10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of Feb. 6-8
Another weekend of big matches in the world of football is quickly rolling around, with huge derbies to watch out for in more than one top nation.
We've trawled through all the biggest upcoming games and identified 10 players who are worth watching in the next few days, either because they can affect their respective matches in a big way, have been in the news of late or for any other reason that makes them noteworthy.
Here are our 10 selections; feel free to leave your own additions below.
Alex, AC Milan
1 of 10
AC Milan's poor season won't get a lot better this weekend unless they can pull out a huge performance—they face Serie A leaders Juventus away from home.
Milan's only win of late came in their last outing against bottom club Parma, but you'd expect them to be on the back foot against Juve and have to defend for much of the game. As such, Alex is going to be key to their fortunes; up against Carlos Tevez and probably Fernando Llorente, the Brazilian will have to be on top of his game to keep Juve at bay.
If his partnership with Adil Rami isn't almost perfect, Milan will probably record another defeat.
Isco, Real Madrid
2 of 10
Over to Spain now, where the big game of the weekend sees the two Madrid sides clash: Atletico versus Real at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday.
With James Rodriguez out injured, Isco takes on an even more important role as the creative attacking hub of Real's midfield. He'll need to work hard to find pockets of space against an Atleti side that is strong in defence. Atletico will sit deep and look to break at pace—and they haven't lost in their five matches against Real this season.
Isco has been superb this term and can show his continued progression with a telling performance in this game.
Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
3 of 10
Another derby, this time in the Premier League, sees Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal.
The early Saturday kick-off usually promises plenty of incidents and goals, with high-scoring games a feature of this derby in recent years. Spurs forward Harry Kane has won the adulation of his home fans and the appreciation of others for his consistent and explosive performances this term.
He'll be looking to add to his 20 goals for the season in this match—the biggest way to make yourself a hero as far as Tottenham players are concerned.
Rafinha, Barcelona
4 of 10
There's no guarantee Rafinha will be in the Barcelona starting XI this weekend, but his performance against Villarreal last time out certainly warrants it.
Rafinha combined his technical ability on the ball with a real, purposeful drive from the centre of the park, taking the game to his opponents and linking superbly with the front three. This weekend, Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao away from home.
The struggling Basque side work hard to close out space in midfield, so Rafinha will need to show consistency and intelligence with his play if he's to nail down a regular starting spot ahead of Ivan Rakitic.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, PSG
5 of 10
Over to Ligue 1 now, and there's just one game which will capture everyone's attention: Olympique Lyonnais, first, against Paris Saint-Germain, third.
PSG needs a win to put them above league-leading Lyon and—depending on Marseille's result at Rennes on Saturday—perhaps even top overall.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been the big man for PSG for a long time, and in this kind of fixture—a real battle between quality sides with title aspirations—he will be looking to prove his enduring worth and quality.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Schalke
6 of 10
Over to Germany now and the Bundesliga, where the top-four race's game of the weekend sees Schalke host Borussia Monchengladbach. Just two points separate the two sides, placed sixth and third, respectively, as the battle for a top-four finish really heats up.
With Klaas-Jan Huntelaar out for S04, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will be pivotal in his side's attack; he missed a penalty against Bayern last time out but still has nine goals to his name this term, the third-highest in the league.
If Schalke are to close the gap and move into the top four this week, he must come up big against one of the best defences around.
Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
7 of 10
Back to the Premier League for another derby: Liverpool travel to Everton for the Merseyside derby on Saturday evening, looking to further close the gap to the top four after a good recent run of form.
Playmaker Philippe Coutinho will be key to all the best work the Reds do once more. He has been in scintillating form of late, scored the late winner against Bolton in the cup in midweek and also netted at Goodison Park last season.
If Everton don't shut him down, he can win the game by himself.
Fredy Montero, Sporting
8 of 10
We head to Portugal now and the Primeira Liga, where the big game is a Lisbon derby between two of the top three: Sporting and Benfica.
With a seven-point gap between the two sides, Sporting know that if they are to have any chance of winning the title this term, nothing less than a win will do. Their two front men, Islam Slimani and Fredy Montero, have netted seven league goals apiece this season—but it's Montero, with his superior movement and ability to get in behind opposition defences, who could be key this time.
You suspect Benfica will score at some point, so Montero will need to be clinical with the chances that come his way to ensure his side keeps the title race alive.
Roman Weidenfeller and Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund
9 of 10
Borussia Dortmund's failure to win either of their two games since the Bundesliga resumed play has left them at rock bottom in the standings.
Astonishing scenes at the end of the most recent match saw goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and defender Mats Hummels climb railings to speak to irate fans distraught at yet another loss.
Perhaps listening to the fans' gripes will inspire them; the duo will be in action away to Freiburg this weekend as they bid to finally kickstart their awful season.
Andre Schurrle, Wolfsburg
10 of 10
Andre Schurrle's €32 million move to Wolfsburg from Chelsea during the January transfer window was comfortably the biggest deal in the Bundesliga this winter, and he'll be looking to have an immediate impact for his new team.
Wolfsburg play Hoffenheim at home on Saturday, and they will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Bayern Munich, who remain eight points clear at the top. Wolfsburg also have a five-point buffer to the teams below them as they look to seal their status as the second-best club in Germany.
Schurrle's pace and eye for goal, as well as an obvious need to prove and establish himself as a starter once more, will make him a big threat, though there will be much expectancy on him, too.
