USMNT Oct 19-21 viewing guide and open thread

We’re back from the international break with a handful of Bundesliga games (unless they’re ruined by injury) as well as several MLS and Liga MX games so let’s get right to the action.

Friday

Eintracht Frankfurt v Fortuna Düsseldorf - 2:30p on FS2

The first game of the weekend will impacted, though not totally ruined, by injury as Timothy Chandler remains out following his knee surgery in August. However, you can still start your weekend off with some Americans in Bundesliga action as Alfredo Morales will likely take the field for Fortuna Düsseldorf. Morales has been a regular for Dusseldorf this season, starting in all seven games and playing the full ninety. Unfortunately, Düsseldorf have managed just five goals and one win in those seven games and sit tied at the bottom of the table with five points.

Atlas v Veracruz - 10p on Univision Deportes

Speaking of teams struggling to score... Omar Gonzalez scored for Atlas in a 3-1 loss their last time out, and he is now tied with three others as the clubs leading goal scorer through twelve games. That’s right, through twelve games four players have scored a total of four goals for Atlas who unsurprisingly sit dead last in Liga MX two thirds of the way through the season.

Saturday

Vfb Stuttgart v Borussia Dortmund - 9:30a on FS2

Christian Pulisic missed the international break with an injury, but has returned to training with Dortmund and reportedly might make a return against Stuttgart this weekend. Dortmund are off to a strong start on the young season, currently sitting in first place in the Bundesliga, yet to lose through seven games, and playing last place Suttgart. Given that, it may make sense to give Pulisic some additional rest to make sure he’s fully healed ahead of next week’s important Champions League matchup with Atlético Madrid.

Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich - 9:30a on FS1

If Pulisic fails to appear on Saturday or you’re up for a little dual screen action flip on over to Fox’s other sports channel to catch John Brooks and Wolfsburg take on Bayern Munich. Depending on your perspective, Wolfsburg are either catching Bayern at the perfect time, as the team is winless in their last four games including a 1-1 Champions League draw with Ajax and being held scoreless in their last two, or they’re catching them at precisely the wrong time and will be dealing with an angry giant. Get back to us on Saturday afternoon and we’ll let you know definitively which it was.

Regardless, if you’re able to tune in you should be able to watch 90 minutes of John Brooks playing against one of the top teams in Europe. Brooks has been a consistent starter for Wolfsburg as he has been able to remain healthy throughout the early part of the season.

Schalke 04 v Werder Bremen - 12:30p on FS2

Weston McKennie also missed the recent international break due to injury, so he may not appear in this weekends clash with Werder Bremen as Schalke look to build on their recent success. The team has won their last two league games after starting the season on the wrong foot by loosing their first five.

With or without McKennie, Schalke will be taking on a surprising fourth place Werder Bremen team. The oft-injured Aron Johannsson remains out for the team but if reports from head coach Florian Kohfeldt are to be believed, fellow American Josh Sargent may be getting close to making his first appearance with the senior team.

Other Notes:

• PSG play Amiens SC at 11a on beIN, Tim Weah (who has recently expressed interest in pursuing a January loan) seems unlikely to appear.
• 21-year-old Jonathan Suarez has been getting increasing minutes for Queretaro, who play Cruz Azul at 6p on ESPN Deportes.
• Neither Joe Corona nor Rubio Rubin has seen meaningful minutes for their clubs recently, but America and Tijuana clash at 8p on Univison Saturday.
• William Yarbrough has been limited to Cup appearances for Leon this season, so he will be unlikely to appear when the team takes on Necaxa and regular starter Ventura Alvarado at 10p on Univision.

Sunday

Atlanta United v Chicago Fire - 3p on ESPN

Atlanta United will look to ensure their one-point Supporters Shield lead heading into the final weekend by handling 10th place Chicago Fire on Sunday. Atlanta remain in control of their own destiny, wins in their final two against Chicago and Toronto F.C. would ensure the team the Supporters Shield trophy. A loss or tie would have the team scoreboard watching to see if the New York Red Bulls also falter down the stretch.

16-year-old George Bello received the start and picked up his first MLS goal two weeks ago when Atlanta was last in action, a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. Brad Guzan returns from international duty to mind the goal for Atlanta and Darlington Nagbe and Michael Parkhurst are also likely to see the field for Atlanta.

Chicago has clearly struggled this season and they sit in tenth place in the West, but two of their eight wins this season have come in the last five games so they haven’t completely rolled over. Djordje Mihailovic has been seeing time down the stretch picking up three assists and a goal in six starts (seven appearances) for Chicago. The 19-year-old last appeared for the U-19 and U-20 teams in 2017 before tearing his ACL late in the season last year. The other name USMNT fans will recognize on this side of the ball is Dax McCarty, the veteran midfield has appeared in 24 of 32 games for Chicago this season.

Other Notes:

• Fabian Johnson has been seeing his role decrease ever week, all the way down to being left out of the squad entirely in the teams last match against Bayern Munich. If he’s able to see the field again for Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday against Mainz 05 you’ll be able to watch the match at 12p on FS2
• Michael Orozco and Lobos BUAP take on Guadalajara at 1p on Univision. The Center Back has been a regular 90’ fixture for his team this season.
• Miguel Ibarra and Minnesota United face Sebastian Lletget, David Bingham and the LA Galaxy at 5p on ESPN.