

Januzaj has also trained two training sessions with us, but he was ill and you have to recover from your illness, not from your tiredness.

Maybe it s worse to recover from illness.

The duo s return is a boost for United, who have been hit by absences in key positions in recent weeks.

However, when asked if …

Chris Hughton has been confirmed as the new Norwich City manager and says he intends to retain the services of club captain Grant Holt.

The 53-year-old has signed a contract with the club after a compensation package was agreed with Birmingham City, who he led to the Championship play-offs last season.

Hughton replaces Paul Lambert, who resigned from the Norwich post to take over the managerial reigns at Aston Villa.

At his unveiling on Thursday, Hughton said securing the services of club captain and top scorer Holt was his first priority.

Holt has signalled his intention to leave Carrow Road in the off-season.

To score the goals that he (Holt) did last season, I don t think there would be any manager coming in here who wouldn t want to keep a…

FA chief executive Brian Barwick believes he will leave English football in rude health after announcing he is set to step down at the end of the year.

Barwick, who appointed Fabio Capello as England coach, released a statement confirming his decision to quit after his country s 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic on Wednesday

It is believed Barwick s exit has come as a result of disagreements with FA chairman Lord Triesman on how the English game s governing body should be developed.

Barwick is said to have disagreed with Triesman over the FA s strategic policies and the appointment of key figures in the 2018 World Cup bid team.

Triesman, a former Government minister, appears to have won the dispute and is likely to take a more hands-on role at the …

Former Arsenal and Crystal Palace midfielder Mathieu Flamini has joined Getafe until the end of the season on a free transfer.

Flamini, 33, had been without a club since being released by Palace at the end of last season.

The Frenchman brings with him a wealth of experience, having enjoyed spells at Marseille and AC Milan, as well as two stints with Arsenal.

Getafe have been one of the surprise packages of the 2017-18 Liga season so far and sit ninth with 28 points, despite being one of the sides promoted to the top flight only last season.

OFICIAL | Mathieu Flamini nuevo futbolista azulon. ¡Bienvenido !

— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF)

Flamini will link up with former Arsenal team-mate Emiliano Martinez and fellow Frenchman Loic Remy at the…

Fiorentina

After finishing in eighth place last season, Fiorentina currently find themselves flirting with mid-table. Having beaten Bologna 2-1 away in their last outing, Stefano Pioli s side currently sit in 11th position and are hoping that a late push in the second half of the season could secure them a Europa League spot come May. Already chasing down a seven-point deficit on sixth place Sampdoria, Viola s win last weekend ended their five-match winless run. Only winning one of their last seven matchups against the defending champions, Pioli s Fiorentina side will be looking to shore up their defensive issues, they have now failed to keep a single clean sheet in their last seven matches.

Team News

Viola manager Stefano Pioli will be without Simone Lo Faso, who is out with…