^ ^ PSG’s special request ‘agreed’ to secure huge Champions League advantage over Chelsea

PSG could have a week off in between their two games against Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Paris Saint-Germain have asked for their Ligue 1 match before their Champions League clash with Chelsea to be moved, a development that would hand the French side a huge advantage.

The defending European champions progressed into the knockout phase of the Champions League this week after narrowly seeing off Monaco in a play-off.

Friday’s draw fed them into a round of 16 tie with Chelsea – a repeat of last summer’s Club World Cup final in New Jersey where the Blues sealed a thrilling 3-0 victory where Cole Palmer ran the show.

PSG will host the first leg of the tie at Parc des Princes on Wednesday 11 March with the second leg to follow six days later on Tuesday 17 March.

The French champions are scheduled to face Nantes on the weekend between those two legs.

PSG have now made a special request for that game to be moved to a later date to ensure Luis Enrique’s side are in the best possible condition for the pivotal second leg at Stamford Bridge.  

A statement from the LFP confirmed PSG’s request, also confirming Nantes have already agreed to the fixture being postponed.

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Tempers flared when the two sides met in the summer (Picture: Getty)

‘In order to best prepare for its two Champions League matches against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain has approached the LFP Board of Directors, with the agreement of FC Nantes, to request that the match be played the week of April 20, 2026,’ the statement said.

‘The decision of the LFP Board of Directors will be announced as soon as possible.’

If approved by the league, PSG will have a huge advantage over Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Nantes and PSG found themselves in an identical position last season with their league match falling between the Champions League quarter-final clash between the French club and Aston Villa.

PSG led 3-1 for the first leg and had a full six days off to recover for the second led at Villa Park where they won 3-2.

Chelsea are unlikely to be given any similar favours from the Premier League.

In between their two games against PSG, the Blues will host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 14 March in what is expected to be a pivotal game for Liam Rosenior’s side in the race for a top five finish.

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^ ^ Ray Parlour predicts Mikel Arteta won’t start ‘different class’ Arsenal star against Chelsea

Arteta has a big decision to make in midfield this weekend (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes Eberechi Eze will get the nod again this weekend against Chelsea ahead of club captain Martin Odegaard.

Eze, a £60million signing from Crystal Palace last summer, scored twice against Tottenham in last Sunday’s derby as the Gunners inflicted more misery on their neighbours. Having scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in November, five of his seven goals for Arsenal have come against their arch-rivals.

But there was a worrying lull for the England international between those two north London derbies. Eze was hauled off at half-time against Aston Villa in December and would start just two of his side’s next league 11 matches – failing to make it beyond the hour mark on both those occasions.

Eze started ahead of Odegaard at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the captain back on the bench after a recent knock that ruled him out of the last two games.

The Norway international has picked up various injury issues this season that have contributed to his influence on the side waning – even prompting suggestions his days at the club could be numbered.  

Mikel Arteta’s biggest dilemma ahead of the visit of Chelsea is perhaps who starts alongside Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice in midfield.

Former Gunners star Parlour, who won three Premier League titles with the club, was impressed with Eze’s reaction to falling out of favour and believes Arteta will stick with the player who delivered last time out.

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Eze tormented Spurs again on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

‘Odegaard has gone through a tough time this season with a few injuries. But he really has that quality in those little areas of the pitch he can get out of trouble,’ Parlour told Metro via BetMGM

‘On his day he is different class. But Eze has bided his time. It’s disappointing when you don’t play but you have to keep working hard an show desire in training and showing the right attitude. It’s easy to come in and start sulking.

‘He didn’t play for quite a while but it is all about attitude beyond that. Being in training first, being ready to go. That’s what I would I have done and managers notice that.

He got his opportunity again against Spurs and scored two good goals. But now he has to get his head down.

Odegaard returned from injury last week (Picture: Getty)

‘I don’t know what the team is going to be at the weekend because we know Chelsea are very strong in midfield. Palmer, Caicedo and Fernandez are all very good players. We know Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice will play.

‘I think Eze will probably start. But Arteta will have been assessing things in training this week. And you can’t rest players when you are going for the title, you need your best team.

‘But momentum is so important when you are winning. He will assess that but I think Eze might keep his place.’

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^ ^ Marcel Desailly recommends Chelsea sign ‘very smart’ former Liverpool star

Desailly is a huge admirer of the Uruguay international (Picture: Getty Images)

Marcel Desailly has ‘recommended’ his old club Chelsea make a shock move to sign former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.

The Blues made major changes up top last summer with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap joining the club with Nicolas Jackson leaving to join Bayern Munich on loan.

Former Brighton star Pedro has been a hit in west London with 14 goals this season less prolific, registering two in 25 appearances.

While Jackson could still have a future at Stamford Bridge and with Emanuel Emegha set to arrive in the summer, Chelsea could still be in the market for another striker.

Nunez left Merseyside last summer, joining Al-Hilal for £46million where he has scored nine times in 24 appearances for the Saudi side.

But huge doubts over his future have emerged following Karim Benzema’s arrival at the club from rivals Al-Ittihad.

Saudi teams are only allowed to register eight foreign players born before 2023 in their 25-man squads with Nunez making way for the veteran Frenchman.

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Nunez’s future in Saudi now looks bleak (Picture: Getty Images)

Nunez is still eligible for AFC Champions League matches but will have no role to play in the rest of the Saudi Pro League campaign.

Reports have suggested the Uruguay international is now keen on a return to Europe with Tottenham credited with interest.

But Chelsea great Desailly says he would love to see his old side sign the 26-year-old, also suggesting Michael Carrick’s improving Manchester United side would suit him.

‘I’m pleased to see him wanting to come back to European football – it shows money isn’t everything,’ Desailly told Footitalia.

‘A club like Chelsea, or the new Manchester United, would be best for him. He needs to be surrounded by established, confident players who know they’re going to play every weekend and who will give him the ball on the first intention.

Nunez left Liverpool last summer (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s the small detail – when he makes a run, he needs to get the ball immediately. Otherwise he loses confidence quickly.’

Desailly is convinced Nunez still has plenty to offer in the Premier League, even comparing his early struggles to those of legends Dennis Bergkamp and Roberto Carlos.

‘I would actually recommend Núñez for Chelsea. He’s a very good player, a smart player – he just needs the right environment to perform,’ Desailly said.

‘When Liverpool identified his potential they knew what they had statistically. But when you start on a bad note, the confidence disappears and the consideration from those around you follows.

‘It’s like Dennis Bergkamp going to Inter Milan – things went completely wrong. Or Roberto Carlos in his early days, shooting the ball into the stands. The confidence wasn’t there.

‘That’s what happened to Núñez at Liverpool. But the quality is still there.’

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^ ^ Unai Emery makes concerning Man Utd claim after Aston Villa defeat at Wolves

Emery saw his side fall to a miserable defeat on Friday night (Picture: Getty)

Unai Emery has admitted Aston Villa are now in a fight to remain in the top five ahead of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool after their woeful defeat to Wolves.

Villa fell to a 2-0 defeat at Molineux on Friday night with the manager storming down the tunnel before the final whistle after Rodrigo Gomes sealed all three points for the hosts deep in injury time.

They have now won just three of their last 10 Premier League games and while they are clinging onto third place, hopes of a title shot have faded.

On 3 January, they were Arsenal’s nearest rivals at the top, sat in second place just six points behind the Gunners. The gap is now 10 points with Villa now looking over their shoulder at the teams behind them.

United can leapfrog them into third this weekend if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday while Chelsea and Liverpool head into their weekend fixtures just six points behind.

Speaking after the game, Emery admitted Villa have been dragged into a battle for a top five finish and Champions League qualification.

‘We are losing the opportunity to win the title in the Premier League, two months ago we were competing with Arsenal and Manchester City, you were asking me about it,’ Emery said.

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United building serious momentum under Carrick (Picture: Getty)

‘Someone, even myself, may say “maybe we can”. Some supporters, maybe they were dreaming it. Now we are not with the possibility to fight for the Premier League, some can feel frustrated, even myself because I have my dreams.

‘In September I was worried and the objective was to stay in the Premier League. In December I was so happy and excited to get the top-five position and achieve the Champions League.

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Man United will finish THIRD this season! 😳 Manchester United are the only Premier League side unbeaten in 2026, and now sit three points clear of both Chelsea and Liverpool. So the big question is: can they finish above them, and even push for third place? #manchesterunited #footballnews #cheslea #liverpool #premierleague

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‘One month ago I was dreaming about maybe winning the Premier League. Now we are in the average to be in the top five.

‘Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, they are trying to get to us, for them it is a priority to get into the Champions League.’

Villa’s situation could get worse with their next two games against the sides breathing down their necks.

They host Chelsea next Wednesday before a trip to Manchester United on 15 March. Villa also have tricky Europa League games against French side Lille either side of that game at Old Trafford.

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