10 Players to Watch in World Football for the Weekend of September 19-21
After an intense and exciting midweek of football action from the UEFA Champions League and the like, weekend action is quickly coming around once more, bringing with it a host of intriguing games.
As usual, we've taken a look across the entire footballing world for you to pick out 10 of the most key names who could affect important match outcomes, one way or another.
We start in Europe with the top leagues in the world, but also take in South America, MLS and some European leagues you might not normally watch.
Here's our list. Feel free to add your own suggestions as ever.
Danny Welbeck, Arsenal
1 of 10
Arsenal's new starting striker impressed on international duty but hasn't hit the ground running with his new club. He still has a certain amount to prove to show he can cut it as a leading No. 9—mainly with his finishing.
There is no doubt Welbeck is a good forward, with plenty of traits and the quality to be a top-four starter...but he seems more suited to being in a pair of forwards.
At Arsenal, he must lead the line alone and create as well as score. He faces Aston Villa at the weekend, sitting second in the league with just one goal conceded this season so far.
Paul Pogba, Juventus
2 of 10
One of the biggest-name clashes of the weekend comes in Serie A, where giants AC Milan and Juventus will clash.
Both with new managers and both having won two from two at the beginning of this season, there will be plenty of interest and edge to the match—especially with Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri having been sacked by Milan last season.
The key to the game will be the ability of each side to take control of midfield and have willing runners to support the attack in what could be a cagey game, with neither club wanting to lose. Paul Pogba's athleticism and ability will be key in seeing Juve take charge as the better team.
Iker Casillas, Real Madrid
3 of 10
Never does a week go by without Real Madrid and some of their players being in the spotlight, and for some time now, it has been captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Having played as the first choice this season, he still doesn't have his top form back—and plenty of fans are getting frustrated.
Real Madrid play away to Deportivo La Coruna this weekend in La Liga, and after a somewhat poor start to the campaign, nothing less than a win will do. Casillas needs to play his part in that as the leader and the last line of defence.
Jordan Henderson, Liverpool
4 of 10
Having been named as the new club vice-captain, Jordan Henderson showed his worth to Liverpool with a good all-round display in their Champions League return in midweek.
Now a new challenge arises for the Reds: coping with two games a week and maintaining the ability to compete on all fronts, changing the squad as needed but keeping the most important parts of the side together as much as possible.
Away to West Ham United, never an easy trip, Henderson will be key to a Liverpool side not yet at their best this season in making sure they do not get overrun in midfield and, more than that, can be effective in trying to take the three points.
Alexandre Pato, Sao Paulo
5 of 10
Over to Brazil now and forward Alexandre Pato has been in better goalscoring form this season, notching eight goals for Sao Paulo—not an enormous total after 22 league games but fairly high in a low-scoring league. The total places him joint-fourth in the scorers list, just three behind the leader.
Sao Paulo play away to Corinthians in a game which sees not just two of the most historic names in Brazil clash, but also two of the top four in this season's Serie A.
Pato and his second-placed side trail leaders Cruzeiro by seven points and can ill afford another slip, while Corinthians are fourth, two points behind third but with a game in hand. Third place brings an automatic Copa Libertadores qualifying berth. A huge game, with much at stake.
Nemanja Matic, Chelsea
6 of 10
Manchester City vs. Chelsea is the Premier League game of the weekend, with both sides expected to challenge heavily for the title this term and indeed being many viewers' tip for places one and two come the end of the campaign.
A big match needs big players to help win it, and Chelsea's midfield right now looks hugely impressive. Nemanja Matic is key to it all, anchoring the back line and providing defensive cover, but he is also a ball-winner, a distributor and someone who can occasionally break the opposition lines with surprising surges forward.
If he plays at the top of his game, Chelsea can win the battle in the middle. If they do that, they could take three points with the players they have in attack.
Javier Pastore, PSG
7 of 10
PSG haven't started the new Ligue 1 season taking as many victories as they would have no doubt liked, but Javier Pastore's form has been very impressive regardless.
The attacking midfielder has been key to their offensive ability, raking up more than two chances created each game so far, per Whoscored.com, and showing the sort of form which saw him earmarked as such an important signing for them at the time.
PSG play Lyon this weekend, who beat Monaco last time out.
Karim Bellarabi, Bayer Leverkusen
8 of 10
Bayer Leverkusen have started the new season in tremendous form, winning two of their opening three games and scoring plenty of goals.
Key to that attacking threat has been Karim Bellarabi. The 24-year-old is heavily involved in their final-third play, getting shots away with regularity and using his dribbling speed and ability to trouble the opposition.
B04 are away to Wolfsburg this weekend and will need more of the same from the wide forward to maintain their good start.
Chad Marshall, Seattle Sounders
9 of 10
Crossing back to the Americas to finish up, Sunday sees a big game in MLS as the New York Red Bulls host the Seattle Sounders.
In the normal course of events, the Western Conference leaders might be expected to add to their 17 matches won this season, but they are up against a Red Bulls attack featuring an in-form Thierry Henry and MLS top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has 21 goals this year.
In charge of stopping them will be Chad Marshall, the Sounders' central defender who has impressed this term with his consistency. But the same and more will be needed to keep the home attack quiet.
Teo Gutierrez, River Plate
10 of 10
Finally, Argentina's Primera Division is shaping up nicely, with River Plate top with a game in hand after taking five wins from six so far.
They face Independiente at the weekend, third place with five wins from seven—just a point behind the leaders.
Colombian striker Teo Gutierrez has hit the ground running with six goals already for River, firing the free-scoring side to the top of the table. If he can add to that tally at the weekend, plenty of people will already be expecting River to continue with the consistency, which saw them win the Torneo final and the Championship last term.
