A slow start to the weekend, but after a Friday with no games in the top flight (there were a number of goals in the Championship), work starts to pick up from Saturday morning. This weekend's highlights include:
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hoffenheim – 10:30a on ESPN+
John Brooks remains suspended for one more game and will miss the game between Hoffenheim and league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Brooks didn't come on as a substitute when Leverkusen won 3-2 in the first meeting between the two teams.
Eintracht Frankfurt v Union Berlin – 10:30a on ESPN+
Brenden Aaronson, who was initially left out of the Nations League squad, came out with a sense of purpose and scored a goal to lead Union Berlin to a 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen during the break. Has entered. It was Aaronson's second goal for Union Berlin, both of which came in the last month. The win moved Berlin nine points clear of the relegation battle.
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg – 10:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scully started for Borussia Mönchengladbach and played the full game until the break, when they drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim and remained in 12th place. Scully has not started every game for the club this season and was on the bench three games ago, but he has played more than 1,800 minutes and is on pace to reach 2,000 minutes in a row in the Bundesliga for the third season. It is in. twenty one.
Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg – 10:30a on ESPN+
Kevin Paredes has started eight consecutive games for Wolfsburg, but the team is still looking for its first win since becoming a regular starter and has lost three in a row. The team currently sit in 14th place, six points out of the relegation zone, and will face Werder Bremen in 10th place with a five point difference.
Bournemouth v Everton – 11a on Peacocks
Tyler Adams returns to Bournemouth aiming for his second EPL appearance with the team. Adams' top 45 minutes with the national team was enough to lead the United States into the Nations League finals. The United States never looked back on its way to victory again. Bournemouth currently sit in 13th place with 35 points, placing them in the middle of the pack, slightly closer to a top-six finish than the relegation spots.
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace – 11a on USA Network
Despite their key roles in the USMNT, it seems unlikely that Matt Turner or Gio Reyna will be part of Nottingham Forest's plans without changing manager Nuno Espirito Santo's mind. Forest were recently handed a four point deduction for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, which means they sit in the final relegation spot, one point behind Luton Town. This weekend's opponent is Crystal Palace, where Chris Richards will start his 15th consecutive game. Palace moved on from a 1-1 draw with Luton Town and are currently 14th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Sheffield United v Fulham – 11a on Peacock
The USMNT's second potential head-to-head match of the weekend will take place in Sheffield, with Sheffield United and Auston Trusty hosting Tim Ream, Anthony Robinson and Fulham. Sheffield went into half-time with a valuable point after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, but they remain bottom of the table and on track to concede more than 100 goals for the season. Meanwhile, Fulham beat Tottenham 3-0 with Robinson providing his sixth assist of the season.
NEC vs. PSV Eindhoven – 11:30a on ESPN+
PSV's American trio return from lifting the national team trophy and aim to continue their unbeaten record and lift a trophy at club level as well. PSV defeated Twente 1-0 just before the break and will face NEC, who are in 6th place, two points behind Ajax. PSV have eight games left to finish the Eredivisie unbeaten.
Metz v Monaco – noon on beIN Sport
Folarin Balogun came off the bench for just one minute in Monaco's last game before international duty, in what has been a relatively disappointing season for the young forward. Balogun has just five goals this season and just one since the start of winter. Monaco are currently level with third-placed Lille on 46 points for Ligue 1's last Champions League spot. Their opponent is a Metz team that is considered a relegation candidate and is two points behind the safety zone.
Lazio vs. Juventus – 1P on Paramount+
Weston McKennie somehow failed to record an assist in Juventus' game against Genoa before the break, leading to a goalless draw. McKennie has assisted on four of Juve's last six goals. Coach Tim Weah continues to have limited time off the bench for Juventus, which currently sits in third place, three points behind second-place Milan.
Fiorentina v AC Milan – 3:45p on Paramount+
Like McKennie in Turin, Christian Pulisic continues to be AC Milan's driving force, scoring his third goal in five games in Milan's 3-1 win over Hellas Verona. Milan have won three straight games to move up to second place and will face eighth-placed Fiorentina, who are still in the Europa League qualification area.
Sunday
Celta Vigo v Rayo Vallecano – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Luca de la Torre missed Celta Vigo's final match and had to withdraw from the USMNT camp due to injury. Celta Vigo won this match, taking an important three points and maintaining a two-point difference over Cadiz in the final relegation spot. Celta Vigo's opponents this weekend are Rayo Vallecano, who lead the table with a two-point difference.
Girona v Real Betis – 10:15a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis remain in seventh place after three consecutive losses, four points behind Real Soceida in qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Click in the comments section below and let us know what you're watching this weekend
