Napoli vs. Bayern Munich: 6 Players to Watch in Champions League Clash

The Champions League returns this week, and Tuesday's fixtures have some good matchups in store.

One of the best might be Bayern Munich's trip to Italy to face Napoli of Serie A. Bayern leads Group A with six points from two matches, while Napoli is second with four points.

The teams play each other twice in a row, with the return match scheduled for November 2. The back-to-back games will probably go a long way to determining who wins Group A, which also features Manchester City and Villareal.

That makes Tuesday's game vital for both teams. And that means there will be plenty to watch for on the pitch.

Here are six players to keep your eye on if you decide to watch.

Marek Hamsik

Who: Marek Hamsik

Who he plays for: Napoli

What he plays: Attacking midfield

Why to watch: Hamsik is one of the hottest names in the world transfer market right now. Tuesday's match will be a chance to see what all the fuss is about.

If the reports are to be believed, Hamsik, a 24-year-old Slovakian international, has long been a Manchester United target. It's easy to see why Sir Alex Ferguson would want him.

He has a strong physical presence for an attacking midfielder, has an eye for goal and is known for his ability to be in the right place at the right time.

On the other hand, Hamsik isn't known for his defensive capabilities, a fact that fits in well with Napoli's daring style.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Who: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Who he plays for: Bayern Munich

What he plays: Central midfield

Why to watch: Other players get more headlines, goals and glory, but Bastian Schweinsteiger makes Bayern go.

"Schweini" reads the game well, distributes expertly, works hard and supports both the attack and defense.

In other words, he does it all. He serves as the building block for Bayern's squad.

And besides, his girlfriend looks like this, and she might be in the stands.

Something tells me Schweini would make a great American football player, because he definitely out-kicked his coverage with that one.

Paolo Cannavaro

Who: Paolo Cannavaro

Who he plays for: Napoli

What he plays: Central defender

Why to watch: Paolo Cannavaro, the younger brother of Italy World Cup legend Fabio Cannavaro, serves as the rock of Napoli's funky three-man back line.

And the 30-year-old captain is good at what he does. Napoli has allowed five goals in six Serie A matches, and just one in two Champions League fixtures.

As the leader of the defensive unit, Cannavaro has a lot to do with his team's success or failure.

Manuel Neuer

Who: Manuel Neuer

Who he plays for: Bayern Munich

What he plays: Goalkeeper

Why to watch: Manuel Neuer is one of the world's top talents at goalkeeper, and playing in the Champions League tends to bring out the best in him. Bayern fans, thought, don't necessarily like him.

Neuer turned in a dazzling performance for Schalke last season in the team's 2-0 loss to Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. But after making an €18 million move to Bayern, he still hasn't won over the fans.

So what gives?

Well, Bayern legend Oliver Kahn was against the signing from the start. That might have something to do with the fact that Neuer mimicked—some would say mocked—Kahn's celebration after a Schalke win last year.

Regardless, Neuer is closing in on the Bundesliga record for consecutive minutes keeping a clean sheet. At 748 minutes, he's third on the all-time list.

Next up? Oliver Kahn, of course.

Edinson Cavani

Who: Edinson Cavani

Who he plays for: Napoli

What he plays: Forward

Why to watch: When he's on his game, Edinson Cavani, a 24-year-old Uruguayan, is a feared striker in Serie A. He combines pace, skill and lethal finishing to strike fear into opposing defenses.

But he hasn't played all that well lately, especially in Napoli's 2-1 home loss to Parma over the weekend.

Napoli needs to get its attack back in gear, and Cavani is an integral part of the process.

By the way: Is it just me, or does Cavani look a bit like Tim Riggins?

Thomas Müller

Who: Thomas Müller

Who he plays for: Bayern Munich

What he plays: Anything in the attacking third

Why to watch: Why not?

Müller, a 22-year-old Germany international, can play anywhere in the attacking third. Wherever he plays, he's dangerous.

Anyone who saw him win the Golden Boot at last year's World Cup would agree: Müller is one of the most exciting young players in the game right now.