Written by 
It sure feels like USMNT fans have a lot to be thankful for these days. The players are exciting, the future remains bright, and the international slate of matches is as strong as ever. The action is pretty light on Friday afternoon so we’re heading straight to Saturday for a full slate of action.
Saturday
Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United – 8:30a on Paramount+
Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have won three straight matches and now lead the English Championship as they head to Blackburn to take on the eighth place Rovers who are coming off a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
RB Leipzig v Wolfsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+
Kevin Paredes has suffered a setback and undergone foot surgery according to a post on the players Instagram account and he will be sidelined at least until the new year. Eleventh place Wolfsburg travel to Leipzig this weekend to take on the Rasenballers.
Freiburg v Borussia Mönchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scally had to leave last weekend’s 2-0 ‘Gladbach win over St Pauli early due to a head injury but he has returned to training and reportedly should be available this weekend as ‘Gladbach travel to Freiburg.
Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen – 9:30a on ESPN+
Jordan Pefok got the start last weekend but Berlin fell to Wolfsburg 1-0 and Pefok is still looking for his first goal on the season though he’s played over 700 minutes across all competitions. Union Berlin are currently in tenth place and will be hosting last year’s league champions, Bayer Leverkusen who currently sit in fourth, nine points back of Bayern Munich.
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United – 10a on Peacock
Chris Richards and Matt Turner both started on the bench for Crystal Palace last weekend with Richards coming in as a time wasting sub late as Palace looked to pick up a point on the road at Aston Villa. This weekend Palace, who remain in nineteenth place, will host tenth place Newcastle United.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth – 10a on Peacock
Tyler Adams has started two straight for Bournemouth but the team has lost both matches and currently sit in thirteenth place. They travel to Wolverhampton this weekend to take on a Wolves side that is tied for the final relegation spot but coming off a 4-1 win over Fulham.
AC Milan v Empoli – Noon on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic came on as a sub last weekend in Milan’s scoreless draw with Juventus last weekend but started and opened the scoring midweek in the team’s 3-2 win over Slovan Bratislava in Champions League group stage action. Yunus Musah started last weekend and came off the bench midweek as the team saw out the win. With the draw last weekend Milan remain in seventh place and are nine points out of the Champions League qualifying top four positions and three points this weekend against tenth place Empoli will be important.
Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich – 12:30p on ESPN+
Giovanni Reyna has returned to action for fifth place Borussia Dortmund coming off the bench last weekend for 12 minutes in his first appearance since August and then getting nearly 30’ midweek in BVB’s 3-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. Dortmund will host league leading, and their personal bogeyman, Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Brest v Strasbourg – 1p on beIN Sports
Caleb Wiley has also returned to action, getting the start for Strasbourg at leftback, though he was pulled at halftime with his team up 1-0 in a match they would go on to lose 2-1 to Nice.
Bologna v Venezia – 2:45p on Paramount+
Gianluca Busio and Venezia fell to Lecce last weekend 1-0, their third straight defeat. Venezia sit in last place in the table and look headed for a return trip to Serie B. They are just three points from safety but they have only eight points through thirteen matches. Venezia will face eighth place Bologna this weekend.
Sunday
Utrecht v PSV – 6:15a on ESPN+
You’ll have to get up awfully early to catch Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman in action on Sunday morning but it just might be worth it. Pepi and Tillman orchestrated a 3-2 comeback win in Champions League action on Wednesday as Tillman started on the match and Pepi came in at the half with PSV down 2-0. Tillman picked up PSV’s first goal in the 87th minute, tied it up in the 90th and Pepi completed the comeback with a goal late in stoppage time. PSV who have just one loss in league action this season will take on second place Utrecht this weekend.
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham – 8:30a on Peacock
Antonee Robinson and Fulham suffered a rough 4-1 loss to Wolverhampton last weekend and will now take on a Tottenham side that are coming off a 4-0 win over Manchester City. At the moment that win isn’t as remarkable as one would think, City haven’t won in their last six matches across all competitions, but Tottenham sit in sixth place and are making a push for a top four finish.
Toulouse v Auxerre – 11a on beIN Sports
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse fell to PSG last weekend 3-0 and will look to bounce back as they host seventh place Auxerre who are four points ahead of them in the Ligue Un standings.
Olympique Lyon v Nice – 11a on beIN Sports
Tanner Tessmann started and played 76’ on Thursday as Olympique Lyon defeated Qarabag 4-1 in Europa League action. Lyon now host Nice, looking to jump them in the standings as they currently sit a point back in sixth place.
Lecce v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+
Tim Weah played the full 90’ on Wednesday in Juventus’ scoreless draw with Aston Villa in Champions League play and came off the bench last weekend in the match with Milan. Meanwhile Weston McKennie started last weekend but was held out midweek due to “muscle fatigue” though he is not expected to miss any further time. Juventus are in sixth place, three points back of four teams tied on 28 points and five points back of league leading Napoli.
Hit the comments section below and let us know what you’re excited to keep an eye on. Better yet, let us know what you’re most thankful for this year as you watch the USMNT players in action.