USMNT viewing guide: Feeling like a four day weekend

It’s a busy weekend, with action coming at us Friday through Monday. We’re already running behind, so let’s skip the jibber-jabber and get right to it with Tyler Adams and company kicking things off on Friday afternoon.

Friday

Augsburg v RB Leipzig - 2:30p on ESPN+

Tyler Adams and RB Leipzig get the weekend started when they look to strengthen their second place Bundesliga position against an Augsburg side that is just five points out of the relegation playoff zone. Leipzig have won two straight league competitions, while Augsburg have lost their past two. Adams has started three straight matches for Leipzig, whose biggest challenge this weekend may be avoiding looking past their opponent to their midweek Champions League matchup with Liverpool on Tuesday.

Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim - 9:30a on ESPN+

There’s the potential for a new USMNT matchup in the Bundesliga as Chris Richards has stepped right into the starting lineup at Hoffenheim. The club lost his initial match with the team 3-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, but it is a step in the right direction to see the young man starting right away at the Bundesliga level. This weekend, Hoffenheim face a Borussia Dortmund side that is by their standards nearly in crisis. The club has fallen to sixth place in the Bundesliga, four points back of the final Champions League qualifying spot, and reports coming out this week have the club looking to sell a number of players this summer if they are unable to qualify. Among those rumored to be included in a potential fire sale is Giovanni Reyna, who has struggled a bit of late but still has the quality and age to fetch a sizeable transfer fee.

Looking through the paywall:

• Josh Sargent and Werder Bremen managed just a point against Schalke 04 and now will face a Freiburg side that is just two points back of Europa League qualifying. The match is at 9:30a on Saturday morning.
• Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin play at 9:30a on ESPN+ as well in a battle of expectations. Stuttgart and manager Pellegrino Matarazzo have exceeded expectations for them in their return to the Bundesliga while Hertha have fallen flat this season and are in a relegation battle.
• Weston McKennie and Juventus face Napoli this weekend at Noon on ESPN+ as they continue to hunt for their 10th straight league trophy. Currently, Juventus remain seven points back of league leading AC Milan with a game in hand, so they certainly can’t avoid any stumbles.
• Matthew Hoppe and Schalke face Union Berlin at 12:30p on ESPN+. Time is running out for Hoppe to make an impression against first tier clubs before Schalke are relegated to 2. Bundesliga.
• Barcelona have said they will be resting a number of players this weekend against Deportivo Alaves ahead of their Champions League match. Sergiño Dest has recently returned to training, so he seems unlikely to feature but the rotation could give Konrad an opportunity at 3p on beIN Sports and Fanatiz USA.
• Luca de la Torre has looked good recently for Heracles, but the competition steps up a notch this weekend as they face Ajax at 3p on ESPN+.

Sunday

Wolfsburg v Borussia Mönchengladbach - Noon on ESPN+

John Brooks is quietly making an argument to be considered in the top five Americans playing abroad. Brooks has been key for a Wolfsburg team that has won four straight, while not allowing a goal in the process, and have worked their way up to third place in the Bundesliga table. They can strengthen that position this weekend against a ‘Gladbach side that are currently in seventh but have a looming Champions League matchup with Manchester City.

Looking through the paywall:

• Yunus Musah and Valencia face Real Madrid this Sunday at 10:15a on beIN Sports / Fanatiz USA. Musah has just one start in the club’s last five matches, but did appear off the bench in the other four games.
• Antonee Robinson and Fulham currently sit 8 points back of Burnley FC for safety and will need to come up with some unexpected results yet this season if they are to avoid relegation. They face Everton this weekend at 2p on Peacock.

Monday

Chelsea v Newcastle - 3p on NBCSN

Christian Pulisic and Chelsea continue to struggle on Thursday, though they did defeat Championship side Barnsley FC (and Daryl Dike) in the FA Cup. It was the first start for Pulisic under new manager Thomas Tuchel, and there was a fair bit of rotation but outside of Tammy Abraham, who scored the goal and saved one off the line, there was not much of an impression made. Pulisic narrowly missed what would have been a fine finish on the half volley, which would have changed the narrative for club and American hero, but that is how things seem to be going at the moment. On Monday, the club will face a Newcastle side that has fallen to 16th place, but did manage to hold on for the 3-2 victory last weekend despite going down to 9 men due to a red card in the 49th minute followed by an injury in the 79th after having already used all their substitutes.

There you have it, a nice full weekend including some matches featuring United States internationals for that bank holiday on Monday. Let us know what you’re catching in the comments section below.