USMNT weekend viewing guide: MLS re-returns

The MLS is back, like really back not just the crazy tournament with an awkward name. The MLS regular season is back, except not really. There’s nothing regular about anything this year and that includes the return of the MLS season. This edition of the season resumes with Canadian teams only facing each other for the next month, an eleven game regional schedule that will later be expanded to 23 games total, and with a dash to the start of the MLS playoffs which 18 of the leagues 26 teams will qualify for. As if to highlight the irregularity of it all the season has resumed with back to back games between the two teams which failed to make it to the start of the MLS is Back Tournament due to COVID outbreaks within the clubs. So naturally these games are being played in a pandemic hotspot in front of booing fans. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves (not too far ahead, once again there are very few televised games this weekend) there is a bit of action before Dallas and Nashville meet on Sunday evening.

Saturday

Maztalan v Pumas UNAM - 10p on ESPN Deportes

Sebastian Saucedo did not appear in Pumas UNAM’s midweek 1-1 draw with Monterrey but did see substantial minutes off the bench in the clubs previous two matches. The team is undefeated through the first four games of the season and currently sit in third place. Saucedo, who was seeing regular minutes in the Clausura before the suspension of the season had tallied a goal and two assists in 600 minutes and is in search of his first mark on the score sheet this season.

Sunday

Austria Wien v Borussia Dortmund - 10a on ESPN Deportes

Giovanni Reyna started Borussia Dortmunds first preseason match and picked up the games opening goal in the 14th minute. BVB clearly had SC Rheindorf Altach outmatched and would go on to win 6-0 but it was a good start to the preseason for the young man who Lucien Favre continues to rave about. Reyna was playing centrally in what Favre called a half-nine position which is the 10 played in the style of Marco Reus as an attacking playmaker / second striker. This weekend BVB will face a second Austrian Bundesliga team in Austria Wien and it seems likely Reyna will see another 45’ in the match.

FC Dallas v Nashville SC - 7:30p on ESPN+

Nashville SC defeated FC Dallas 1-0 on Wednesday in a match where it seemed apparent the two teams were working off the rust as they got their regular seasons restarted. Walker Zimmerman and Daniel Lovitz got the start for the winning team while Reggie Cannon and Jesus Ferreira started for the loosing side. Dallas looked a bit more lively after Paxton Pomykal came on in the second half so he may see a bit more time on Sunday. Pomykal was joined as a sub by 17-year-old Ricardo Pepi and 18-year-old Tanner Tessmann.

That’s what we’ve got for the weekend, let us know what else you’re seeing in the comments below.