10 Players to Watch in World Football on Weekend of November 28-30
December is fast approaching, with all that it brings in the world of football: The end of tournaments and competitions in some regions, a winter break in others and a hectic period of activity for many. Oh, and all the transfer gossip ahead of the January window, of course.
Before all that, though, we have one more fantastic round of drama in November to get through, with every major league still in action and plenty reaching a critical stage.
We've identified, as ever, our 10 key individuals to watch out for this weekend who could positively affect their teams' chances of victory, either in matches of importance, rival clashes or simply because they are in good form.
Radja Nainggolan, Roma
1 of 10
If you're watching out for Radja Nainggolan, it's pretty hard to miss him: He's the bleach-blonde mohican-haired bundle of energy blazing about the pitch in a Roma shirt.
AS Roma remain three points off the pace at the top of Serie A and, like their top-three rivals, face a potentially difficult weekend fixture. They take on Inter Milan at home, looking for a fourth win in five games to keep the pressure on Juventus.
Nainggolan has been impressive in a number of roles of late, either side in the attack, providing his endless runs down the channel and balls into the box for others to latch onto. His ability to break the lines could be key as Roma search for a win here.
Neymar, Barcelona
2 of 10
For several weeks at the start of the season, Neymar was a bit like Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring a goal or two each week, but not really performing to the best of his ability throughout games. He was effective, but not impressive.
Ronaldo, of course, has long since left that run behind and has brought all-round excellence to his game without stopping scoring; last weekend against Sevilla, Neymar did the same.
He was almost perfect, creating and scoring, working hard and showing great quality on the ball. Barcelona want the same from him every game. Of course, hitting the back of the net is vital for a forward, but Neymar is capable of much more than that. Against Valencia this weekend, another top-four opposition, that's his challenge. Be just as effective, but also bring his entire game to the plate.
Yann Sommer, Borussia Monchengladbach
3 of 10
Bayern Munich already look as if they'll cruise to another Bundesliga title, but behind them the tussle for second and third is shaping up extremely nicely.
This weekend, the teams occupying those two places—Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach—face off against each other, with just three points between them and both having suffered defeat last weekend.
'Gladbach have indeed lost their last two and will be looking to put an end to that run, with goalkeeper Yann Sommer critical to their hopes.
Other than Bayern, BMG have the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just nine in 12 games since Sommer replaced Marc-Andre ter Stegen over the summer. He has no clean sheet in three now, though, since that 0-0 draw with leaders Bayern, so he'll be anxious to help stop the mini-rot by getting back to that level.
Lucas Ocampos, Monaco
4 of 10
To France's Ligue 1 now where Monaco are in the midst of an impressive comeback and heading up the league table. Although they still aren't winning games with as much regularity as they'd like, it's just one defeat in 10 now for Leonardo Jardim's team, who sit eighth in the table and play Rennes, seventh, at the weekend.
A win will take them to within a single point of fourth-placed Nantes, who face leaders Marseille on Friday night—so momentum and consistency is critical here for Monaco.
Lucas Ocampos, with his ability to get into the penalty area and his good approach play, will be one of the key names for Monaco to try and eke out another vital three points.
Luuk De Jong, PSV
5 of 10
Two of the Netherlands' big three face off this weekend as PSV play host to Feyenoord, with seven points and three places separating them—PSV are the league leaders at present.
Luuk de Jong is their man in form having scored in his past three matches, with five league goals to his name so far this term. PSV have only lost twice in 13 this season and a convincing win over their big rivals here will further push their title credentials as they bid to end Ajax's recent dominance.
If De Jong can fire again, this time past the best defence in the league, PSV will be confident that they'll remain top after this weekend.
Joaozinho, Krasnodar
6 of 10
To the Russian Premier League next where one of the lesser heralded sides are making waves: Krasnodar are up to second place in the table having defeated reigning champions CSKA Moscow last time out.
They face a big test this weekend as they travel to Terek Grozny, not a side in fantastic form but still the only team to have beaten league leaders Zenit this season, which they did just two games back.
Krasnodar will be looking to their impressive Brazilian attacker Joaozinho to have an impact; he's their top league scorer with six goals and has also managed four assists—also a team high—along the way.
His final-third play is critical to the Byki and, after three games without a goal, they'll be hoping he returns to the scoresheet this weekend to keep them above the chasing pack.
Eduardo Herrera, Pumas UNAM
7 of 10
We'll briefly head outside of Europe now and firstly to Mexico, where the Liga MX has finished its Apertura regular stage and is into the playoffs. America topped the table after the opening 17 matches, meaning they played eighth-placed side Pumas UNAM in the quarterfinals.
Only one result would have been expected—but Pumas shocked onlookers by recording a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Eduardo Herrera, his ninth of the campaign.
The second leg takes place on Saturday, with America at home, and Pumas will likely need further heroics from their top scorer if they are to complete what would be a massive upset.
Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders
8 of 10
To another league in the playoff stage now and MLS, where the Conference final second legs are due to take place over the weekend.
In the Western Conference side of things, LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders are due to face off for the fourth time in a matter of weeks; the last two games of the regular season ended with a draw and a Sounders win, but the first leg of the Conference final saw Galaxy take a 1-0 victory.
Seattle are at home for the second leg, where they won 12 out of 17 during the regular season, and they'll be desperate to overcome their rivals and make the MLS Cup final, where they will face New England Revolution unless New York Red Bulls pull off a surprise comeback.
In the biggest of games, the biggest of players tend to come to the fore—Sounders will be looking at Clint Dempsey, a man of great experience, ability and consistency, to pull out all the stops and ensure it is they who go through for a shot at taking the title for the first time ever.
Ignacio Camacho, Malaga
9 of 10
Back to Europe now and we'll finish up with games and players from two of the very biggest leagues, starting in La Liga. Real Madrid, table-toppers and with 15 wins in a row, travel to Malaga at the weekend, who are themselves hoping to re-enter Europe this season.
It can be expected that Real will dominate and have plenty of chances, so Malaga's key defensive men will have to be at their best to stop them—and there are few around at present better than their holding midfielder, Ignacio Camacho.
The tough-tackling central player will break up attacks, try to stop Real playing freely and will protect his defence by whatever means necessary to keep Ronaldo and Co. at bay.
He has been playing so well of late that he's earned a call-up to the Spanish national team; all that confidence and consistency will be required at the weekend if he's to have such an impact that Madrid's winning run comes to an end.
Sergio Romero, Sampdoria
10 of 10
And finally to Serie A, where another of the weekend's biggest fixtures sees fourth host third on Monday night: Sampdoria vs. Napoli.
Samp have the third-best defensive record in the league and had third place to themselves before Napoli's recent surge back up the table. This battle will be extremely intriguing to see whether the home side have it in them to realistically challenge for a Champions League place over the course of the season.
Napoli are in form and have second-top scorer Jose Callejon in their ranks, though, so expect the home team to come under pressure.
Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero hasn't kept a clean sheet in three league games, despite the low "goals conceded" column, so he'll want to be in top form to keep Napoli out this week and help his side stay within touching distance of the top three.
