USMNT Oct 4-6 viewing guide and open thread

It’s been a long week for fans of the USMNT and the weekend isn’t going to offer many opportunities to improve the mood as it gets off to a pretty slow start with just a game a piece on Friday and Saturday (though thankfully those are at least significant games) before some potential action on Sunday. Here are the games you should be watching this weekend:

Friday

Hertha Berlin v Fortuna Dusseldorf - 2:30p on FS2

Zack Steffen looks to get the weekend started on the right foot by building on the phenomenal start to his European career when Fortuna Dusseldorf face Hetha Berlin Friday afternoon. Steffen was named to the WhoScored Bundesliga and European team of the month by being the highest rated goal keeper in any of the top five leagues in Europe in the month of September.

Unfortunately for Dusseldorf the team is really struggling with just four points through six games despite Steffen’s hot start. The team is coming off a 2-1 loss to Frieburg, their second straight loss by that scoreline. This weekend the team faces 10th place Hertha Berlin who are coming off back-to-back wins, their first two victories of the season, most recently a 4-0 win over Cologne so it’s looking like Steffen will have his hands full yet again.

Saturday

Schalke 04 v FC Cologne - 12:30p on FS2

Weston McKennie and Schalke have moved to fourth in the Bundesliga thanks to stringing together four straight wins and will look to continue their run when they face a Cologne team that has lost five times in their first six matches. McKennie has started five of six for Schalke and looks to have established himself in a central mid role for a team that looks like it could make some noise this season. Cologne on the other hand will be looking to scrap for any points they can find as they have just three points thus far this season, thanks to a 2-1 win over third place SC Freiburg which just shows that anything can happen and Schalke will need to play well to avoid a similar upset.

Sunday

Eintracht Frankfurt v Werder Bremen - Noon on FS2

Josh Sargent has started two straight for Werder Bremen and while he hasn’t exactly lit things up he hasn’t looked out of place either against some of the Bundesliga’s biggest clubs. Sargent did pick up an assist last weekend and now has a goal and an assist in three starts and two substitute appearances, having appeared in 5 of 6 for Werder Bremen already this year.

It seems likely that Sargent will see significant time again this weekend against Eintracht Frankfurt who are coming off a 2-1 win last weekend in Bundesliga play and a 1-0 midweek win in Europa league play. What is less certain is whether Timothy Chandler will see significant time this weekend for ninth place Frankfurt. Chandler has just one start thus far and three relatively brief substitute appearances though he does have an assist in his limited minutes this season. However, it could help Chandler’s chances to see time given Frankfurt’s win on Thursday.

Other Notes:

• Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg face off at 7:30a on FS1. Fabian Johnson had two starts through three games for 5th place Gladbach but has missed the past three games due to a back injury.
• DeAndre Yedlin was finally back on the field last weekend seeing 16 minutes as a substitute in Newcastles 5-0 blowout loss to Leicester. Newcastle is languishing down in 19th place with just five points through seven games and this weekend will play a disappointing Manchester United side at 11:30a on NBCSN.
• The Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes will play at 4p on ESPN in a game with playoff implications. Portland can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win or a draw while a loss and a win or draw by FC Dallas would see them miss out. Meanwhile San Jose needs a win or a draw combined with a significant loss by Dallas and a loss or draw by the Colorado Rapids. Nick Lima and Jackson Yueill will see the field for San Jose while Jeremy Ebobisse and Jorge Villafana will see time for the Timbers.