The weekend gets off to a slow start, with a lack of matches on Friday afternoon, but the action picks up on Saturday and as an added bonus there are a pair of key matchups on Monday as both Juventus and Real Betis look to secure positions in the European competitions next Fall.
Saturday
RB Leipzig v Holstein Kiel – 9:30a on ESPN+
John Tolkien and Holstein Kiel fell to St. Pauli 2-1 last weekend, effectively ending any chance to directly avoid relegation as they remain in last place. However, they are still within four points of Heidenheim for 16th and the relegation playoff spot with five matches to play. They have a difficult remaining schedule, with all five teams they face currently in the top ten of the Bundesliga, beginning this weekend with fourth place Leipzig who are coming off back to back wins.
Mainz v Wolfsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+
Kevin Paredes has been on the bench for Wolfsburgs past three matches as he looks to return from injury but has yet to see the field in the 2024-25 campaign. Wolfsburg have lost four straight matches and sit in twelfth place, seven points back of the top six.
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth – 10a on Peacock
Chris Richards and Tyler Adams face off in EPL action on Saturday morning with their clubs headed in opposite directions. Adams and Bournemouth defeated Fulham on Monday to snap a six match winless streak, jump Fulham in the table and move into eighth place, six points back of the top six while Richards and Palace have lost back to back matches while conceding five goals a piece to Manchester City and Newcastle. Richards did pick up his first goal of the season against City but that is likely small consolation after his team then went on to give up five straight.
Monaco v Strasbourg – 1p on beIN Sports
Folarin Balogun came off the bench again last weekend, and played 20 minutes, his longest stint since returning from injury three matches ago. Monaco were up 2-0 over Marseille at the time and would go on to win 3-0 to jump them in the Ligue 1 table and move into second place. The top three in France’s top division qualify for the Champions League and Lyon are just two points back of Monaco with Lille and Strasbourg just a point behind them as well.
Sunday
Empoli v Venezia – 9a on Paramount+
Gianluca Busio and Venezia defeated last place Monza 1-0 last weekend to pull within two points of Lecce and safety. Venezia now face Empoli who they are tied on points with at 24. Venezia have just one loss in their last seven matches, but also just one win in that same period as they have settled for five draws.
Fulham v Chelsea – 9a on USA Network
Antonee Robinson and Fulham fell to Bournemouth on Monday, damaging their hopes for a top six finish. They are now tied on points with Bournemouth as well as Brighton & Hove Albion as the three teams are six points back of sixth place Chelsea with six matches to play.
Reims v Toulouse – 11:15a on beIN Sports
Mark McKenzie started yet again for Toulouse, he has really solidified his starting role with the French club, but the team fell to Lille last Saturday, suffering their fourth straight defeat. Toulouse remain clear of the relegation zone in twelfth place, they have a seven point advantage over Le Havre for the relegation playoff position with five matches remaining, and a five point advantage over this weekends opponent Reims, who are just outside the relegation zone.
Borussia Dortmund v Borussia Monchengladbach – 11:30a on ESPN+
Gio Reyna saw 26’ minutes off the bench midweek as Borussia Dortmund defeated Barcelona 3-1 but came up short in their attempt at an improbable comeback from their 4-0 first leg deficit in the Champions League quarterfinals. This weekend could represent the last chance for some time for Reyna to face off head-to-head with close friend Joe Scally as rumors indicate that Reyna is almost certainly moving on from Dortmund and the Bundesliga this summer. However, Reyna has not appeared in the last five league matches so it seems unlikely he would see the field on Sunday as Dortmund take on Scally and Gladbach, who are two points ahead of them in the Bundesliga table. Gladbach are four points back, and Dortmund six, of fourth place RB Leipzig who hold the final Champions League spot for next season’s tournament.
AC Milan v Atalanta – 2:45p on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic picked up another assist last weekend in AC Milan’s 4-0 victory over Udinese but AC Milan remain in ninth place with six matches remaining in the Serie A season. Yunus Musah did not make it off the bench last weekend, a week after getting the quick hook in Milan’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina. Milan face third place Atalanta on Sunday but even with a win would remain seven points back of their opponent and at least five back of fourth place Juventus with five matches remaining.
Monday
Parama v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+
Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus defeated Lecce 2-1 last weekend with McKennie starting the match and Weah coming on in the 67th as a part of a trio of subs while McKennie was coming off. The win, combined with a Bologna loss to Atalanta, moved Juventus into fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying position. They face sixteenth place Parma, who are just four points ahead of Venezia for relegation with six matches to play.
Girona v Real Betis – 3p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis fell to Villarreal 2-1 last weekend as Villarreal pulled three points ahead of them and into the fifth and final Champions League qualifying position. Betis still hold the Europa League spot and remain within striking distance of the Champions League as well as they head to face sixteenth place Girona this weekend who are five points clear of the relegation positions with seven matches to play.
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