With an international window just around the corner, it’s that time of the season where we keep a close eye on who is fit, hoping that a last minute injury won’t creep up and impact the USMNT‘s chase for a Nations League title. There are a few teams off this weekend, but there is still plenty of action. Here’s what we’re watching:
Friday
Bristol City v Norwich City – 4p on Paramount+
Josh Sargent got some rest on Tuesday, coming off the bench for 17’, but Norwich fell to Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 falling to twelfth place in the Championship. Norwich remain just seven points back of the promotion playoffs but with the number of teams between them and sixth place promotion with his current club is seeming more unlikely. Norwich face seventh place Bristol City on Friday afternoon and can pull within two points with a win. Including this weekend there are nine matchdays remaining in the Championship season.
Saturday
Werder Bremen v Borussia Mönchengladbach – 10:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scally missed Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 3-1 loss to Mainz last weekend due to yellow card accumulation, but should be available and back in the starting lineup on Saturday as they travel to take on Werder Bremen. ‘Gladbach fell to ninth place with the loss, seven points back of Mainz and five points back of fourth place Eintracht Frankfurt. Their opponent this weekend is 12th place Werder Bremen who have won two straight, including a 2-0 win over second place Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.
Augsburg v Wolfsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+
Kevin Paredes has returned to training but remains unavailable for Wolfsburg and Noahkai Banks has seen just 9 minutes in the last four matches for Augsburg (albeit all last weekend) so it seems unlikely that we’ll have an American take the field on Saturday as 11th place Augsburg host 7th place Wolfsburg.
AC Milan v Como – 1p on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic scored two goals last weekend in AC Milan’s 3-2 win over Lecce but the team remains in ninth place heading into their matchup with Como this weekend. Yunus Musah was also once again starting in the midfield for Milan and it will be interesting to see his continued usage for both club and country, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino has recently expressed that Musah can really be played all over the right side of the field, from rightback, in the midfield, or on the wing. However, Musah seems to have performed better for his club in the midfield though that is a crowded position for the USMNT.
RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund – 1:30p on ESPN+
After two straight league starts Gio Reyna did not make it off the bench last weekend in Borussia Dortmund’s 1-0 loss to Augsburg last weekend and just a handful of minutes on Wednesday as they saw out their 2-1 victory over Lille in the second leg of their Champions League matchup. With the win over Lille BVB continue on in this years Champions League competition but they remain in tenth place in Bundesliga play and seem unlikely to qualify for next year’s competition. They have a chance to gain ground this weekend as they face sixth place RB Leipzig who are four points ahead of them in the table. Leipzig have drawn three of their past four league matches.
Bournemouth v Brentford – 1:30p on USA Network
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Tottenham on Sunday to stretch their winless streak to three matches. Bournemouth have fallen to ninth place with the recent rough stretch and are five points out of a top five finish. They host twelfth place Brentford this weekend who are coming off a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Sunday
Venezia v Napoli – 7:30a on Paramount+
Gianluca Busio did not appear for Venezia last weekend, the first match since August that he has failed to see minutes in, and just the fourth match that he hasn’t started in that same time. Venezia picked up their third straight draw, against Como, and they remain well within the relegation zone, five points from safety, as they have won just three times in 28 matches this season. They face second place Napoli on Sunday who are just a point back of league leading Inter Milan.
Leganes v Real Betis – 9a on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes
Johnny Cardoso was not included in the squad on Thursday as Real Betis defeated Vitoria Guimaraes 4-0 in UEFA Conference League action, casting some doubt on his availability for the USMNT Nations League camp just around the corner. There is no indication of a major injury but if the club is choosing to rest or be cautious with Johnny then perhaps it could impact his national team opportunities as well. Betis have won four straight league matches, all of which Cardoso started and they are in sixth place, three points back of fifth place Villarreal and eight back of Athletic Club and Champions League qualification. They face a Leagnes side that is just a point ahead of Alaves in the race to avoid relegation.
Fulham v Tottenham – 9:30a on USA Network
Antonee Robinson and Fulham fell to Brighton last weekend and look to bounce back against 13th place Tottenham who are coming off a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Robinson once again started and was wearing the captains armband last weekend. He did pick up his seventh yellow card of the season but the EPL rules allow for 10 in the first 32 matches before a player faces a two match suspension.
Olympique Lyon v Le Havre – 10a on beIN Sports
Tanner Tessmann has started five straight matches, continuing in the starting lineup after the suspension of his manager, and Lyon have won four of the five matches including last weekends 2-0 win over Nice to move within four points of the third place team and the Champions League qualification position. This weekend they face a Le Havre side that are in the relegation playoff position, a point back of straight safety and a point ahead of Saint-Etienne for straight relegation in a tight relegation playoff race.
Strasbourg v Toulouse – 12:15p on beIN Sports
Mark McKenzie started yet again for Toulouse last weekend and is approaching 2,000 Ligue 1 minutes for the team this season. Toulouse drew 1-1 with high flying Monaco, who had put up nineteen goals in their past six matches. Toulouse are in tenth place and will travel to take on seventh place Strasbourg on Sunday. Strasbourg have won four of their last five, and haven’t given up a goal over that span, their only blemish being a scoreless draw with Brest three weeks ago.
Fiorentina v Juventus – 1p on Paramount+
Juventus lost for just the second time last weekend, fa 4-0 stinker to Atalanta that left Juve in fourth place, six points back of their third place opponent. Tim Weah once again started at rightback but was pulled 54’ minutes in with Juve down 2-0. Weston McKennie also started the match and went the full 90’ playing as an attacking mid. Juventus will face Fiorentina this weekend, on Thursday Fiorentina reversed a 3-2 first leg deficit to Panathinaikos in UEEF Conference League action, winning 3-1 to move on 5-4 on aggregate.
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