From a third Milan derby to top ten matchups in the EPL there is quite a bit to catch this weekend so let’s get right to it:
Friday
Werder Bremen v Mainz – 2:30p on ESPN+
Lennard Maloney was an unused substitute last weekend for Mainz just days after joining the team as his new side defeated Stuttgart 2-0 to pull within a point of the fourth place team and qualification for next seasons edition of the Champions League. This weekend Mainz face a Werder Bremen side that are in ninth place and coming off a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund after coming back from a 2-0 deficit.
Saturday
Watford v Norwich City – 7:30a on Paramount+
Josh Sargent scored two goals last weekend in his first start since returning from injury two weeks ago. The USMNT needs Sargent to stay healthy and regain his scoring form as they are likely to be down a couple of options for the Nations League competition in the March window.
Udinese v Venezia – 9a on CBSSN and Paramount+
Gianluca Busio and Venezia played Hellas Verona to a draw last weekend and remain four points back of them for safety. Venezia have just sixteen points through twenty-two matches and look likely to head back to Serie B next Fall. They will be facing eleventh place Udinese on Saturday who are looking to snap a five match winless streak.
Stuttgart v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scally was back in the starting lineup, one week after getting a rare day off. Borussia Monchengladbach won the match 2-0 to move to eighth in the table and they will now travel to fourth place Stuttgart looking to string together some wins.
Bayern Munich v Holstein Kiel – 9:30a on ESPN+
John Tolkin saw his first Bundesliga minutes last weekend in a substitute appearance for Holstein Kiel who held Wolfsburg to a 2-2 draw. Kiel remain two points back of Heidenheim for the relegation playoff position and will face a stiff challenge this weekend as they face league leading Bayern Munich.
Heidenheim v Borussia Dortmund – 9:30a on ESPN+
Gio Reyna was an unused substitute last weekend in his first match under new management but got 26’ off the bench midweek against Shaktar Donetsk and contributed a lovely backheel assist as BVB went on to win the Champions League match 3-1. Dortmund have just one win in their last eight league matches and currently sit in eleventh place though just six points back of fourth place Stuttgart. They face a Heidenheim side that are flirting with the relegation zone with just fourteen points through nineteen matches.
St. Pauli v Augsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+
James Sands has started the past two matches for St. Pauli, both wins, and the six points have pulled the club up to thirteenth place, six points clear of the relegation playoff position. They will face Augsburg who are one spot, but five points, ahead of them in the Bundesliga standings. It has been a quick transition for Sands who joined St. Pauli in January
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool – 10a on USA Network
Tyler Adams notched two more assists last weekend in Bournemouth’s 5-0 thrashing of third place Nottingham Forest last weekend. The Cherries are now in seventh place and will face league leading Liverpool on Saturday morning. Adams has started three straight for Bournemouth who are undefeated in their last eleven matches. Liverpool won the first match between the two sides, 3-0 back in September before Adams had returned from his offseason injury.
Newcastle United v Fulham – 10a on Peacock
Fulham and Antonee Robinson fell to Manchester United 1-0 last weekend with Robinson once again wearing the captains armband for the Cottagers. Despite the loss Fulham remain in tenth place, they are eight points back of this weekends opponent, Newcastle United, who are in fifth place following their win over Southampton last weekend.
Leeds United v Cardiff City – 10a on Paramount+
Brenden Aaronson started and went the full 90’ yet again for Leeds United last weekend in their scoreless draw with third place Burnley. Aaronson has started every match since Leeds’s third game of the season and is already over 2,300 minutes in league play. Leeds remain in first place, with a two point advantage over Sheffield United, heading into their matchup this weekend against eighteenth place Cardiff City who defeated Derby County last weekend and are undefeated in their past seven league matches.
Union Berlin v RB Leipzig – 12:30p on ESPN+
Jordan Pefok started yet again last weekend for Union Berlin but has yet to find the back of the next this season. Berlin fell to St Pauli 3-0 and they have suffered defeat in seven of their last nine matches, with just one win in that period. Berlin face fifth place RB Leipzig who are tied on points with Stuttgart.
NEC v PSV – 3p on ESPN+
Ricardo Pepi started for PSV on Wednesday scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 3-2 victory over Liverpool in Champions League play. Unfortunately Pepi was injured before coming off and is now set to miss the next 1-3 months, likely knocking him out of Nations League action. The Pepi injured, combined with Malik Tillman already missing out may mean that Richard Ledezma is the lone American suiting up for PSV as they take on NEC in league play, looking to maintain their five point advantage over second place Ajax.
Sunday
Juventus v Empoli – 6:30a on Paramount+
Weston McKennie wore the captains armband for Juventus midweek and Tim Weah played the full 90’ at rightback as the team fell to Benfica 2-0 but still qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League. Juventus fell to first place Napoli last weekend 2-1, suffering their first Serie A defeat of the season.
Manchester United v Crystal Palace – 9a on Peacock
Crystal Palace fell to Brentford 2-1 last weekend though Chris Richards did get his fifth straight start. Palace are eleven points clear of the relegation scrap and two points behind this weekends opponent, Manchester United who are coming off a 1-0 win over Fulham.
AC Milan v Inter Milan – Noon on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic scored yet another goal, his twelfth across all competitions this season, on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Yunus Musah received his second yellow of the match less than forty minutes in and Milan would fall 2-1 playing down a man the rest of the way to Dinamo Zagreb. Pulisic also scored last weekend in Milan’s 3-2 win over Parma. They will now host Inter Milan who are in second place, three points back of Napoli. AC Milan has defeated Inter twice this season, once in league play as well as in the Supercoppa Italiana final with Pulisic scoring in both matches.
Olympique Marseille v Olympique Lyon – 2:45p on beIN Sports
Tanner Tessmann has not made it off the bench in Lyon’s past two league matches but did get the start on Thursday as they face Ludogorets Razgrad in Europa League action. Lyon are in sixth place and taking on second place Marseille this weekend.
Real Betis v Atheltic Club – 3p on ESPN+
Real Betis defeated Mallorca 1-0 last weekend with Johnny Cardoso getting his fifth straight start and once again playing the full 90’. Betis pulled into tenth place with the victory and will now host fourth place Athletic Club.
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