10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of April 24-26
Another week of Continental football, in Europe and the Americas, brought plenty of exciting action and goalmouth action, but the weekend is once more reserved exclusively for domestic clashes—and there are plenty to keep an eye out for.
As always, we've rounded up the best of the upcoming games and picked out the players most likely to have a telling impact, judging by form, position, need in the table and other factors.
Here are our 10 players to watch around the world this weekend—starting in Italy.
Arturo Vidal, Juventus
1 of 10
Juventus are already all but assured of another Serie A title, but this weekend could see them move to within a single game of the trophy being handed out, depending on other results.
A Turin derby away at Torino would be a pretty momentous occasion to practically secure it too, where Juve play on Sunday.
Arturo Vidal continues to be pivotal to the side. His powerful breaks from midfield, supplying of the front line with ammunition and non-stop work rate all make him one of the most important components of Massimiliano Allegri's side.
Kevin De Bruyne, Wolfsburg
2 of 10
Wolfsburg's excellent season in the German Bundesliga has almost seen them assure themselves of the runners-up spot.
This weekend, they face another big test as they travel to Borussia Monchengladbach, who are busy fighting for third and the last automatic spot for next season's Champions League.
It won't be an easy match to avoid defeat in by any means for Wolfsburg, so our man to watch there has to be their best player of the campaign—attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who was their saviour late on at home to Schalke last time out. He can create or score at a moment's notice and could edge his side another step closer to sealing second.
Sergio Garcia, Espanyol
3 of 10
An important game in Spain's Liga this weekend sees Barcelona take on Catalan-region rivals Espanyol.
Most will expect Barcelona to triumph, of course, so if the home team are to have any hope of victory, they'll need a big performance both on and off the ball from captain and hero Sergio Garcia.
The unceasing work rate, dribbling ability and enduring finishing skills of Garcia still mark him out as the top talent in the team. Supported by Lucas Vazquez from the flanks, he could trouble the Barca back line with his movement and energy.
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
4 of 10
The big game in the Premier League this weekend sees Arsenal take on Chelsea, the top two in the table but with a huge gulf of 10 points between them.
Arsenal may as well go all-out for the victory, and Chelsea will doubtless simply try to avoid defeat, so the pace and power as well as sudden ingenuity of Alexis Sanchez could be the Gunners' best route toward taking a win.
Sanchez was the somewhat fortuitous match-winner in the FA Cup last weekend, but there is little luck involved in his haul of 14 league goals this term.
Julio Cesar, Benfica
5 of 10
Over in the Portuguese top flight, Benfica could take a huge step toward another title if they beat second-place Porto, who themselves will be looking to draw level on points and take the title fight to the wire with a win.
To do that, though, they need to get past Julio Cesar and his defence, with the miserly back line of Benfica conceding just a paltry four goals this term at home, as well as remaining unbeaten.
The flip side of that is Porto averaging more than two per game on the road and possessing the league's top scorer, Jackson Martinez, on their team—but he faces his biggest test at the most important moment now to beat Cesar.
Alex Teixeira, Shakhtar Donetsk
6 of 10
Another top-two clash takes place in Ukraine, where second-place Shakhtar Donetsk host table-toppers Dynamo Kyiv on Sunday evening.
With five points between them, Shakhtar need the victory to give themselves a chance of lifting the title, with only five games to play after this weekend.
Alex Teixeira remains their biggest threat and most frequent scorer, netting a brace last week and sitting third in the league standings. They need the Brazilian to come up big for them this time out to prolong the title race.
Danny Ings, Burnley
7 of 10
Back to the Premier League briefly, but the very opposite end: 20th vs. 18th, Burnley vs. Leicester City.
The Foxes have won three on the bounce to move within goal difference of escaping the drop zone, while Burnley have picked up just one point from the last 12 to languish at the foot of the table. They simply cannot afford anything but all three points this time out—and that means getting goals from Danny Ings.
The 22-year-old forward has been highly praised this term, but his strikes have dried up considerably. Of his nine league goals, none have come since mid-February, and they desperately need him to hit form in this game or face the prospect of being marooned at the bottom as Leicester escape the bottom three.
James Rodriguez, Real Madrid
8 of 10
Real Madrid's win over Malaga last weekend came at a cost, as they lost Luka Modric to injury to go with the absences of Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
A Champions League win in midweek over Atletico Madrid was a big job done for Real, but they face another, very different, test this weekend against Celta Vigo. Celta have been in great form and starve opponents of possession and space, so Real's midfield play will be key to creating chances.
James Rodriguez must be the man to step up, both with his clever link play and his ability to create scoring chances for himself on the run. Real need another win, however it comes, to stay on the tails of Barcelona in La Liga.
Marc Janko, Sydney
9 of 10
Outside of Europe now to finish up with our last two names, starting in Australia's A-League, where Sydney need a positive result away to fourth-placed Wellington Phoenix to ensure they maintain a top-two spot and an entry to the final series.
Perth, in third, are likely to take a win from struggling Western Sydney Wanderers, so Sydney will similarly need a victory if so.
Marc Janko, the veteran Austrian forward, has enjoyed a stellar season in front of goal and is the A-League's top scorer with 16, with an impressive nine of those the opening goal in a match—and Sydney need him to come up big once more to avoid going into the playoffs for the series on the last day of the regular season.
Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy
10 of 10
Finally, we head to MLS, where the big game of the weekend sees New York Red Bulls, unbeaten so far this term, host LA Galaxy, reigning holders of the MLS Cup.
Galaxy rose to third in the Western Conference last weekend with a last-minute win over Sporting KC, and they'll be looking to Irish forward Robbie Keane to ensure they give the Red Bulls their toughest test of the season so far.
Keane has netted twice in four games this term for Galaxy, but he missed the Sporting match and the fixture beforehand, against Seattle, through injury.
