We’re nearing the final month of the season, the final stretch before the World Cup this Summer, and the impacts are getting more tangible. There is a cup semi-final in Scotland, and teams looking to lock down qualifying for Champions League and other European competitions. We’re also getting to the point where any injury, regardless of significance, could impact availability so we’ll be watching through squinted eyes. On a more positive note there are players returning from injury being added back
into the mix. It makes for quite a bit to watch this weekend:
Friday
St. Pauli v Koln – 2:30p on ESPN Select: Kristoffer Lund and Koln will travel to take on St. Pauli on Friday afternoon. Koln are five points ahead of St. Pauli, who have lost three of four and are winless since James Sands’ season was ended due to injury. Lund started midweek but was a halftime substitute with his team leading 1-0 and up a man. The win snapped an eight match winless streak for Koln.
Lens v Toulouse – 2:45p on beIN Sports: Mark McKenzie received a red card last weekend as he committed a foul as the last defender in Toulouse’s 4-0 loss to Lille and he was subsequently suspended two matches and will not be available on Friday as Toulouse face Lens.
Vancouver Whitecaps v Sporting KC – 10:30p on MLS Season Pass: Sebastian Berhalter and the Vancouver Whitecaps host Sporting Kansas City in a Friday edition of MLS after dark, when things regularly get weird.
Saturday
Brentford v Fulham – 7:30a on USA Network: Antonee Robinson and Fulham will look to bounce back from their 2-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend. Robinson has started four straight matches though he has come off before the 70th minute in the last two as he’s apparently still reaching full fitness ahead of this summer. Fulham fell to 12th place with the loss but are within three points of the five teams ahead of them and just four points back of sixth place Chelsea and Europa League qualification.
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Malik Tillman has been coming off the bench the last couple matches for Bayer Leverkusen and they are on a two match win streak, and undefeated in their past seven as they’re now in fifth place, still four points back of RB Leipzig for fourth place and Champions League qualification. Leverkusen will be taking on Augsburg where Noahkai Banks has suddenly found himself back on the bench for the past two matches and three out of the last four. Augsburg have drawn the past two and are winless in their last five as they are in tenth place with five matches to play.
Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – 10a on Peacock: Brenden Aaronson was credited with the assist on Leeds United’s eventual match winner as they picked up a huge three points against Manchester United as they look to avoid relegation. The result drew Leeds six points clear of the relegation zone.
Newcastle United v Bournemouth – 10a on USA Network: Tyler Adams came off the bench and played 20’ for the first time in over a month as he returned from injury and helped Bournemouth upset Arsenal and put a dent in their title hopes. Bournemouth are now just three points back of the top six and will travel to Newcastle on Saturday morning for a match.
Lorient v Olympique Marseille – 11a on beIN Sports: Tim Weah started yet again (17 straight) as Marseille snapped their two match slide to defeat Metz last weekend. The result kept Marseille in the top four and they will travel to Lorient this weekend.
Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad – 3p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Select: Johnny Cardoso technically returned to the pitch midweek as Atletico Madrid saw out their quarterfinal matchup with Barcelona, losing the match 2-1 but winning the tie on aggregate 3-2 to advance to the Champions League semifinals. Cardoso was used as a late substitute, coming on in the final minutes.
NYCFC v Charlotte – 7:30p on MLS Season Pass: Matt Freese and NYCFC will face off against fellow USMNT teammmate Tim Ream and his Charlotte side. The two teams are tied will eleven points through seven matches, tied for fourth place.
New England v Columbus – 7:30p on MLS Season Pass: Matt Turner and the New England Revolution host Max Arfsten and the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Seattle Sounders v St. Louis City – 9:30p on MLS Season Pass: Cristian Roldan and the Seattle Sounders host St. Louis late Saturday night.
Sunday
Monaco v Auxerre – 9a on beIN Sports: Folarin Balogun scored yet again, his seventh straight league match with a goal, but Monaco fell to Paris FC 4-1 last weekend, dropping to seventh in the Ligue 1 table, though they remain within three points of the top four with five matches remaining.
Verona v Milan – 9a on Paramount+: Christian Pulisic started and looked sharp with AC Milan mostly exerting their will against Udinese but being more than a bit unlucky to fall 3-0. Milan remain in third place following the loss and are still on track for Champions League qualification but will need results against the likes of all but relegated Verona as they finish the season.
Celtic v St. Mirren – 9a on ESPN Select: Auston Trusty and Celtic will face St. Mirren in the Scottish Cup Semifinals which can be viewed on ESPN Select this weekend. Celtic’s last two Scottish Cup matches have gone to Extra Time and St. Mirren defeated them in the League Cup final back in December so this has the ingredients to be a fun match.
Borussia Monchengladbach v Mainz – 1:30p on ESPN Select: Joe Scally started again and Gio Reyna was an unused substitute in Gladbach’s 1-0 loss to RB Leipzig. Gladbach are five points removed from the relegation playoff spot and will face ninth place Mainz this weekend.
PSG v Olympic Lyon – 2:45p on beIN Sports: Tanner Tessmann was a substitute last weekend, his second time in three matches that he’s come off the bench rather than starting. Lyon defeated Lorient 2-0 to move into the top five and will now face league leading PSG who are coming off their dismantling of Liverpool in Champions League action.
Juventus v Bologna – 2:45p on Paramount+: Weston McKennie missed out of Juve’s 1-0 win over Atalanta due to a yellow card suspension. It was just the second match this season in which McKennie didn’t play, and the first time since October that he hasn’t started. He’ll certainly return to the lineup as Juventus host Bologna and look to close in on a Champions League spot. Juventus are currently in fourth, the final qualifying spot, with a four point lead over fifth place Como.
