USMNT May 4-6 viewing guide and open thread

Friday

Amiens SC v Paris Saint-Germain - 2:45p on beIN Sports

With PSG having nothing to play for down the stretch there’s a possibility that Timothy Weah could get some playing time in the last three games. Weah was in the match day squad last weekend but failed to see the field as PSG went down by two goals before coming back to draw.

Saturday

Stoke City v Crystal Palace - 7:30a on NBCSN

Stoke City sit three points from safety with two games remaining. Making matters worse for them is that the five teams in front of them all have an additional game to play (thus more opportunities for points) and they have a horrendous goal differential that is six goals worse than any other team in the league.

With Stoke seeming like a lock to get relegated this could be your last opportunity in awhile to see Cameron in the Premier League, except of course that he hasn’t actually been playing lately. Cameron had two starts in February and again in March, and only one substitute appearance in April. Cameron has been with the club since 2012, it’s the only English club he’s played with and he’s signed through 2020 but with their relegation and his diminished playing time is it possible that he’ll look to make a move this Summer?

Borussia Dortmund v Mainz 05 - 9:30a on Fox Deportes

There are a number of scenarios that could result in Borussia Dortmund clinching a Champions League spot this weekend but the most straightforward is to just win baby. Other scenarios include Bayer Leverkusen losing, a BVB draw coupled with a loss by Hoffenheim or draw by Leverkusen. There are likely others as well but it does seem likely that BVB are headed for more Champions League play in 2018-19. There will of course be speculation regarding whether or not Christian Pulisic will transfer this Summer or if he’ll still be with the club for those games in the Fall. For now though Pulisic seems close to a lock to start for BVB on Saturday, he’s started seven straight league games.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Hamburger SV - 9:30a on Univision Deportes

Is it possible that Bobby Wood and Hamburg could escape relegation? Currently the club sit two points behind John Brooks’ relegation-playoff-bound Wolfsburg team who are slumping at exactly the wrong time. Wood converted a penalty kick last weekend in Hamburgs 3-1 win over Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg still hold a strong goal differential so Hamburg will need to win at least one of their last two against Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach. From an American standpoint this all begs the question of whether you’d rather see Hamburg and Bobby Wood relegated or Wolfsburg and John Brooks? Technically they could both avoid the fate at the expense of Mainz or SC Freiburg but that seems unlikely as the two teams hold a five point advantage over Hamburg.

Speaking of teams picking a lousy time to scuffle along, Eintracht Frankfurt have been on a slide themselves recently, falling down to seventh place and out of European competition all together. Frankfurt sit just one point behind RB Leipzig, who finish with games against Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin, if they’re able to catch them it would mean a spot in the Europa League next season. Timothy Chandler had been consistently starting for Frankfurt midseason and was making an impact as well but failed to get off the bench last weekend against Bayern Munich.

New York Red Bulls v New York City FC - 1:55p on ESPN

Featuring arguably the most exciting young American playing in the MLS in Tyler Adams, the New York Red Bulls are looking to build some consistency and establish an actual winning streak having gone every other since the start of the season (without a single draw through their first seven as well). The Red Bulls also won their first road game of the season last weekend, traveling to LA to beat the Galaxy 3-2. The Red Bulls will look to build on that this week against NYCFC who responded to their first loss of the season by defeating FC Dallas 3-1 last weekend.

Los Angeles Football Club v FC Dallas - 4:00p on Univision

Walker Zimmerman will have his first opportunity to face his former team after being traded in the off-season from Dallas to LAFC. Zimmerman will likely be joined by fellow American Benny Feilhaber. LAFC are off to a fine start at 5-2-0, besting even the vaunted Atlanta United standard for an inaugural season.

Zimmerman’s former team FC Dallas has lost just one game on the season, loosing last weekend for the first time to NYCFC. Jacori Hayes has been off to a fine start this season and while not exactly young (22) he still has some time for growth and an opportunity to work his way into the USMNT picture.