5 PSG Players to Watch During November International Break

Paris Saint-Germain have 12 players who have reported for senior international duty ahead of this latest set of international fixtures.

After an excellent run of six wins from six games in all competitions, the French champions are now just one point behind Le Championnat leaders Olympique de Marseille. Laurent Blanc’s men have also managed to progress to the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League already.

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4 - @PSG_inside have remained unbeaten after 13 L1 games 4 times (85/86, 96/97, 13/14 & 14/15), twice more than any other team. Supremacy.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 10, 2014"

Despite the likes of Lucas Moura and Blaise Matuidi having to withdraw from their call-ups because of injury, Les Parisiens still have plenty of representation worldwide on the coming international games.

Here are five PSG players to keep an eye on during this November’s international break.

5. Marco Verratti: Italy

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Despite missing the 1-0 win over APOEL at the Parc des Princes last week, Marco Verratti was back in the PSG starting XI for Le Classique against bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille. The 22-year-old played 66 minutes of the 2-0 victory before making way for Yohan Cabaye, and the diminutive midfielder took the opportunity to demonstrate his precocious talent with some daredevil dribbling.

Verratti is getting better and better this season and has been one of Les Parisiens’ standout performers so far this term. The pint-sized Azzurri star will be hoping to impress in the 2016 UEFA European Championship qualifier against Croatia and the following friendly against Albania.

4. Javier Pastore: Argentina

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Like Verratti, Javier Pastore has also been one of PSG’s best performers so far this season. In fact, El Flaco’s form has been so good that he has managed to play his way back into the Argentine international setup under new coach Gerardo Martino.

Pastore’s international recall is no less than deserved, but the talented playmaker needs to maintain his current form at club level if he is to continue to feature for La Albiceleste. Now that he is back to something approaching his best form, he needs to start adding a few goals and assists to his impressive domestic and European performances for Les Parisiens.

3. Edinson Cavani: Uruguay

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In many ways, this latest international break has come at a bad time for PSG’s Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan has been in excellent goal-scoring form, finding the net in each of his last five appearances in all competitions to create his best run of form since arriving in Paris.

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5 - @ECavaniOfficial has scored in his last five competitive games for @PSG_inside, his best streak with his new club. Matador.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 9, 2014"

El Matador has finally learned how to step up and replace strike partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic and has managed to turn around an avalanche of criticism that culminated in him sitting out Uruguay’s last two friendlies. Cavani will not have wanted that spell of form to end.

The 27-year-old does have the chance to re-establish himself in La Celeste’s starting XI and will be keen to keep up his impressive recent strike rate. However, he knows that he faces a battle once he returns to France with Ibrahimovic back to full fitness and eager to dominate once again.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Sweden

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The super Swede himself should be in action over the coming fortnight, with Erik Hamren’s side facing a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Montenegro before travelling to France for a friendly against Les Bleus in Marseille.

The latter is a fixture that was custom-designed to celebrate the PSG No. 10, but his recent heel injury might prevent him from featuring heavily in both games. With Sweden’s clash of greater importance, the French public might only get the most fleeting glimpse of Zlatan at the Stade Velodrome.

1. Thiago Silva: Brazil

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Arguably the most interesting storyline out of all of PSG’s November internationals is Thiago Silva’s return to action with Brazil. The French champions’ captain will feature for the first time under new coach Dunga and may still be licking his wounds after the 51-year-old elected to hand the captaincy to Neymar following the FIFA World Cup disappointment on home soil.

Silva is back to full fitness and has had an immediate impact on the PSG back line, helping to keep four clean sheets in five matches across all competitions. The 30-year-old will be motivated to prove Dunga wrong by continuing to perform well alongside club teammate David Luiz at the heart of the Selecao’s defence.