USMNT weekend viewing guide: Back to full speed

The Bundesliga and Eredivisie are back in action this weekend leading to a full slate of action this weekend with a number of USMNT players resuming play in German and the American trio at PSV retaking the field as well. The action starts on Friday though so let’s start there.

Friday

Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim – 2:30p on ESPN+

The Bundesliga starts back up on Friday with John Brooks and Hoffenheim taking on Bayern Munich. Bayern are four points back of Bayer Leverkusen but with a game in hand that could narrow the gap to one point. Brooks went through a spell in November where he sat the bench in three of four matches but he did play the final three Hoffenheim fixtures before the winter break. Hoffenheim are currently in seventh place, nine points back of Champions League qualification.

Saturday

Chelsea v Fulham – 7:30a on USA Network

Antonee Robinson continues to be a key contributor for Fulham though rumors have started to crop up that he could be on the move. In the meantime however Robinson continues to start every match for a Fulham side that are currently in 13th place, four points behind their opponent this weekend, 10th place Chelsea.

RB Leipzig v Eintracht Frankfurt – 9:30a on ESPN+

Paxten Aaronson appeared in nearly half (seven of sixteen) of Eintracht Frankfurt’s matches in the first half of the season though he did not see the field in their three most recent matches. Frankfurt currently sit in sixth place in the Bundesliga table, tied with two other clubs on 24 points.

Freiburg v Union Berlin – 9:30a on ESPN+

Union Berlin won two of three matches before the break to climb out of the relegation zone. They currently have thirteen points and remain just ahead of a trio of teams tied with ten points at the bottom of the table. Brenden Aaronson came off the bench for a handful of minutes in the last three matches and hasn’t started a match since October.

Mainz v Wolfsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes has appeared in eleven straight matches for Wolfsburg though the past five have all come off the bench. The team is currently middle of the table in tenth place though still just five points out of sixth and qualification for Europa Conference League.

Koln v Heidenheim – 9:30a on ESPN+

Heidenheim and Lenard Maloney sit a point ahead of Wolfsburg in ninth place, a very solid position for the club in their first year following promotion. Their opponent this weekend are seventeenth place Koln who are sitting in the relegation zone group tied on ten points.

Mallorca v Celta Vigo – 10:15a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Luca de la Torre started and went 78 minutes last weekend as Celta Vigo won their Copa del Ray matchup with SD Amorebieta 4-2. In Celta Vigo’s previous match, a 2-1 win over Real Betis coming out of the winter break de la Torre was used off the bench. With the victory Celta moved just out of the relegation zone, one point ahead of eighteenth place Cadiz. They will face fourteenth place Mallorca this weekend who are just two points ahead of them in a crowded bottom third of the table.

Monaco v Reims – 11a on beIN Sports

Folarin Balogun and Monaco resume their Ligue 1 campaign this weekend with a matchup against Reims. Monaco currently sit in third place, good enough for Champions League qualification but already seven points back of league leading Paris Saint-Germain. Balogun picked up an assist in the team’s last league match before the winter break, a 2-1 win over Toulouse but hasn’t scored a goal since November and has just four in seven matches this season.

Darmstadt v Borussia Dortmund – 12:30p on ESPN+

Gio Reyna appeared as a substitute in three straight matches for Borussia Dortmund heading into the winter break but is reportedly not favored by manager Edin Terzic and a move is expected no later than the end of the upcoming Summer transfer window. In the meantime Borussia Dortmund currently sit in fifth place and need to make a move to close the six point gap with fourth place and Champions League qualification.

Real Betis v Granada – 3p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Johnny Cardoso has recently joined La Liga side Real Betis and was apparently suffering from an ankle injury but he has been included in the matchday squad so it’s possible that he will be making his debut this weekend as seventh place Betis look to rebound from their loss to Celta Vigo when they take on another relegation candidate in nineteenth place Granada.

PSV v Excelsior – 3p on ESPN+

Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and PSV return to action looking to continue their perfect Eredivise season as they take on twelfth place Excelsior on Saturday afternoon. Dest and Tillman have been playing very consistently for the club in league action with Dest regularly starting and Tillman starting on occasion as well. Meanwhile Pepi is still looking for his first league start but has been getting minutes off the bench on a regular basis and has four goals in thirteen appearances.

Sunday

Borussia Monchengladbach v Stuttgart – 11:30a on ESPN+

Joe Scally continues to start regularly for Borussia Monchengladbach, interestingly his last five starts before the break were at centerback. The team won just one of those five matches and currently sit in twelfth place. Jordan Pefok missed the teams last four matches due to injury.

AC Milan v Roma – 2:45p on Paramount+

Christian Pulisic will look to continue his hot run as third place Milan take on eighth place Roma Sunday afternoon. Pulisic has recorded a goal or assist in five of Milan’s past six matches and has six goals and five assists halfway through the Serie A season. Yunus Musah has returned from injury and is taking the field for Milan as well, with 20 minutes off the bench last weekend and playing the full 90’ in their midweek Copa Italia loss to Atalanta.