Chris Richards made his first Bundesliga start since October 23 and delivered his best performance of the season as Hoffenheim earned a third consecutive victory.
Richards played 90 minutes on Saturday as Hoffenheim downed Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2, moving to fifth place in the league table. The U.S. men’s national team centerback was all over for Hoffenheim in the match, making five interceptions, winning eight of his 10 individual duels, and also making nine recoveries. Richards had been reduced to only 44 minutes over the past two matches, but shined in his first start since a 4-0 loss to parent club Bayern Munich in October.
The 21-year-old will hope to stay in Hoffenheim’s backline for the final three matches this calendar year, trips to Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen before a December 18th home match vs. Borussia Monchengladbach.
In other Americans Abroad action, Sam Vines helped Royal Antwerp earn a 1-0 road win over Beerschot on Sunday, playing 90 minutes at left back. Vines won two of his three individual duels in the match and also drew two fouls as Antwerp claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since late-September. Vines has continued to start regularly for the club in league play and will hope to retain his starting spot this week in Europa League action.
Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to action for Celtic, assisting once as the visitors downed Dundee United 3-0 at Tannadice Park. Carter-Vickers missed a midweek win over Hearts, but jumped back into the starting lineup for Ange Postecoglou’s side. Carter-Vickers also completed 94% of his passes in the match, helping Celtic stay in touching distance of the top spot in the Premiership.
Elsewhere, Sergino Dest made his first start under Xavi Hernandez on Saturday, but Barcelona could not avoid defeat to Real Betis. Tyler Adams went the distance in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Union Berlin. Christian. Ramirez registered two goals for Aberdeen in a 4-1 romp over St. Mirren on Saturday while Timothy Weah was not in the squad for Lille in its victory over Troyes.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad action:
England
PREMIER LEAGUE
Josh Sargent came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Norwich City’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham on Sunday.
Christian Pulisic came off the bench and played 18 minutes in Chelsea’s 3-2 loss to West Ham United on Saturday.
Zack Steffen dressed but did not play in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Watford on Saturday.
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Friday.
Matthew Olosunde started and played 82 minutes in Preston North End’s 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Ethan Horvath dressed but did not play in Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 win over Peterborough United on Saturday.
Duane Holmes did not dress in Huddersfield’s 1-1 draw with Barnsley on Saturday.
Antonee Robinson did not dress for Fulham.
LEAGUE ONE
Lynden Gooch started and played 90 minutes in Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Oxford United on Saturday.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
Chris Richards started and played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim’s 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Tyler Adams started and played 90 minutes in RB Leipzig’s 2-1 loss to Union Berlin on Friday.
Timothy Tillman started and played 90 minutes in Greuther Furth’s 7-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Joe Scally started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 6-0 loss to Freiburg on Sunday.
Timmy Chandler started and played 83 minutes for Eintracht Frankfurt.
John Brooks started and played 45 minutes in Wolfsburg’s 3-0 loss to Mainz on Saturday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo and Stuttgart tied Hertha Berlin 2-2 on Sunday.
Julian Green dressed but did not play for Greuther Furth.
Gio Reyna is back in training for Borussia Dortmund.
3. LIGA
Terrence Boyd started and played 90 minutes in Hallescher’s 0-0 draw with Wurzburger Kickers on Saturday.
Johan Gomez started and played 87 minutes in FC Zwickau’s 2-1 loss to Saabrucken on Friday.
Bryang Kayo dressed but did not play in Viktoria Berlin’s 0-0 draw with Turkgucu Munich on Saturday.
Spain
LA LIGA
Sergino Dest started and played 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 1-0 loss to Real Betis on Saturday.
Yunus Musah came off the bench and played six minutes in Valencia’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Matt Miazga dressed but did not play in Alaves 2-1 loss to Granada on Friday.
Matthew Hoppe did not dress in Mallorca’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
SEGUNDA DIVISION
Samuel Shashoua came off the bench and played 27 minutes in Tenerife’s 1-1 draw with FC Cartagena on Monday.
Shaq Moore came off the bench, registered AN ASSIST, and played 14 minutes for Tenerife.
Italy
Serie A
Gianluca Busio came off the bench and played 24 minutes in Venezia’s 4-3 loss to Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Tanner Tessmann came off the bench and played 15 minutes for Venezia.
Bryan Reynolds dressed but did not play in AS Roma’s 3-0 loss to Inter Milan on Saturday.
Weston McKennie did not dress in Juventus’ 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday.
Serie B
Andrija Novakovich dressed but did not play in Frosinone’s 1-1 draw with Ternana on Saturday.
France
LIGUE 1
Konrad De La Fuente started and played 57 minutes in Marseille’s 2-1 loss to Brest on Saturday.
Nicholas Gioacchini came off the bench and played 22 minutes in Montpellier’s 1-0 win over Clermont Foot on Sunday.
Tim Weah did not dress in Lille’s 2-1 win over Troyes on Saturday.
Erik Palmer-Brown did not dress for Troyes.
Portugal
PRIMEIRA LIGA
Reggie Cannon dressed but did not play in Boavista’s 1-1 draw with Maritimo on Saturday.
Alex Mendez and Vizela’s scheduled match with Belenenses on Monday was postponed.
Netherlands
EREDIVISIE
Luca De La Torre started and played 90 minutes in Heracles’ 1-0 loss to Heerenveen on Saturday.
EERSTE DIVISIE
Richie Ledezma came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Jong PSV’s 3-2 loss to De Graafschap on Monday.
Turkey
DeAndre Yedlin started and played 90 minutes in Galatasaray’s 2-2 draw with Altay on Saturday.
Tyler Boyd started and played 66 minutes in Rizespor’s 4-0 loss to Fenerbahce on Sunday.
Haji Wright did not dress in Antalyaspor’s 2-0 loss to Kayserispor on Sunday.
Austria
ADMIRAL Bundesliga
Brenden Aaronson came off the bench and played 27 minutes in Red Bull Salzburg’s 2-1 win over Hartberg on Saturday.
2. Liga
Ulysses Llanez and SKN St. Polten were off this weekend.
Belgium
Sam Vines started and played 90 minutes in Royal Antwerp’s 1-0 win over Beerschot on Sunday.
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Genk’s 1-1 draw with Mechelen on Sunday.
Chris Durkin started and played 82 minutes in Sint-Truiden’s 2-1 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday.
Owen Otasowie did not dress in Club Brugge’s 3-2 win over RFC Seraing on Saturday.
Switzerland
SWISS SUPER LEAGUE
Jordan Pefok started and played 45 minutes in Young Boys’ 2-1 loss to Servette on Saturday.
Denmark
DANISH CUP
Christian Cappis came off the bench and played 13 minutes in Brondby’s 2-0 loss to Midtjylland on Sunday.
SUPERLIAGEN
The Superliagen is off until February for winter break.
Scotland
PREMIERSHIP
Christian Ramirez started, scored TWO GOALS, and played 90 minutes in Aberdeen’s 4-1 win over St. Mirren on Saturday.
Cameron Carter-Vickers started, registered AN ASSIST, and played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 3-0 win over Dundee United on Sunday.
Ian Harkes started and played 90 minutes for Dundee United.
Sweden
Allsvenskan
Nebiyou Perry came off the bench and played 19 minutes in Ostersunds 1-0 loss to Degerfors on Saturday.
Jeffrey Gal dressed but did not play for Degerfors.
Romain Gall did not dress in Malmo’s 0-0 draw with Halmstad on Saturday.
Norway
OBOES-LIGAEN
The Oboes-Liagen season has ended.
Mexico
Liga MX
Sebastian Saucedo and Pumas visit Atlas on Sunday.
Argentina
Alan Sonora started and played 82 minutes in Independiente’s 1-1 draw with San Lorenzo on Sunday.
Joel Sonora and Banfield visit Newell’s Old Boys on Monday.
Brazil
Serie A
Johnny Cardoso and Internacional host Atletico Goianiense on Monday.
Not quite sure why…but I can’t see this article (and only this article) on the website.