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Players who suited up together will now turn and face off as national team pride take a back seat to club performance this weekend. The marquee matchup is on Saturday but there’s a lot going on this weekend so let’s take a look around.
Friday
Monaco v Brest – 1p on beIN Sports
Folarin Balogun remains out for Monaco as they host Brest on Friday. Monaco are in second place, three points back of league leading PSG.
PSG v Toulouse – 3p on beIN Sports
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse travel to Paris to take on PSG on Friday afternoon. Toulouse won three straight matches before the international break to move into tenth place.
Saturday
Coventry City v Sheffield United – 7:30a on Paramount+
Haji Wright was injured just before the international break and is expected to be out until December. Wright has seven goals and an assist for the Championship side that sit just a point out of the relegation zone.
Valencia v Real Betis – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Johnny Cardoso was injured early in the USMNT’s first match over the break and will also be out until December. Betis are currently in seventh place as they host a Valencia side that are at the bottom of the La Liga table with just seven points through their first eleven matches.
Bayer Leverkusen v Heidenheim – 9:30a on ESPN+
Lennard Maloney’s Heidenheim face fourth place Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday though Maloney is also on the list of injured USMNT players who are doubtful to suit up this weekend.
Borussia Dortmund v Freiburg – 9:30a on ESPN+
Giovanni Reyna reportedly is available this weekend and could make just his second appearance of the season as Borussia Dortmund host Freiburg. Meanwhile, Cole Campbell has appeared in five straight matches for Dortmund who lost just prior to the break and currently sit in seventh place.
Wolfsburg v Union Berlin – 9:30a on ESPN+
Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg will host Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin on Saturday morning. Wolfsburg are currently four points out of the relegation playoff position while Berlin sit in sixth place, tied with Dortmund on sixteen points.
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion – 10a on USA Network
Tyler Adams received his first start of the season just ahead of the International break as Bournemouth defeated Brentford 3-2. Bournemouth will look to keep their win streak rolling as they face sixth place Brighton & Hove Albion who defeated Manchester city in their most recent match.
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace – 10a on Peacock
Chris Richards was available but did not appear for Crystal Palace as they lost to Fulham 2-0 just prior to the break. Meanwhile, Matt Turner remains the second keeper at Palace, picking up the occasional cup start. Palace have just one win and seven points through their first eleven matches and are in the relegation zone, a point from safety.
Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers – 10a on Peacock
Antonee Robinson went the full 90’ as Fulham defeated Crystal Palace ahead of the international break but was only used at left-back and has yet to break through as a midfielder with his club team in the same way he has for country. Fulham currently sit in seventh place, a point back of four teams looking to break into the top four.
AC Milan v Juventus – Noon on Paramount+
The big matchup of the weekend sees Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Juventus travel to Milan to take on Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah. In what must be a first in USMNT history (there will be no fact checking), we have a head-to-head matchup between four USMNT players coming off a national team match in which each player scored or assisted. Even more remarkably, each of the goals were assisted by a USMNT teammate who will now be an opponent this weekend (McKennie assist to Pulisic, Musah assist to Weah). Juventus and Milan are in six and seventh place respectively, well behind where they would like to be at this point in the season. Though in sixth place Juventus are just two points back of league leading Napoli while AC Milan are six points back of Juventus and at real danger of sliding out of the European competition spots.
Hearts v Celtic – 2:45p on Paramount+
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty remain tied for first place in the Scottish Premiership as both Celtic and Aberdeen remain undefeated in League play with their only draw coming to each other. Celtic will face a Hearts team who are just a point out of relegation this weekend.
Celta Vigo v Barcelona – 3p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Luca de la Torre has been training with his side but reportedly remains unavailable so was not included in the matchday squad this weekend as Celta Vigo face Barcelona.
PSV v Groningen – 3p on ESPN+
Ricardo Pepi started PSV’s last match before the international break, picking up a goal, an assist, and a yellow card as PSV defeated NAC Breda 3-0. He continued his hot form over the break picking up a goal in each of the USMNT’s matches against Jamaica. Malik Tillman remains a more crucial figure for the club team, starting nearly every match, though he has found it harder to break through for the USMNT and failed to make it off the bench in their 4-2 win on Monday.
Sunday
Swansea City v Leeds United – 10a on Paramount+
Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United travel to Swansea City on Sunday. Aaronson played 21’ off the bench for the USMNT but has remains a regular, a crucial figure for his club team who sit just two points back of automatic promotion in the English Championship.
Borussia Monchengladbach v St Pauli – 11:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scally continues to hold down the rightback spot for the USMNT in Sergino Dest’s absence and has the same position on lockdown for Borussia Monchengladbach who face St. Pauli on Sunday. Gladbach sit just inside the top ten while St Paul are in the relegation playoff position, a point back of Hoffenheim for safety.
Nice v Strasbourg – 2:45p on beIN Sports
Caleb Wiley has returned for Strasbourg and come off the bench in the past two matches for very brief appearances. Strasbourg have lost their last two and currently sit in eleventh place, four points back of their opponent this weekend, sixth place Nice.