10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of January 2-5
After a couple of weeks of focusing on the Premier League as other top flights enjoy a winter break, more of Europe's top sides and players join in the fun again this weekend as leagues and cups return over the mainland.
We start our list of players to watch with a fallen hero returning to his first club in Spain, with French and English cup ties included and plenty in between.
Here are our 10 players to watch this weekend, covering Friday night to Monday night matches.
Fernando Torres, Atletico Madrid
1 of 10
Fernando Torres has had a thoroughly unsuccessful stint in Italy with AC Milan, but despite making that move permanent, he is straight back "home" to Atletico Madrid for the rest of the season on loan.
The striker hasn't found form or consistency over the past few years and, in truth, it's hard to see how he can be of any value to a tremendous Atleti side at all—unless it's simply by way of comparison to Alessio Cerci, who has gone in the opposite direction.
Impact sub, lift for the crowd, emotional hope...all these might apply, but none might work unless Diego Simeone can sprinkle some magic on Torres.
Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
2 of 10
The FA Cup third round means top-flight sides join the action in England, with Premier League teams Leicester City and Newcastle United set to meet on Saturday.
Bottom of the table they might be, but Leicester are unbeaten in their last two and Newcastle are more or less without a manager; it might be the perfect chance for an unexpected victory for the Foxes. If that's to happen, key attacker Riyad Mahrez will be their best hope.
His skill and pace at running in off the left flank can trouble any defence, and he has end product, too.
Semih Senturk, Istanbul Basaksehir
3 of 10
Over in Turkey, the final matches before the winter break are coming up over the next few days, with two particularly intriguing ties to look at.
Firstly, Fenerbahce play fourth-placed Istanbul Basaksehir, who have lost just twice this season.
Veteran midfielder Semih Senturk has shown his enduring qualities this term and is a vital part of the team's success with his goals from deep. If the away side can take points off Fenerbahce, who are currently second, they will start to be seen much more seriously as a potential European challenger.
Diego Alves, Valencia
4 of 10
La Liga returns with one key clash in particular at the weekend: Valencia vs. Real Madrid.
Valencia, under Nuno, can be stodgy and overly defensive at times, but they have an in-form centre-back in Nicolas Otamendi and a terrific goalkeeper in Diego Alves to make it work. Alves kept two clean sheets in his last two games before the winter break; if he can continue that mini streak, it would bring an end to Real's long winning run.
With four teams all vying for fourth place, every point is vital.
Thierry Ambrose, Manchester City
5 of 10
Back to the FA Cup third round, where Manchester City play at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
With City not having many fit strikers to choose from at present and playing a lower-league side, it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce a younger player to get a chance, with Thierry Ambrose certainly a contender having been part of Premier League squads recently.
Highly rated and capable of scoring plenty of goals, City would love one of their academy graduates to make their mark on the first team.
Demba Ba, Besiktas
6 of 10
Back to Turkey and the other big match in the Super Lig sees first vs. third, Besiktas vs. Galatasaray.
Demba Ba has been in excellent form for the league leaders, hitting eight goals so far this term to be the league's fourth-highest scorer at present. Besiktas have scored the third-most goals in the top flight and hold the second-best defensive record.
A Ba goal could give his side a win in this game and leave them six points clear of the opposition.
Edinson Cavani, PSG
7 of 10
With Edinson Cavani missing PSG's preseason training and being linked with a move away, per the Express, it remains to be seen whether he features for his club as they resume after the winter break.
The Parisian club face Montpellier in the big clash of the Coupe de France on Monday night, the same club who knocked them out last season at the round of 32 stage—with Cavani on the scoresheet in that game.
The Uruguayan has only scored once in his last five games.
Danny Ings, Burnley
8 of 10
FA Cup time again—if you're looking for an upset, then Monday night has two potential games to take in.
The first is Burnley vs. Tottenham Hotspur; struggling in the Premier League, Burnley's home crowd and the possibility of changed sides could easily see them overcome Spurs, who are still struggling for consistency and a strongest XI.
Danny Ings will be central to Burnley's fortunes, with the forward really showcasing his ability in front of goal of late, scoring again at Newcastle United on New Year's Day.
Adebayo Akinfenwa, AFC Wimbledon
9 of 10
The other Monday night FA Cup game sees AFC Wimbledon, of League Two, face Liverpool, of the Premier League.
The uber-powerful home forward Adebayo Akinfenwa has something of a cult status in the English game due to his size and strength; he'll be relishing going into battle against the likes of Kolo Toure or Martin Skrtel, especially with Liverpool's tendencies toward defensive inefficiency this term.
Akinfenwa has eight league goals this term.
Manolo Gabbiadini, Sampdoria
10 of 10
Our final Monday night selection sees the restart of Serie A in Italy, with Lazio hosting Sampdoria as the battle for third place hots up.
Both teams are level on points, along with Napoli, so any victory here gives a big confidence boost going into the second half of the campaign. Manolo Gabbiadini has been in fine scoring form for Sampdoria, hitting goals in his last four matches before the winter break.
Picking up where he left off is the surest path to sending his team toward victory in the crunch clash.
