USMNT Nov 23-24 viewing guide and open thread

Following the international break and Thanksgiving, we’re back this weekend with some solid match ups including Bundesliga and Premier League action as well as the first leg of the MLS Conference Finals. Here’s where you can find Americans in action:

Friday

Puebla v Club Tijuana - 10:00p on Univision Deportes

Rubio Rubin has seen a handful of substitute minutes for Tijuana their past few matches. The team has lost four straight and will look to get things back on track against Puebla.

Saturday

Schalke 04 v Nurnberg - 12:30p on FS2

Weston McKennie departed the recent USMNT camp early with what was reportedly a hamstring injury, and it’s uncertain how severe the injury is or if he’ll be available for Schalke this weekend. McKennie has appeared as a substitute in four of the team’s last five games so that may be his role for the time being regardless of injury situation. The team is still digging themselves out of a early season hole in which they lost their first five games, and they are currently in 14th place in the Bundesliga. They’ll be facing a Nurnberg team that is in 15th place and hasn’t won in their last six attempts.

Other Notes:

• Ventura Alvarado and Necaxa will face Querétaro at 6p on ESPN Deportes. Alvarado has played every minute for Necaxa this season and was named captain for two of their past three matches.
• William Yarbrough has found his way back to the starting lineup for León, starting in goal for their last four games. The team meets Puebla at 8p on ESPN Deportes.
• After failing to make the field in eleven straight games, Joe Corona started and picked up an assist for second place Club America in their most recent match. America plays last place Veracruz at 8p on Univision Deportes Saturday.
• Omar Gonzalez and Atlas are one point out of last place, thanks primarily to an inability to score goals this season. They’ve found the back of the net just ten times through sixteen games. They face Monterrey at 10:06p on FS2.

Sunday

Borussia Mönchengladbach v Hannover 96 - Noon on FS1

Fabian Johnson has worked his way back on to the field for Gladbach, appearing as a substitute in their last two matches. The team is in second place in the Bundesliga with an early season schedule that has included quality wins over Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Sunday they’ll play a Hannover team that is in sixteenth place and features one of the more surprising American’s this season in Bobby Wood. Bobby has started five straight for Hannover and has found the goal twice so far this season. He’ll need to find the goal a bit more regularly to continue seeing time but he has looked good playing for club this season.

Other Notes:

• Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls face off in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday. Brad Guzan, Darlington Nagbe, Michael Parkhurst and Greg Garza will see the field for Atlanta, while Tim Parker, Aaron Long, and Tyler Adams will start for the Red Bulls. NYRB fans probably weren’t too enthusiastic about Adams and Long playing 90 minutes halfway around the world on Tuesday for the United States, and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back on Sunday. The game can be seen on ESPN at 5p.
• The Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City will face off in the first leg of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday as well. Jorge Villafaña will be returning from International duty and is likely to start for Portland along with Jeremy Ebobisse, who has a goal and an assist through Portland’s first three playoff games. Ike Opara, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, all of whom we could see in January Camp for the USMNT, will be taking the field for SKC.