We’re back from the international break with a nice schedule of soccer matches though it is impacted a bit by injury. Availability could also be impacted by the turnaround from yet another international break but
that shouldn’t impact our first match of the weekend:
Friday
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach – 2:30p on ESPN Select: Joe Scally appears to be in the wilderness, at least in terms of the USMNT, and Gio Reyna is once again struggling with injury but their Borussia Monchengladbach side will look to pickup their first win of the season when they face Union Berlin on Friday afternoon.
Saturday
Mainz v Bayer Leverkusen – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Malik Tillman is questionable to return for Bayer Leverkusen when they face Mainz on Saturday morning. Tillman played, and assisted Balogun’s match tying goal, in the Ecuador friendly but did not dress for the second match against Australia.
Koln v Augsburg – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Noahkai Banks was not called in for the USMNT for October but did get his first start and scored a goal for Augsburg just before the break as Augsburg defeated Wolfsburg to snap a four match loosing streak.
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth – 10a on Peacock: Chris Richards and Tyler Adams face off in Premier League action this weekend with the two teams looking to continue their hot starts to the season. Richards and Crystal Palace lost for the first time this season as they were headed into the break but remain in sixth place while Adams, who missed the international break due to the birth of his child, and Bournemouth currently sit in fourth place, just two points back of league leading Arsenal.
Burnley v Leeds United – 10a on Peacock: Brenden Aaronson has started four straight matches for a Leeds Side that are currently in 15th place which isn’t great but is exceeding expectations for a squad that many assumed would be headed straight back to the English Championship after the season. Leeds fell to Tottenham prior to the break and are 1-1-2 in the four matches that Aaronson has started. They are facing Burnley in what appears to be an early season relegation six pointer, Burley are currently in 18th place, four points back of Leeds.
Coventry City v Blackburn Rovers – 10a on Paramount+: Haji Wright, who translated his hot form with club to his USMNT experience by scoring two goals against Australia will take the field for Coventry City as they look to take advantage of a Blackburn side that are just out of the relegation positions. Wright has scored eight goals in nine matches this season, including goals in six of his eight starts, as Coventry have yet to lose and are currently sitting atop the Championship table.
Nice v Olympique Lyonnais – 11a on beIN Sports: Tanner Tessmann and Lyon will look to get back to their winning ways when they face twelfth place Nice on Saturday. Lyon fell to Toulouse heading into the break but remain tied for second place with both Marseille and Strasbourg, just a point back of league leading PSG.
Fulham v Arsenal – 12:30p on NBC: Antonee Robinson continues to struggle with injury to start the 2025-26 season and has been ruled out for The Cottagers match against Arsenal on Saturday. Robinson, who has been such a regular for Fulham, has played just 61’ minutes thus far this season, appearing as a substitute in three matches.
PSV v Go Ahead Eagles – 12:45p on ESPN Select: Sergino Dest and PSV defeated PEC Zwolle 4-0 heading into the break. Ricardo Pepi missed the match due to injury but is available this weekend as PSV face tenth place Go Ahead Eagles. PSV remain three points behind a Feyenoord team that have yet to suffer defeat this season.
Angers v Monaco – 1p on beIN Sports: Folarin Balogun has just one goal for Monaco thus far this season though he looked sharp for the US over the break. Balogun has come off the bench in the last couple of matches, including their most recent match when they were already down 2-0 to Nice. Monaco were able to come back to split the points with Nice and are in fifth place in Ligue 1.
Olympique Marseille v Le Havre – 3p on beIN Sports: Tim Weah and Marseille defeated Metz 3-0 heading into the break to remain in second place in Ligue 1. Weah has been starting as a wingback for Marseille, a position which he was also deployed in for the US over the break.
Atletico Madrid v Osasuna – 3p on ESPN Deportes: Johnny Cardoso is still struggling with an ankle injury and seems likely to miss out this weekend as Atletico Madrid face Osasuna.
Saturday MLS Matches with USMNT flavor – the below MLS players were called into the October camp though three of the four keepers (Brady, Turner, Schulte) never saw the field:
- Cincinnati v CF Montreal – 6:00p on MLS Season Pass: Miles Robinson
- Charlotte v Philadelphia Union – 6:00p on MLS Season Pass: Tim Ream
- Columbus Crew v NYRB – 6:00p on MLS Season Pass: Max Arfsten and Patrick Schulte
- New England v Chicago Fire – 6:00p on MLS Season Pass: Matt Turner v Chris Brady
- Toronto FC v Orlando City SC – 6:00p on MLS Season Pass: Alex Freeman
- NYCFC v Seattle Sounders – 8:30p on MLS Season Pass: Matt Freese v Cristian Roldan
- St. Louis City v Real Salt Lake – 9:00p on MLS Season Pass: Diego Luna
Sunday
Como v Juventus – 6:30a on Paramount+: If you’re an early riser Weston McKennie and Juventus face Como in the espresso match of the week on Sunday morning. Juventus have drawn three straight matches and now sit in fifth place in the league table just six matches into the season. After barely sniffing the field in the first two matches of the season McKennie has started four of Juve’s past six matches across all competitions, including both Champions League matches.
Toulouse v Metz – 11:15a on beIN Sports: Mark McKenzie and Toulouse snapped a four match winless streak by defeating Tanner Tessmann and Lyon 2-1 ahead of the break. McKenzie has played every minute for Toulouse to start the season as the team currently sits solidly middle of the table.
St Pauli v Hoffenheim – 11:30a on ESPN Select: James Sands has started every match for St Pauli who have lost three straight and fallen to tenth in the Bundesliga table. St. Pauli will now face a Hoffenheim side that have an identical record and are coming off a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Koln.
Atalanta v Lazio – Noon on Paramount+: Yunus Musah has appeared in four league matches for Atalanta since joining the side early in the 2025-26 season, all as a substitute and he has under fifty minutes with the club. Atalanta are currently in sixth place as they’ve drawn their last two matches and will be looking to get back on track as they host thirteenth place Lazio.
AC Milan v Fiorentina – 2:45p on Paramount+: Christian Pulisic is set to miss about a month with a relatively minor hamstring injury he picked up while away on international duty. Pulisic has been on an absolute tear to start the season with six goals and three assists in twelve matches across all competitions to start the season, and will surely be missed by a Milan side that are currently in third place.
