10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of March 6-8
The weekend is quickly rolling around again, and the world of football is looking toward another packed fixture list on the domestic scenes, with both league and cup action on the horizon.
In taking a look at the biggest matches around and the potentially most important performers, we've considered recent form, headlines being written and the ability of the individuals to have an impact in each particular fixture.
Here are our 10 to watch over the next few days.
Angel Di Maria, Manchester United
1 of 10
We'll start in England where the FA Cup quarter-finals take place Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with Manchester United vs. Arsenal the obvious key game on the final day.
Angel Di Maria has been a subject in the news and onsocial media for his lack of impact of late, with discussion centering around whether he is being used in the right positions, still acclimatising to English football or simply not showing the form expected of him.
Writing for the Daily Mirror, Ed Malyon argued Di Maria's problem might have to do with the lofty expectations that resulted from his big-money move from Real Madrid:
"Perhaps the question is not 'has Angel Di Maria been rubbish' (because the answer is no). Maybe for now it is 'has he justified his fee?' (to which the answer is 'not yet').
In many ways Di Maria's real test will come next season, if/when Man United return to the continental stage.
Then we can judge his impact.
"
Whatever it is, big players tend to come to the fore in big matches, and this game certainly comes under that category. He needs a big performance to help United to Wembley.
Christian Benteke, Aston Villa
2 of 10
Another quarter-final sees Aston Villa face West Bromwich Albion at home on Saturday—and what a potential turnaround of the season Villa could suddenly be looking at.
A big result over the same opposition in the league, coupled with other results going their way midweek, sees Villa out of the relegation zone.
With a new, passionate manager with a point to prove, fans on the rebound following a few goals and points and a potential Wembley date and cup semi-final appearance to aim for, is it possible this could eventually end up as a pretty good season for the Villans.
Christian Benteke had the late match-winner in midweek, and the team will look to him to now rediscover a scoring touch. If he fires at the weekend, Villa will be dreaming of unlikely silverware.
Speaking to Laurie Whitwell at the Daily Mail, Benteke said new Villa boss Tim Sherwood can help him return to top form, much like Sherwood did with Emmanuel Adebayor at Tottenham Hotspur:
"I think the new manager understands my situation. I think he understands that I have to be given more chances and then maybe I will start scoring more goals.
I saw what he did with Adebayor and maybe it is a similar situation and I hope to do the same. He speaks with a lot of confidence. He’s a very cool guy. I think for us he is the right manager.
"
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund
3 of 10
Borussia Dortmund are suddenly the form team in the Bundesliga, with four straight wins equalling the runs of Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg.
A big part of the reason for the improvement of BVB is having a forward finally find some regular form: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in all four of those matches, tallying five goals to double his haul for the entire season.
He'll be in action against Hamburg this weekend, a team loitering just outside of the relegation zone, and he can fire BVB to a fifth successive win on the back of the improved confidence and clinical edge of the team.
Mohamed Salah, Fiorentina
4 of 10
To Italy now, and Mohamed Salah has been a massive hit for Fiorentina since joining from Chelsea in January.
Enjoying the chance to play regularly again, Salah has been a regular on the scoresheet and fits perfectly into La Viola's style of play, with his pace and dribbling down the flanks making him a big threat and one of the better players at breaking the lines of the team set-up.
Fiorentina are just three points and two places off the Champions League spot of third—but on Monday they must overcome Lazio, one place and point above them, away from home. Salah being right on his game gives them their best chance of success.
Shkodran Mustafi, Valencia
5 of 10
Over to La Liga now, and the top four looks just about set, with Valencia establishing a good lead over fifth in recent weeks. However, the chase for third is on—and Atletico Madrid, who hold that place right now, host Los Che this weekend.
Atleti, as the home side, will have to try to take the points to recreate a gap between themselves and their opponents, and they will be boosted if Nicolas Otamendi—taken off injured last week—cannot play. The burden of protecting Diego Alves will therefore fall to German centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, who has had a tough first campaign in Spain but has improved in recent weeks.
His aggression and power in the air can contain Mario Mandzukic—but will he match the mobility and pace of Antoine Griezmann?
Ricardo Kishna, Ajax
6 of 10
Ajax gave themselves the smallest glimmer of hope of winning a fourth straight title by beating first-place PSV last weekend, but the gap is still huge and Ajax's very young squad have, in truth, done well to even be in second.
They face a straightforward and winnable game against Excelsior this weekend, so a full-strength side looking to attack and create chances should be selected. The star man of late has been Ricardo Kishna, with the left-sided attacker a real worry for opposition defences with his dribbling, pace and tendency to get in the box.
He has three in his last two Eredivisie matches, including a brace to beat Twente in the last home game.
Dirk Kuyt, Fenerbahce
7 of 10
The big fixture in Turkey this weekend sees Fenerbahce host Galatasaray, with the away side one point ahead at present.
All pressure will be on Fenerbahce to win the game and close the gap, and in a brutally fierce environment that has at times gotten out of hand, composure and clear heads can do the most damage. They don't come much better at not getting caught up in situations than Dirk Kuyt, with the Dutchman having played in some of the biggest games during his career—Champions League finals, World Cup matches—and still being capable of finding the net.
Kuyt has the capacity to be a match-winner on the biggest of occasions, and in terms of the Super Lig, this game most certainly is.
Hulk, Zenit
8 of 10
After a full three months without a ball being kicked, the Russian Premier League is finally back with us this weekend after its long winter break.
Zenit are the team in top spot with a seven-point lead, so they are the side we'll focus on. Hulk was in tremendous form before the new year and performed well in the Europa League recently, too, and he will likely be the man Zenit build their challenge on all fronts around again.
The Brazilian and his team-mates face Ural, 13th, this weekend, as they look to restart with a bang.
Besart Berisha, Melbourne Victory
9 of 10
We'll head outside of Europe to finish up, firstly down under to Australia's A-League and a clash of the top two this weekend.
Melbourne Victory, second, play host to leaders Perth Glory early on Saturday, knowing that a win will take them up to top spot on goal difference with a game in hand.
Glory have led the standings for much of the campaign, but four draws and one defeat in their last five has completely opened the gates for Victory.
Striker Besart Berisha will be the key man; After scoring 48 goals in just three seasons with Brisbane Roar, the Albanian moved to Victory this season and has been just as much of a success, netting nine so far with his aggressive, direct style of play. More goals here and his team go top.
Juan Arango, Tijuana
10 of 10
Former Borussia Monchengladbach hero Juan Arango finally left German shores this season and is now with Tijuana in the Liga MX, where in the Clausura he has been showing that he has lost none of his scoring touch.
Tijuana are top after eight games, losing just once, and face Santos Laguna away from home this weekend—mid-table now, but challenging for the playoff spots during the Apertura stage and still a capable outfit.
Arango pulling the strings can keep Tijuana flying high, with his strikes a huge bonus for a team with plenty of goals throughout.
