Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of Jan. 23-26
The weekend is fast approaching once more, and a whole host of matches at both club and country level await viewers' adoring and anxious gazes.
We've taken our usual look around the entire planet to pick out some of the most notable names from the must-watch games, selecting individuals for you to keep an eye on in particular between Friday and Monday as they try to lead their teams to victory.
As well as domestic leagues in France, Italy and Spain, we've also got cup action from England, the Eredivisie and two international tournaments for you to take in!
Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
1 of 10
Karim Benzema has a bit of a thankless task at times as Real Madrid's starting striker. He runs in the channels all day, creating space and playing the ball off to team-mates, but he certainly doesn't get as many shooting opportunities as others do.
Then again, as a £30 million-plus-rated striker, he should be making sure he takes his chances when they come along. Of late, he has not. Benzema's last league goal came all the way back in November last year, and while he does a great job for the team and links play well, he needs to end that run quickly.
Real face Cordoba in La Liga on Saturday, and it's a chance to hit the net against one of the relegation strugglers in the top flight—albeit one unbeaten in three games.
Lucas Moura, PSG
2 of 10
In France, Paris Saint-Germain are coming under intense pressure to improve results on a more consistent basis after dropping to third place in Ligue 1.
While they'll have an eye on catching the top two, Lyon and Marseille, their most pressing appointment is simply to beat another difficult opponent: fourth-placed Saint-Etienne, who can leapfrog PSG once more if they win at home.
Lucas Moura has been a man in form inside his own stadium, but he now needs to translate that end product to away matches to help his side back toward top spot.
Kevin Strootman, Roma
3 of 10
AS Roma's central midfielder Kevin Strootman is still working his way back to total sharpness after a long injury layoff, but already, the dynamic of the team has improved when he is on the pitch.
The Dutchman has the class and the technical ability to dictate a game and swing it in his team's favour. That's something Roma will need from him this weekend in particular as they travel to face Fiorentina, who are back on the rise after improving results of late.
It's not inconceivable that La Viola could be within touching distance of the top three if they win and results go their way, so a big performance from Roma is imperative; Strootman is key to that.
Davy Klaassen, Ajax
4 of 10
Over in the Eredivisie, two of the top three sides in the country will clash on Sunday morning as Ajax host Feyenoord, a battle of second against third.
Ajax, as hosts and league champions, will be the favourites to increase the gap between the two clubs, but they'll need to put in a strong performance. As with Strootman and Roma, midfielder Davy Klaassen is key to the tempo and the invention of the Ajax team through the centre of the pitch, with his driving runs and ability to find the back of the net.
Klaassen went on a run of six goals in seven games before the winter break; if his first of 2015 comes on Sunday, there will be big celebrations in the home end.
Callum Wilson, Bournemouth
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The English FA Cup has paired a few matches that could bring about an upset, with Sunday's Aston Villa versus AFC Bournemouth game looking like one of the most probable to produce one.
Villa cannot score or get a win in the Premier League, while the Cherries are flying at the top of the Championship, one point clear and the league's top scorers by far despite losing two of their last three games.
Attacker Callum Wilson has a dozen league goals to his name already and will hope to start showing he can do the business against top-flight sides, too, in anticipation of next term, if Bournemouth go on and achieve promotion. This is a very achievable place to start.
Mario Balotelli, Liverpool
6 of 10
Daniel Sturridge isn't quite ready to return, but Liverpool should welcome another senior striker back into their side for their FA Cup game at home to Bolton Wanderers—Mario Balotelli.
The Italian striker played in the third round at AFC Wimbledon, but his appearances have been fleeting and short-lived of late, with injury, loss of form and illness all playing a part in his non-selection.
With Sturridge soon to return and Raheem Sterling firing, as well as backup forwards Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert both scoring against Aston Villa last weekend, Balotelli faces a drop to last choice if he doesn't make an impact here.
Keisuke Honda, Japan
7 of 10
To international football now briefly, where, first of all, the Asian Cup has moved into the knockout stages.
Japan are one of the big favourites to lift the title in Australia after a largely impressive group showing which saw them win three out of three and top the group. Keisuke Honda scored three of their seven goals.
True, two were penalties, but he still did the job, and one sealed a narrow 1-0 win, making him their key man so far. He has the talent, and if he shows the application and the consistency, he can be the undoubted star of the entire tournament. Japan play United Arab Emirates on Friday in the quarter-finals.
Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast
8 of 10
The other international tournament taking place is the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which is still in the group stage. Intriguingly, each team in Group D drew their opening match.
Ivory Coast, one of the favourites heading into most AFCON tournaments, will be looking to their top players—including captain Yaya Toure—to lead them through the group stage and toward the knockouts. A better showing is required from all, though, if they are to improve on the 1-1 draw with Guinea.
Ivory Coast play Mali on Saturday and will be without suspended forward Gervinho, so Toure needs to come up with a big attacking performance of his own.
Alvaro Negredo, Valencia
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We'll finish up where we started: over in Spain and La Liga for our final two picks.
Our first player can affect the race for the top four when Valencia (fifth) play Sevilla (fourth) at the weekend, with Los Che looking to overhaul their opponents. Sevilla have a game in hand, so Valencia cannot really afford to lose the game.
Striker Alvaro Negredo can be forgiven for being caught up emotionally, having really made his name as a prolific forward with Sevilla. But he faced another former side last week, Almeria, and he scored a late winner. The same again here would be a massive boost for Valencia.
Aritz Aduriz, Athletic Bilbao
10 of 10
Aritz Aduriz is our final name, with the Athletic Bilbao striker really needing to dig deep and find a telling performance in front of goal to help his side arrest their desperate slump in form.
Four consecutive defeats is the worst current run in La Liga, and the Basque side have dropped to 13th place, only scoring two goals in that run and 15 in 19 games all season.
Athletic play Malaga this weekend, with the Andalusian side receiving several setbacks in their top-four chase of late, losing two of their last three and looking similarly blunt in attack. It could be a game of few clear chances, so Aduriz has to ensure it is he who takes them when they arrive at his feet...or, more probably, his head.
