10 Players to Watch in World Football for Weekend of January 10-12
We're approaching the end of another week, which means we're looking forward to the holy days of the world of football, when batches of matches await: the weekend.
As usual, we've taken a look around the footballing globe to pick out some critical matches and identify the key individuals to watch out for in those battles. These players have perhaps been in great form, stand in the way of top players, need to raise their game or have been otherwise newsworthy of late.
We kick off in Spain but take in much of Europe and look toward the Liga MX, which opens its Clausura stage this weekend.
Lionel Messi, Barcelona
1 of 10
First and foremost, we usually opt not to put Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo into our Players to Watch series because, well, they always bear watching—that's why they're the best on the planet.
This time is different, though. Barcelona lost last time out, and the top of the table in Spain is very tight; just one point separates the top three, and second will play third when Messi's Barca face Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Lionel Messi was left on the bench for the loss to Real Sociedad, didn't have much impact after coming on at half-time and has since been the subject of media speculation about a potential transfer, falling out with his manager and everything in between, per the Mirror. He needs to be in the team, he needs to put in a big performance for his club and he needs to show he can still push his side to victory in a key clash.
Gabi, Atletico Madrid
2 of 10
On the flip side of that coin, Atletico Madrid were the only top-three team to win at the weekend, thus closing the gap, and they also beat Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
They are in form, confident, full of self-belief and on a real high at the moment as they look to retain the title. Away to Barcelona is a huge game, and they won't hesitate for a second in ceding possession to the home side, keeping their shape and working hard before looking to break on the counter or make a set piece count.
Key to everything in their game plan is captain and central midfielder Gabi, who looks back to his best. He is aggressive, full of running, makes challenges and can create at the other end. If he puts in a top performance, he could overshadow an out-of-sorts Barcelona midfield.
Eden Hazard, Chelsea
3 of 10
To the Premier League now, where Chelsea will look to end a run of two league games without a win when they host Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Blues are still top of most standings, whether by alphabetical order or because they were already there, but they're exactly joint-top with Manchester City—the points and goals lead they had established have been wiped out in the past few weeks.
One man who kept his brilliant levels up in the defeat to Spurs last time out is Eden Hazard, the tricky Belgian wide forward who can create and score goals out of nothing, even when Chelsea don't look like breaking down an opponent. It's tough to judge whether managerless Newcastle United will be easy pickings or stubborn opposition at this point, but Hazard can bounce through them either way.
Phil Jagielka, Everton
4 of 10
Chelsea are joint-top with Manchester City, who face Everton at the weekend.
Everton have been in free fall of late, losing four on the bounce in the league. With high-flying opposition next up, this weekend isn't shaping up to make things easier for them. A fifth consecutive loss could mean they are sucked right into a relegation battle; with six of the teams below or directly above the Toffees playing each other at the same time, points will be picked up and ground will be gained.
Expect the Everton defence to come under plenty of pressure from City, even without their main strikers, so Phil Jagielka needs to raise his game significantly to help his team put an end to this tough run. He's been hampered by form and fitness, but this is when he needs to get back to his best.
Gonzalo Higuain, Napoli
5 of 10
To Italy now, where Serie A resumed in midweek with some interesting results. One of those was a 4-1 away win for Napoli at Cesena, which propelled them back into joint-third place ahead of their weekend home match against league-leading Juventus.
Most will expect Juve to overturn the Naples club, but with Gonzalo Higuain back in goalscoring form, Napoli will think they have a decent chance—even if it is mainly on the counter-attack.
The Argentinian will be key to the home team's hopes of getting a result, which might just prolong the inevitable of the top two running away with the race again. A defeat for Napoli means Juve will move 13 points ahead of the Partenopei.
Alexandre Lacazette, Lyon
6 of 10
France and Ligue 1 starts up again this weekend, and there's really just one man we want to see first up to see if he can keep up his incredible run from the first half of the season: Olympique Lyonnais striker Alexandre Lacazette.
The young French forward hit 17 goals in the first half of the campaign and is comfortably clear at the top of the scoring charts, but he will now face the additional pressures of both expectancy and leading his team's title charge.
Consistency is his absolute aim now, and the first match for that is against Toulouse on Sunday.
Fredy Montero, Sporting
7 of 10
Over to Portugal, where the Primeira Liga resumed last weekend. This time around, we have our first notable clash of 2015, featuring the teams toward the top of the table.
Sporting Braga host Sporting Lisbon on Sunday night's match between fifth and fourth, with the away side in particular hoping to close the gap to the top two after a very inconsistent first half of the campaign.
Fredy Montero hasn't always been selected to start this term but has had a good impact when given minutes, and it is he who has the predatory instincts that can fire his side further up the table. Even a half-hour appearance in this game could see him deliver the points.
Oribe Peralta, America
8 of 10
Outside of Europe briefly to Mexico, where the Liga MX starts up its Clausura stage this weekend.
Club America won the Apertura after a bitterly contested final against Tigres UANL, which saw four players sent off in the second leg. They will be looking to show they can continue that success after the departure of manager Antonio Mohamed and the appointment of Gustavo Matosas.
Experienced striker Oribe Peralta, who scored in the final, will be looking to continue leading the line and firing his side toward victory, starting at home to Leon.
Saido Berahino, West Brom
9 of 10
West Bromwich Albion appointed Tony Pulis as their new manager in a bid to survive relegation, and his first task in the league is to play rivals Hull City, a team one point and two places above them in the table.
Saido Berahino has been the Baggies' big weapon this season, and Pulis will be looking to get the best out of him. The young striker has had a big week, during which he scored four goals against Gateshead in the FA Cup without celebrating, was linked with a £20 million move and charged with drink driving, per the BBC.
It's back to business on Saturday, and he needs to continue showing improvement, maturity and consistency in the league. A goal or two against drop-zone rivals is the best way to do that.
Denis Cheryshev, Villarreal
10 of 10
We finish up where we started, in La Liga in Spain, where a massive top-four challenge match will take place when Malaga host Villarreal on Saturday. The two sides are seventh and sixth respectively, with Sevilla and Valencia just ahead of them in the race for fourth place and a Champions League spot.
Malaga lost last time out and are likely to be missing midfield enforcer Ignacio Camacho again, which means gaps could be there for the away side to exploit. If so, Denis Cheryshev, the electric left winger, will be the man to watch streaking into them, taking players on for fun, getting shots away from improbable angles and laying chances on for Luciano Vietto and Co.
Cheryshev makes mistakes with his decisions in the final third at times, but he has the athleticism and direct running ability to win games too.
