USMNT weekend viewing guide: It’s good to be back

Welcome back! After an extended layoff due to obvious reasons, the Bundesliga is back this weekend with games Saturday through Monday, including a number of games that could feature United States internationals in action. After a full two month layoff, it’s difficult at best to get a good handle on how all the players stand with their clubs, but the good news is that everyone playing in Germany should be healthy and ready to participate.

Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04 - 9:30a on FS1 (as always, all times listed are Eastern - do the math)

The Revierderby could once again feature Americans on each side, as Weston McKennie and Schalke take on Giovanni Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund. McKennie’s Schalke side were struggling prior to the break, going winless in their past seven matches. They currently sit in 6th place, one point ahead of Wolfsburg and Freiburg for the Europa League qualifying spot. McKennie has been a regular starter for Schalke when healthy, and he is in line for a full slate Saturday as well.

It’s a rivalry match, but it’s one without momentum, so certainly expect the unexpected. Still, Schalke will have their work cut out for them as they face a second place Dortmund side. Giovanni Reyna was consistently had seen minutes in every match since joining the senior side and that seems likely to continue, particularly now that teams will have five subs at their disposal and a compressed calendar that could lead to the young man’s first start before too long.

RB Leipzig v Freiburg - 9:30a on FS2

Get your second screen ready as well Saturday morning as Tyler Adams and third place RB Leipzig will be facing SC Freiburg, kicking off at the same time. Adams had been having a bit of trouble working himself back into the team after a long layoff, so it’s possible the two month break has actually helped him. Third place Leipzig currently sit five points behind first place Bayern Munich and just three points ahead of fifth place Bayer Leverkusen and a slip down the stretch of this resumed season would see them miss out on the Champions League.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Mönchengladbach - 12:30p on FS1

Back in March, we might have made some sort of wisecrack about Timothy Chandler and Fabian Johnson. But at this point, we’re so happy to have any soccer back, we’ll take anything and everything we can get our grubby little hands on. It’s quite possible that neither player will appear, but we better watch every second just to make sure. Fabian Johnson and ‘Gladbach are currently in fourth place, two points ahead of Leverkusen, while Timothy Chandler and Frankfurt have just 28 points (though one fewer match played) which has them all the way down in 12th place, just six points clear of the relegation scrum.

Sunday

Feel free to catch both of the Bundesliga games on Sunday, but neither one features USMNT representation so we’ll be moving right along to...

Monday

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen - 2:30p on FS2

Josh Sargent’s usage by Werder Bremen was a bit all over the place prior to the unplanned break, but he did manage to pick up a goal in the team’s last game, a 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin. Bremen is going to need more from Sargent, and more positive results down the stretch if they’re to avoid relegation. Currently the team has just 18 points through 24 games and sit four points behind Zach Steffen’s Fortuna Düsseldorf for the relegation playoff spot, which would give them a bit of hope. In order to truly reach safety, they would have to catch Mainz 05, who currently have an eight point advantage.

So what are you watching this weekend, other than everything? Don’t have any of the Fox Sports channels? Fubo TV has a free trial. Let us know in the comments below and welcome back everyone!