The roller coaster ride (do trains ride roller coasters?) that was the international break has come to an end, and we are back to club action for USMNT players. With the packed international window, which included some significant minutes for some players (Gregg, your buddy Jesse would “like” to have a word about Tyler Adams’ usage), it’s unclear who might see time this weekend, but there are quite a few games worth watching.
Friday
Atlanta United v Orlando City SC - 7p on FS1
Miles Robinson and George Bello return to Atlanta United following their USMNT performances. Robinson was one of three players, and the only of the six centerbacks called in, who played all 270 minutes for the USMNT over the break. Meanwhile, Bello started the final match on Wednesday, but was subbed out at the half and should be ready to go for Atlanta. Atlanta are currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference, on the outside of the playoff picture and looking up at rival Orlando City, who currently sit a distant second to the New England Revolution.
Orlando City didn’t have any USMNT members called up for this international window, but the man closest to the squad seems to be Daryl Dike, who last Sunday had his first start for OCSC since July 4th and picked up a goal and an assist in the winning effort.
Other notes:
- Timothy Weah has been ruled out for Lille, who picked up their first win of the season heading into the break and now face Lorient at 3p on beIN Sports.
Saturday
Empoli v Venezia - 9a on Paramount+
Gianluca Busio has stepped right into the starting lineup for a Venezia squad who are still looking for their first goal and their first points of their 2021-22 campaign. Busio started and went the full 90 in the team’s second match, while Tanner Tessmann saw 27 minutes off the bench in the club’s first match, but was an unused substitute in their second. Venezia are going to need to step up their game as a club to avoid relegation, as they have not really been in either of the league matches to start the year. That includes a 3-0 loss to an Udinese side that finished last season in the bottom half of the Serie A table. This weekend, they face an Empoli side that gained promotion from Serie B last season by finishing top of the table.
Other notes:
- Christian Pulisic will be out for 10 days, including this weekend’s match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa that can be seen at 12:30p on NBC.
- Sebastian Lletget, Julian Araujo, and the LA Galaxy face Kellyn Acosta and the Colorado Rapids at 3:30p on TUDN and Univision.
Streaming overseas:
- Chris Richards has rejoined Hoffenheim, who face Mainz at 9:30a on ESPN+.
- Julian Green and Greuther Fürth face John Brooks’ Wolfsburg at 9:30a on ESPN+. Furth are looking for their first win on the season, while Wolfsburg have won each of their first three.
- Konrad de la Fuente and Olympique de Marseille face AS Monaco at 3p on beIN Sports. Konrad saw just 72 minutes over the international break, so while he may have some jet lag, he should be otherwise well rested.
- Giovanni Reyna will miss approximately one month for Borussia Dortmund, who face Bayer Leverkusen at 9:30a on ESPN+.
- Josh Sargent and Norwich City face Arsenal FC at 10a. The Gunners are still looking for their first win of the season and has yet to score a goal, though Norwich has only picked up one goal themselves and is also still looking for their first win.
- Weston McKennie should be well rested, but it sounds like he has some trust to regain with both club and country. However, he will look to start that process as he is expected to start for Juventus when they face face Napoli at Noon on Paramount+.
- It’s a clash at the top of the Bundesliga table as Jesse Marsch, Tyler Adams, and RB Leipzig face Bayern Munich at 12:30p on ESPN+.
MLS Mashup (all matches on ESPN +)
- Cristian Roldan and the Seattle Sounders face Minnesota United at 5p. Seattle currently lead the Western Conference standings by a point over the Colorado Rapids.
- Kyle Duncan, Caden Clark, and the New York Red Bulls face Kevin Parades, Moses Nyeman, and DC United at 7p. Bill Hamid, Paul Arriola, and Donovan Pines remain out for the Black-and-Red.
- Matt Turner has rejoined the New England Revolution, who face NYCFC and James Sands at 7p.
- Walker Zimmerman was one of the six centerbacks brought in to USMNT camp but was one of only 2 outfield players to not see the field. His Nashville SC side will face CF Montreal at 8p.
- Indiana Vassilev and Inter Miami face Gyasi Zardes’ Columbus Crew at 8p.
- Ricardo Pepi rides the hype train back to Dallas to join his teammates as they face the San Jose Earthquakes at 8:30p. Jackson Yueill was brought into camp late as a Weston McKennie replacement and made the trip to Honduras, but did not make it off the bench.
Sunday
Osasuna v Valencia - 10:15a on ESPN+
Yunus Musah is returning to health and should be available for Valencia as the club faces Osasuna. Valencia are off to a strong start this season, tied for first and one of six clubs with seven points through three games. Musah saw his first appearance of the season before the international break, getting five minutes off the bench as his team killed off a 3-0 win over Alaves. The club face an Osasuna that has a win and two draws through their first three matches.
Other notes:
- Sebastian Saucedo and Pumas UNAM face Guadalajara at 6p on TUDN and Univision. Pumas are coming off a 2-1 loss to Toluca and currently sit in 15th.
Streaming overseas:
- Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Stuttgart face Eintracht Frankfurt at 9:30a on ESPN+. Both teams are off to a slow start in this seasons campaign and sit in the bottom half of the table.
- Joe Scally will continue to make his case for a USMNT call up when Borussia Mönchengladbach face Arminia Bielefeld at 1:30p on ESPN+. ‘Gladbach have lost their last two games and will look to turn things around against an Arminia side that narrowly avoided relegation last season and has started this years campaign with three draws.
- Bryan Reynolds and Roma face Sassuolo at 2:45p on Paramount+. Reynolds is looking for his first minutes in this campaign.
Which matches are you looking forward to watching? Hit the comments and discuss them all.