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Americans Abroad: Weekend Preview

pulisic-gotze

Christian Pulisic could make his fourth straight start for Borussia Dortmund on Friday to kickstart what should be a busy weekend for Americans Abroad.

The 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund attacker was removed early in Dortmund’s 5-2 rout of Wolfsburg on Tuesday, opening the door for a potential return to the starting lineup. While Pulisic headlines Friday’s action, the 2. Bundesliga could also feature some young American talent as Jerome Kiesewetter, Russel Canouse and Andrew Wooten look to take the field.

Saturday features the bulk of this weekend’s action, with the Bundesliga providing two matches that could pit American against American. After scoring midweek, Fabian Johnson will look to lead Borussia Monchengladbach against Alfredo Morales’ Ingolstadt, while Julian Green could see time for Bayern Munich against Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt. Elsewhere, Perry Kitchen captains Hearts for the first time on Saturday, while Lynden Gooch looks to return to the Sunderland lineup against Crystal Palace.

Headlining Sunday’s action is Liga MX play, as the Tijuana contingent takes on Jorge Villafana’s Santos Laguna. Elsewhere, Matt Miazga and Rubio Rubin could see action in the Eredivisie.

Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:

FRIDAY

BUNDESLIGA

Chrstian Pulisic and Borussia Dortmund face Freiburg.

LIGA MX

Sebastian Saucedo and Veracruz take on Chivas de Guadalajara

2. BUNDESLIGA

Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen face SpVgg Greuther Furth.

Jerome Kiesewetter and Fortuna Dusseldorf take on Eintracht Braunschweig.

Russel Canouse and VFL Bochum face Stuttgart

SATURDAY

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Emerson Hyndman and Bournemouth face Everton.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Tottenham visit Brad Guzan and Middlesbrough.

Geoff Cameron and Stoke City host West Brom.

Lynden Gooch and Sunderland face Crystal Palace.

Gedion Zelalem and Arsenal take on Chelsea.

BUNDESLIGA

Fabian Johnson and Borussia Monchengladbach face Alfredo Morales and Ingolstadt.

John Brooks and Hertha Berlin face Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt. (Brooks is expected to miss out due to injury)

Bobby Wood and Hamburg take on Julian Green and Bayern Munich.

Aron Johannsson and Werder Bremen face Wolfsburg. (Johannsson is suspended)

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre and Fulham take on Bristol City.

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City visit Queens Park Rangers.

Danny Williams and Reading host Huddersfield Town.

Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest face Sheffield Wednesday.

DeAndre Yedlin and Newcastle take on Aston Villa.

LIGA MX

Edgar Castillo and Monterrey face Atlas.

Ventura Alvarado and Club America face Pumas.

Omar Gonzalez and Pachuca take on Jonathan Bornstein, Luis Gil and Queretaro.

Jose Torres, Luis Silva and Tigres face Cruz Azul.

EREDIVISIE

Desevio Payne and FC Groningen face Heracles Almelo.

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Perry Kitchen and Hearts face Ross County.

DANISH SUPERLIGA

A.J. Soares and AGF Aarhus face Copenhagen.

ENGLISH LEAGUE ONE

Duane Holmes and Scunthorpe take on Sheffield United.

Gboly Ariyibi and Chesterfield face Bury.

TIPPELIGAEN

Ethan Horvath, Josh Gatt and Molde face Rosenborg.

SUNDAY

BUNDESLIGA

Terrence Boyd and RB Leipzig face Cologne.

LIGA MX

William Yarbrough, Miguel Ibarra and Leon face Toluca.

Jorge Villafana and Santos Laguna take on Greg Garza, Michael Orozco, John Requejo, Paul Arriola, Amando Moreno, Alejandro Guido and Tijuana.

EREDIVISIE

Matt Miazga and Vitesse face FC Twente

Rubio Rubin and FC Utrecht host Sparta Rottherham

SWISS SUPER LEAGUE

Caleb Stanko and FC Vaduz face Grasshoppers.

Comments

    • Jokes on us as there isn’t even a running soccer commentary. This reaffirms my statement earlier this week that “SBI is always better with his [Ives] opinion, insight and contributions. Too bad they’re so infrequent now.”

      When they’re not providing 4 or 5 of the same articles about the same story it feels like the staff is asleep at the wheel.

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  1. Pulisic had some nice play, but nothing spectacular, provided a couple half chances for Aubameyang. Pretty biased, but he does look better than Mor who tends to over dribble and looks to shoot first then pass.

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    • That’s what I thought, too. Mor seems to expend a lot of energy with little result. Pulisic seems to be a lot smoother player with a little better instincts.

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      • I’m sure that was more effective last year in Denmark, he’ll adapt I’m sure. Dembele is special though, I don’t think Dortmund will be able to hold on to him for very long.

  2. Saw most of the second half of Auxerre’s game against Bob Bradley and Le Havre today–Le Havre struggled with through balls and chance creation, leaving the game somewhat dull, but still managed to come away with 3 points off of a goal scored after a poor corner kick clearance and a scrum in the box.

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  3. Pulisic on the bench today. Guerreiro whose been as hot as anybody for BvB also on the bench, so it looks like Tuchel is just rotating his guys. Mor, Dembele, Castro, and Gotze in the midfield today.

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  4. Man, once Landon takes over as head coach and leads us to three world cup championships in a row, I bet we’ll get on the promotion/relegation system

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  5. I’d love to see Pulisic rested in this game ahead of the clash with Real Madrid. I’m eager to see him go against the best and want him as fresh as possible. Realistically a sub appearance is the best he can hope for, but getting the start would be incredible.

    That said, I expect him to play in this match and be kept out of the CL match, probably as a sub but maybe a start if his legs are strong. He looked to be slowing down a bit the last 20 minutes of his last 45 minutes shift. Dortmund as we know have a lot of players to rotate through those two outside midfield spots in their 4-1-4-1 (though I think Pulisic is good enough to play one of the CAM spots, too).

    I think they were happy enough to get him going a bit. I don’t really see him breaking into their best 11 at present time but he’s absolutely in the best 14.

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    • September has been a huge learning experience for Pulisic. For likely the first time in his career he played significant minutes, three 90 minutes + two Substitute appearances, within a compressed period of time. Add in the travel requirements for his 2 USMNT games and it should have been expected that he’d begin to show fatigue. He now has a better understanding of the physical requirements it’ll take to be a starter for the US & a club side playing in multiple competitions. As he continues to mature & grow as a player he’ll be able to improve his physical stamina and better prepared for the physical & mental fatigue he’ll be facing.

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    • If i were his coach, I’d play him as a sub and wait till the next regular Bundesliga game to give him substantial minutes. They have lots of depth and there is no need to rush him. Even youngsters can get injured from overuse.

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      • Good thing you’re not the coach. This is the kind of thinking that holds US soccer back in my opinion. Let’s let the coach who sees him every day gauge how much or how little he can handle. Just as much as you can say there’s no reason to rush him, the coach could say there is no reason to hold him back if he thinks he gives them best shot to win.

        If it comes down to play tomorrow or play against Real Madrid, I’m with fast right leg.

      • This is the kind of thinking that holds US soccer back in my opinion. Let’s let the coach who sees him every day gauge how much or how little he can handle. Just as much as you can say there’s no reason to rush him, the coach could say there is no reason to hold him back if he thinks he gives them best shot to win.

        If it comes down to play tomorrow or play against Real Madrid, I’m with fast right leg.

      • …there is no need to rush him. Even youngsters can get injured from overuse.

        I hate to be an echo on things already said, but I have to agree with the others. This mentality, while intending to be prudent is often more just prudish.

        Of course, we know his age on his birth certificate, but he plays well above his age, sees the game well above his age and has conducted himself well above his age. If he is fit, capable and ready then play the man. He’s a professional, just like the rest of his teammates, and if he’s deemed to be be in better form or simply better than the rest at his position currently referencing his age is a defeatist mentality.

        I don’t blame it on an “American mentality” I just blame it on a lack of experience by fans in seeing our compatriots in this situation.

      • Pulisic came on in the 65th minute and looked okay to pretty good. I doubt he will play in the CL game unless one team is way ahead.

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