Sampaoli not to pair up Messi, Dybala against Peru

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli believes it will be too risky to partner Lionel Messi with Paulo Dybala in their two remaining World Cup qualifiers, reports Daily Mail.

The two-time World Cup winners, currently fifth in the CONMEBOL group, face a scramble to secure one of the three remaining automatic places for Russia next year.

Should they remain fifth following their final two matches against Peru on Thursday and away to Ecuador on Tuesday, Argentina will go into a two-legged play-off with New Zealand next month.

Juventus striker Dybala has previously admitted he finds it difficult playing alongside Barcelona star Messi because they both like to occupy similar positions.

And Sampaoli isn't about to pair them up with so much resting on the next two matches.

He said: 'As there is no time to work the Dybala-Messi relationship, we should go to something more concrete.

'I don't see as something bad what Dybala said. He said that he was happy to play with Messi, but he just did not find his place.