5 Barcelona Players to Watch During November International Break

The dreaded international break is drawing near yet again, and that means fans will get plenty of chances to see their favorite players in action with their national teams. For fans of FC Barcelona, watching every player on international duty is nearly impossible, but each match will provide tons of excitement.

The Catalan giants will have more than a handful of players participating in the international break, including a few young stars on the rise. Fans would be wise to keep tabs on how the Blaugrana players perform here in November, so it is time to take a look at which players should have your attention.

In this article, we will take a look at the five Barcelona players that you must watch during the international break, as well as discuss why the break will be good for these stars.

As always, feel free to get involved in the discussion in the comment section below!

Marc Bartra

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Marc Bartra has arguably been Barcelona’s best center-back this season, but he has still had his moments of weakness. Fans have been calling for him to be handed more regular minutes, and it looks like Vicente del Bosque has been watching as he called up the young defender.

Bartra will take part in Spain’s matches against Belarus and Germany and will likely play a key role for La Roja. It is starting to seem very obvious that Bartra is being groomed for a regular role with the national team, but he has to earn it now.

If Bartra is going to be a star for Spain, and especially Barcelona, then he must step up when he is handed international chances. It is at times like this that Bartra must force his coaches to play him more.

It’s safe to say that the La Masia product has not played as much as he deserves. That being said, the chance to watch Bartra face off with Germany is just too good to pass up.

Jordi Alba

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Marc Bartra won’t be the only Barcelona defender leading the Spain back line during this international break. Teammate Jordi Alba will continue to hold his regular place at left-back and will be yet another important player to keep track of.

Alba’s season to this point has been filled with both joy and intrigue. While he has put in several very big performances this year, he has also had just as many questionable moments in the Catalan defense.

Alba has yet to fully gain Luis Enrique’s trust and is still fighting for his place in the squad, so to speak. He and Jeremy Mathieu are still fighting to be a regular starter, while Adriano is not far off the mark, either.

If the Catalan left-back wants to be an unquestioned starter under Enrique, he has to prove that he can consistently defend at a high level. His performances with Spain will give the coaches the most to think about, so Alba has to put his best step forward during this international break.

Sergi Samper

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Sergi Samper may not be competing with the Spanish National Team during this break, but he will be a part of the U-21 side that will be fielding several big names. Regardless, fans have to tune in to watch this starlet play.

There is no way to deny that Samper is an unbelievably talented player. He has the potential to go on to be one of the best midfielders to ever come out of La Masia, but for now he is still developing every single day.

Playing in international matches will give Samper even more chances to grow as a player and as a leader as he races toward a regular place in the Barcelona first team. He may be competing against weaker opposition with Spain’s U-21 side, but it is still a big difference from playing against second-division opponents.

It is only a matter of time before Samper is shining in the Barcelona midfield, but for now, fans can still watch him during this international break. Every time this kid plays, you just have to have your eyes glued to the screen—he’s that sensational.

Luis Suarez

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Luis Suarez’s ban is now a thing of the past, as the striker is finally seeing regular time alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. He has been absolutely stunning in the Blaugrana shirt thus far, and fans understandably cannot get enough of him.

Cules will have a great chance to watch him in action with Uruguay during this international break and would be wise to tune in for their newest striker.

Suarez has yet to find the back of the net for Barcelona, and playing with Uruguay could be just the thing he needs to get the fire back under his boots. All it takes is one big night in international play, and Suarez could be lighting up the Camp Nou with his first goals for the Catalan giants.

Either way, Suarez is one of the most exciting players on the planet, especially when he puts on the Uruguay shirt. Fans should be sure to take in his matches during the international break, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this as his launching point at club level, either.

Alen Halilovic

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Like Sergi Samper, Alen Halilovic is one of the very best young midfielders around. However, unlike his Barcelona B teammates, Halilovic won’t be competing with his country’s youth team. Instead, Croatia has called up the youngster to the official national team, and that means he will certainly see some big minutes.

Truthfully, Halilovic is far too good of a player to be competing for a youth team, including Barcelona’s second squad. Being called up to the Croatia National Team isn’t surprising in the least, but it does show just how talented he is at such a young age.

Halilovic will join teammates Ivan Rakitic during the international break, and fans will be hoping to see the two build a relationship on and off the pitch. Halilovic still has a lot to learn, and Rakitic may be the perfect mentor for him at this stage in his career.

The most exciting thing may be the fact that Croatia will be facing off with Argentina during the international break. Yes, that means fans may actually get to see Lionel Messi and Halilovic squaring off against each other this month.

There is no question about Halilovic’s future. He will be a Barcelona star in the next few years and may even be one of the faces of the Blaugrana squad. For now, the chance to watch him on international duty is as mouthwatering as his potential.

It is matches like these that could see Halilovic jump straight into the Barcelona first team, so do not be surprised if he puts on a masterful display for Croatia this month.