Lots of injury impact made for an interesting November callup list but numerous returns mean we have quite a few matches to watch this weekend. With so much in flux it appears that there are a number of spots
up in the air and playing time, and what players make of it, will have a huge impact over the next six months as the World Cup roster takes shape. One weekend at a time we will be following along, here’s what we have our eye on this weekend:
Friday
Nice v Olympique Marseille – 2:45p on beIN Sports: Tim Weah was not in camp with the USMNT but remained with his club and was seen in training so may be available on Friday afternoon when Marseille resume their season on the road at Nice.
Saturday
Coventry City v West Bromwich Albion – 730a on Paramount+: Haji Wright started on Tuesday for the USMNT but was not one of the four goal scorers in the match. He will resume play with Coventry City looking to snap a six match scoreless streak as the team looks to increase it’s hold on first place in the Championship when they take on West Brom.
Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Malik Tillman did not make the November camp due to having just returned from injury but did play the entire second half of Leverkusen’s 6-0 over Heidenheim heading into the break.
Heidenheim v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Joe Scally and Giovanni Reyna both returned to the USMNT for the November window with Reyna showing particularly well, appearing in both matches and directly contributing to three of the teams seven goals scored in the window. Gladbach won two straight matches heading into the break, their first wins of the season, to pull themselves out of the relegation zone and into 12th place. Reyna appeared as a substitute in both matches while Scally was a starter in both. On Saturday they will look to continue their winning streak as they take on last place Heidenheim.
Augsburg v Hamburg – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Noahkai Banks and Augsburg have lost three straight matches and currently sit tied for the relegation playoff position. Banks has started five straight matches for Augsburg which is pretty remarkable for an 18-year-old centerback. Unfortunately the team has given up 12 goals in those five games (including the six goal thrashing by RB Leipzig). Augsburg host a Hamburg side that are just two points above them in the table and really need maximum points in home matches like this if they are going to avoid being stuck in the relegation threatened positions all season.
Wolverhampton v Crystal Palace – 10a on Peacock: Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will travel to Wolverhampton on Saturday to face bottom of the table Wolves who have just two points through eleven matches. Palace are coming off a scoreless draw with Brighton and currently sit in tenth place. Richards was not included in the November camp for the USMNT, likely a concession to a club and manager who had balked at Richard’s usage despite the fact that he has played every league minute for his club.
Bournemouth v West Ham – 10a on USA Network: Tyler Adams and Bournemouth will look to get back on track as they return to action after heading into the break suffering back to back losses to Man City and Aston Villa and falling to ninth in the table. They host a West Ham side that are in 18th place, the final relegation spot, but have won their past two matches.
NAC Breda v PSV – 10:30a on ESPN Select: Sergino Dest was the lone USMNT field player to start both matches in the November window while on the opposite end of the spectrum Ricardo Pepi only appeared in one, and that as a substitute. The club and country teammates will return to PSV looking to build on their six match winning streak and their three point lead in the Eredivise.
Fiorentina v Juventus – Noon on Paramount+: Weston McKennie was another player left out of the squad for the November window. He has not had any injury concerns but does have yet another manager to adjust to, though early indications are that it hasn’t impacted his playing time, he has started the clubs four most recent matches. Juventus have seven points from their last three matches and are in sixth place as they head to Fiorentina to face a club that has yet to win this season.
Rennes v Monaco – 1p on beIN Sports: Folarin Balogun picked up a goal over the break for the US and scored in his most recent match for his club as well but will be out of the squad this weekend as he serves a suspension for a red card received in the 4-1 loss to Lens.
Napoli v Atalanta – 2:45p on Paaramount+: Once thought to be a mainstay for the USMNT midfield, Yunus Musah appears to be on thin ice as he has not appeared recently for country and has made it off the bench just once in the last five matches for Atalanta. Atalanta are currently in 13th place so perhaps they will look to shake things up and there will be an opportunity for Musah to work his way into the squad.
Vancouver Whitecaps v LAFC – 9:30p on MLS Season Pass: Timothy Tillman was a surprise callup for the November camp but he appeared in both matches, starting the second. His LAFC side will take on Vancouver in the second round of the playoffs on Saturday.
Sunday
Leeds United v Aston Villa – 9a on USA Network: Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have lost two straight and sit just a point out of the relegation positions. Aaronson does have two goal contributions in the last three matches for Leeds and has started eight straight matches for his club. Leeds face an Aston Villa side that are in sixth place and coming off a 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth.
Auxerre v Olympique Lyon – 9a on beIN Sports: Tanner Tessmann and Lyon fell to league leading PSG 2-3 heading into the break. Things should be a bit easier this weekend as they face an Auxerre side that are at the opposite end of the table.
Toulouse v Angers SCO – 11:15a on beIN Sports: Mark McKenzie and Toulouse have drawn three straight matches in Ligue 1 and currently sit in tenth place. They host an Angers side who are three points back of them in league play.
St Pauli v Union Berlin – 11:30a on ESPN Select: James Sands and St Pauli have lost seven straight matches and fallen into the relegation zone, though they still aren’t in last place. They take on a Union Berlin side that put an end to Bayern Munich’s perfect start to the season with a 2-2 draw.
Getafe v Atletico Madrid – 12:30p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Select: Johnny Cardoso has been on the bench for Atletico Madrid’s past two matches but has yet to see minutes since returning from injury. The club have won four straight and six of their last seven so there may not be much impetus to make a change, but like Musah Cardoso is going to need to find minutes if he’s to break back into a crowded US midfield.
Inter Milan v AC Milan – 2:45p on Paramount+: Christian Pulisic returned from injury to get 20’ off the bench for AC Milan in their 2-2 draw just ahead of the international break. Pulisic is likely to be a full go for Milan’s derby match with Inter.
Cincinnati v Inter Miami – 5p on MLS Season Pass: Miles Robinson and Cincinnati host the fighting Messi’s in the second round of MLS playoff action.
Philadelphia Union v NYCFC – 7:45p on FS1: Matt Freese will travel to Philadelphia as NYCFC take on the Union on Sunday night.
