10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of Jan. 30-Feb. 1

Another weekend of football is almost upon us, with the last of the big European leagues—the Bundesliga—ready to rejoin us after an extended winter break.

We've taken our usual look around the most compelling matches to identify which players could make the critical difference or should be kept an eye on for other pertinent reasons.

As well as Germany, we also look at the Eredivisie and the top flights in Spain, England, Italy and France. Feel free to leave your own additional subjects of interest below!

The Bundesliga kicks off again on Friday night, with Wolfsburg against Bayern Munich making it a second-versus-first affair.

It will be a somewhat sombre occasion as a result of the death of Junior Malanda in early January, the Wolfsburg midfielder who featured in the reverse of this fixture on the opening day of the season.

In terms of who could affect this game most, Arjen Robben was in tremendous form before the winter break and will be looking to continue that run into 2015.

His ability to break the lines, beat defenders and shoot at will could liven up an encounter that might otherwise be low-key and emotional.

Fiorentina face Genoa in Serie A on Saturday, with both teams chasing European football for next season—but Genoa, at home, have been on a poor run of form of late.

Juan Cuadrado remains at La Viola despite ongoing reports linking him with a move to Chelsea, per Sky Sports, and the assumption must be that he will continue to play a big part in his role behind the striker as Fiorentina chase points to aid their climb.

His pace, searing shooting ability and, no doubt, wish to continue proving himself could mean he has a big say on proceedings.

Andy Carroll, Liverpool's record signing, will line up against his former club this weekend for West Ham United. Having overcome injuries, Carroll has looked in tremendous form at times lately, scoring in his last two league games.

Liverpool's defence (and thus results) has improved of late, but they'll face a big test this weekend against the direct, powerful threat of Carroll and those who run from deeper to support him. The Hammers are just one point and one place above Liverpool at present, so the match at Anfield represents an opportunity for both teams.

Carroll in particular will want to show that he still had much to offer the side who sold him on.

With Cristiano Ronaldo sent off last weekend and missing two games through suspension as a result, Gareth Bale will have to step up and shoulder the burden of both goalscorer and pacy attacking threat for Real Madrid.

They play at home to Real Sociedad this weekend, with La Real having won the reverse fixture at Anoeta earlier in the season.

Bale scored the winning goal from the penalty spot against Cordoba after Ronaldo was dismissed and will doubtless also take on free-kick-taking duty in the No. 7's absence. Bale has to come up with the goods against a stubborn outfit to show he's not just riding on the success of others but is also capable of delivering at this level when it matters most.

Staying in Spain, one big game for the weekend sees Malaga host Valencia. The Andalusian club were in contention for a top-four challenge until a month ago, but no wins in four have seen them slip to nine points adrift of Los Che, who currently sit fourth.

Failure to win this game will end any lingering hopes Malaga have of achieving Champions League football—if that hope hasn't already gone—but with Ignacio Camacho back from injury, they at least look a far more solid and difficult-to-beat team.

It's not too extravagant to suggest that he's Malaga's most important player, anchoring midfield and setting a base for others to play from in the centre.

Over to France and Ligue 1 now, where two of the top attacking talents in the top flight could be missing for a couple of games: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is facing a suspension for a challenge on an opponent in his last game, while Alexandre Lacazette picked up an injury.

Andre-Pierre Gignac will have the chance to fire his Marseille team to try to peg back Lacazette by a goal or two in the goalscoring charts—not currently a close race—when l'OM take on Evian Thonon Gaillard, who are troubled by relegation fears and have the worst defensive record in the league.

Marseille need to get back to winning ways with regularity to challenge for the title over the second half of this season, which means Gignac has to hit top form again.

Ever heard of Mark Uth? Well, he's the Eredivisie's top scorer this season, hitting 12 goals in 19 appearances and taking Heerenveen into the Europa League playoff spots.

The 23-year-old German forward had never before reached double figures of goals in a campaign, but he's certainly making the most of his success this term.

He has a chance to continue that form at the weekend as Heerenveen play away to Dordrecht, comfortably the worst team in the Eredivisie, bottom on points, games won, goals scored and goal difference. That said, they did win last time out!

Bayer Leverkusen are the first opponents for Borussia Dortmund in 2015, with BVB improbably sat in the relegation zone and looking to recover as fast as possible.

Leverkusen are unbeaten at home, though, sat third in the league and looking good for another Champions League-spot finish. Karim Bellarabi's form and consistency will be key to their hopes in this match and beyond, with his pace, skill and scoring ability all of the highest order.

BVB might make a comeback and surge up the table, but it will more than likely have to wait until after this weekend.

With Ligue 1's top scorer, Alexandre Lacazette, out injured, Lyon might have had cause to worry for their game against Monaco, who are currently in fifth place in the table and have the third-best defensive record this season.

Thankfully, for the league leaders, Nabil Fekir has been in tremendous form alongside Lacazette, getting through lots of running, showing good link-up play and no shortage of ability to put the ball in the net too.

Fekir has eight goals of his own and will be called upon to add to that tally in Monaco if Lyon are to continue their unbeaten streak, which reads seven consecutive victories.

Finally, the big game in the Premier League on Saturday sees first against second, Chelsea versus Manchester City.

Sergio Aguero hasn't quite hit top form since returning from his latest injury. Nor have City as a whole of late, but the emphasis will be on the away team to try and get a result after back-to-back defeats.

Chelsea have a decision to make in defence: John Terry played 120 minutes in midweek, Gary Cahill is out of form and Kurt Zouma has yet to be really tested against top opposition in the league, though he coped well against Liverpool in the Capital One Cup. Aguero has the ability to trouble any or all of them—and City also have Frank Lampard, who will bear watching against his old club.

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