5 Barcelona Players to Watch on International Duty Week of October 6
The always-looming international break will arrive this week, as players will leave their respective clubs and join together to compete for their countries. Many fans may not enjoy the break, as it can interfere with club form, but it is a part of football and has its own role to play.
For this break, 15 Barcelona players have been called away from the Camp Nou to play for their countries, meaning Cules will have plenty of chances to watch their favorite players in action.
In this article we will take a look at the five Barcelona players who you need to keep an eye on this week, while also discussing how the international break could help them at club level.
As always, feel free to get involved in the discussion in the comments section below and let us know which Blaugrana star you will be keeping an eye on!
Jeremy Mathieu
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Jeremy Mathieu has always been a great player, but it has taken him moving to Barcelona for the world to take notice. He may have only played in a handful of matches for the France national team to this point, but that is about to change.
This week les Bleus will be taking on Portugal in what promises to be an entertaining match. Mathieu will likely be in the starting lineup, and fans will have plenty of chances to watch him face the Portuguese attack.
With the current form of Mathieu, he should be a wall at the back for France. His ability to run down attackers and make incredible tackles gives him an advantage in any game, and France manager Didier Deschamps was right to finally call him up to the squad.
Many Blaugrana fans are still deciding what they think of Mathieu due to the fact that he has only been at the club for a few months. Regardless, his matches with France should be watched as they will give Cules the opportunity see more of what their new center-back can really do.
Ivan Rakitic
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Like Mathieu, Ivan Rakitic is still a relatively new face at the Camp Nou. However, unlike his French counterpart, Rakitic has been a focal point of his national team for quite some time now.
The 26-year-old will be leading Croatia as they take on Bulgaria later this week, though on paper the match doesn’t seem all that exciting. Yet, based on Rakitic’s recent form, it could be the perfect stage for the midfielder to put his passing ability on display.
His role at Barcelona is still being defined alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, but at Croatia he is the leader in the middle of the pitch. His ability to orchestrate play causes problems for opponents, and he certainly has talented teammates to give the ball to.
It will be interesting to see if Rakitic can continue his fine form during the international break. He will be playing in a system much more different from Barcelona, but fans should still be excited about watching their long-haired midfielder pull the strings against the likes of Bulgaria.
Munir El Haddadi
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Munir El Haddadi has already made his debut with the Spain national team, but it will be a while before he is a regular face in the squad. That being said, the 19-year-old is one of the focal points of Spain’s U21 squad, and that means fans will get to see plenty of him during this international break.
Barcelona fans are already all too familiar with the La Masia graduate. He rose through the youth ranks with a lot of hype and has lived up to all the plaudits thus far. His performances with the first team have already reaped a lot of praise, and he is sure to star during this week.
Munir’s ability to beat defenders and get into scoring chances is phenomenal, and his passing game is exceptional for a forward. It is only a matter of time before Vicente del Bosque starts turning to him more regularly, and that starts by showing what he can really do for the U21 side first.
Of course fans love Munir. He is a La Masia product with massive potential. Fans should take every chance they get to watch him play, especially in international competitions.
Luis Suarez
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Luis Suarez may not be able to compete in official international matches for the time being, but his ban does allow him to play in games such as friendlies. With that being the case, Barcelona fans will have the chance to watch their new striker in action for Uruguay during the international break when they take on Saudi Arabia.
Since the 27-year-old has not gotten the see a lot of the pitch recently, his time with Uruguay during the break will give fans a good measuring point of where he is right now.
Of course, fans will be hoping to see the Suarez that finished last season as one of the deadliest strikers in football—not someone who is out of shape and off his game. It would be wise to keep a close eye on the Uruguayan, and it's also a great time to get more familiar with the newest Blaugrana striker.
With Saudi Arabia being Uruguay’s opponents, Suarez won’t have competition too stiff; however, facing a relatively easy opponent may be exactly what he needs right now.
Lionel Messi vs. Neymar
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You were promised five players in this article, but we are giving you six. Watching Neymar and Lionel Messi during the international break is an absolute must, especially when they will be facing each other.
Argentina and Brazil will face off in Beijing, China, later this week in the Superclasico de las Americas in a match that will bring the football world to a halt. Whether you are a Barcelona fan or not, this is the type of match that you just can’t miss.
Not only are Argentina and Brazil facing off, which always promises entertainment, but also Messi and Neymar will be going head-to-head. With these two heavyweights headlining the match, there will be no disappointments.
If you are going to watch one international match during this break, it has to be the Superclasico in Beijing. No matter which side leaves the victor, the viewers will be the biggest winners of all.
Which Barcelona star are you most looking forward to watching during the international break? Leave your thoughts and comments below!
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