It’s still relatively early in their respective seasons but it has been a rough start for a number of USMNT players plying their trade across Europe. The last place spots in Italy, Germany, and England are all currently occupied by teams featuring American’s and all are still looking for their first victory on the season. That doesn’t even include Bournemouth who are also winless in the EPL through six but technically not in last place. Things aren’t all bleak as there have been some players off
to solid starts as well, and others who are seeing an increase in minutes after early season struggles. The action starts on Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday, here’s what to keep an eye on:
Friday
Le Mans v Toulouse — 2:45p on beIN SPORTS: Mark McKenzie picked up an assist last weekend as Toulouse came back from two down to draw with Monaco 2-2. Toulouse are undefeated in their last three though they still have just one win on the season and are in 15th place and currently tied with three other teams for the relegation playoff spot in Ligue 1. This weekend they will be facing one of the teams they are tied with, Le Mans, in what looks like an early relegation scrap.
Saturday
Middlesbrough v Cardiff City — 7:30a on Paramount+: The Americans in Middlesbrough are on a eight match undefeated streak including back to back wins over fellow promotion candidates Wolves and Stoke City. Aidan Morris has played every minute during Middlesbrough’s run and Sebastian Berhalter has been a regular start though Max Arfsten has typically been coming off the bench and Rokas Pukštas was not included in the squad for the last two matches. Middlesbrough’s opponent for this weekend is 19th place Cardiff City who’s two wins this season have come in the last three matches they’ve played.
Espanyol v Atlético Madrid — 8:00a on ESPN+: Johnny Cardoso went 90’ midweek in Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win over Manchester United in the group stage of Champions League play. Cardoso had a goal in the match called back due to a handball in the buildup but had a very solid game regardless. Cardoso has started the last four matches across all competitions but unfortunately will miss this weekend’s trip to Espanyol due to an illness that has kept him out of practice the last few days.
Venezia v Napoli — 9:00a on Paramount+: Gianluca Busio has reportedly returned to training after missing the past two matches with a hamstring strain. It’s none to soon for a desperate Venezia side that is still looking for it’s first points on the season and have a negative 11 goal differential through their first six matches. If Venezia could find some form they could still drag themselves out of the relegation zone, there is a cluster of five teams currently on four points still early in the Serie A season. Venezia will be facing a Napoli side that defeated Frosinone 3-0 last weekend but are coming off a 3-1 defeat to Villarreal midweek in Champions League play.
Elversberg v Augsburg — 9:30a on Fandango: Cole Campbell came on as a substitute for Elversberg and played 20’ in the team’s 1-0 loss to Union Berlin. Elversberg are now 2-1-2 on the season with all of their matches being decided by a single goal. They will now face an Augsburg side coming off a 2-2 home draw with Bayern Munich.
Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund — 9:30a on Fandango: I am a man of the people, I’ve heard your comments and so Mathis Albert is back in the viewing guide this weekend. Albert, who was with the USMNT over the recent international break, and was briefly the youngest goal scorer in USMNT history, has yet to appear in Bundesliga play for Borussia Dortmund this season so this isn’t exactly appointment viewing but the people asked, and the people get what they want. Albert’s Dortmund side are tied on points for first place with Freiburg and their first stumble of the season came last weekend in a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen.
Fulham v Hull City — 10:00a on Peacock: Antonee Robinson missed last weekend’s Fulham match due to an ankle injury but is reportedly available this weekend as Fulham host Hull City. Fulham fell to Ipswich Town 2-1 and are in last place in the EPL, still looking for their first victory of the season.
Villarreal v Elche — 10:15a on ESPN+: Alex Freeman has started three straight league matches for Villarreal but came off the bench midweek in the team’s 3-1 win over Napoli in Champions League action. Freeman has been playing very well when he has seen minutes and was among the highest rated players in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Real Madrid.
ADO Den Haag v PSV – 10:30a on ESPN+: Ricardo Pepi remains out but Sergino Dest continues to rack up the minutes for PSV who defeated Heerenveen 2-0 last weekend but fell midweek to RB Leipzig in Champions League play.
Strasbourg v PSG – 11:15a on beIN Sports: Gio Reyna came off the bench for Strasbourg last weekend,. snapping a run of eight consecutive starts across all competitions. Reyna did come in for the final 27’ with Strasbourg level at the time but it was Nice who would find the winner as Strasbourg fell 2-1. The team will now face a PSG side that are currently in sixth place in Ligue 1 but coming off a 4-2 victory over Man City in Champions League action.
MLS Season Pass Matches:
- Philadelphia Union v Charlotte FC — 2:30p: Cavan Sullivan, Quinn Sullivan, Neil Pierre, Frankie Westfield
- St. Louis CITY v Minnesota United — 4:30p: Damion Downs
- LAFC v NYCFC — 7:30p: Matt Freese
- Toronto FC v New York Red Bulls — 7:30p: Caden Clark, Adri Mehmeti, Julian Hall
- Chicago Fire v New England Revolution — 7:30p: Chris Brady, Matt Turner, Peyton Miller, Brooklyn Raines
- Montréal v Seattle Sounders — 10:30p: Cristian Roldan
- Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes — 10:30p: Brian Schwake
Sunday
Leeds United v Manchester United — 9:00a on USA Network / Telemundo: Brenden Aaronson came off the bench again last weekend and played the final 19’ as Leeds fell to Arsenal 2-1. It was the first defeat of the season for Leeds who are now in seventh place as they’ve also won just two matches through their first six. It appears that Leeds have settled on a super-sub role for Aaronson at this point as he’s not started since the second match of the season when he was substituted off at the half.
Bournemouth v Sunderland – 9:00a on Peacock: Tyler Adams and Bournemouth are among the clubs that are still looking for their first win on the season after getting thumped by Chelsea 5-1 last weekend. Bournemouth will now host Sunderland who have one win, and sit a point ahead of them in the EPL table.
Brighton v Crystal Palace — 9:00a on Peacock: Chris Richards and Crystal Palace defeated Nottingham Forest 3-1 last weekend but fell to Tanner Tessmann’s Lyon 3-2 on Thursday in Europa League action. Richards started and played the full 90’ in both matches. Zavier Gozo on the other hand has not been included in the matchday squad recently and was with the U21’s this week.
Angers v Marseille — 9:00a on beIN SPORTS: Timothy Weah was serving a one match suspension last weekend as Marseille defeated Troyes 2-0 but was back wearing the captains armband on Thursday in Europa League action. Unfortunately, Marseille dropped points at home to Olympiacos and are still looking for their first points of that competition. Marseille are in 13th place and will trave to 12th place Angers this weekend.
Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg — 9:30a on Fandango: Malik Tillman scored his first goal of the 2026-27 campain on Thursday as Bayer Leverkusen defeated Polish side Lech Poznan 4-0 in Europa League play. Perhaps the goal will give a boost of confidence to Tillman who has struggled early in Bundesliga play and seen just 29’ in the teams past three matches.
Lorient v Monaco — 11:15a on beIN SPORTS: Folarin Balogun has come off the bench in the past two matches for Monaco and it’s unclear whether he is working his minutes up still since being held out the first four matches of the season or if he will be used in a substitute role until the January transfer window when he seems likely to move. He was not included in the squad that traveled to Bulgaria on Thursday to face CSKA Sofia.
Borussia Mönchengladbach v Hoffenheim — 11:30a on Fandango: Joe Scally scored his second goal of the season last Sunday but Borussia Monchengladbach fell again and have opened the season with five consecutive losses. This week they are hosting a Hoffenheim side that have lost four of five themselves and six of seven across all competitions.
AC Milan v Atalanta — 12:00p on Paramount+ / Peacock: Christian Pulisic started again last weekend and then came off the bench midweek in AC Milan’s 4-0 win over Salzburg. Yunus Musah was an unused sub on Thursday but also started last weekend. Milan are technically undefeated on the season but have drawn three matches already and are in fifth place. They are facing an Atalanta side that have won three and lost three.
Lyon v Nice — 2:45p on beIN SPORTS: Tanner Tessmann has yet to receive a league start and came off the bench on Thursday as well in Lyon’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace and USMNT member Chris Richards. Lyon fell for the first time last weekend, 2-1 to Lens, and are in fourth place as they get set to host Nice.
Juventus v Lazio — 2:45p on Paramount+ / Peacock: Weston McKennie started last weekend but was subbed with Juventus down a goal at the half to Cagliari. McKennie was back in the starting lineup and wearing the captains armband on Thursday as he played 90’ in Juve’s 2-1 win at Celta Vigo. Juventus will host second place Lazio on Sunday who’s only stumble to start the Serie A campaign has been a 2-2 draw with AC Milan.
MLS Season Pass Matches:
- Cincinnati v Columbus – 5p: Patrick Schulte
