Borussia Dortmund will need a spark this weekend to avoid a further slip down in the Bundesliga title race and Gio Reyna’s return to fitness should provide a major boost for Marco Rose’s side going forward.
Reyna made his return last weekend after five months on the sidelines for Dortmund, playing the final 30 minutes of a disappointing 5-2 loss to Bayer Leverkusen. The U.S. men’s national team winger has made a welcomed return for the Black and Yellow, which sit nine points back of leaders Bayern Munich. Reyna scored two goals in league play to kick off his second season with Dortmund before a hamstring injury suffered on international duty forced him to the sidelines. Reyna could make his first start this weekend as Dortmund visits Union Berlin, aiming to extend its head-to-head winning run over Union Berlin to three matches.
Christian Pulisic will be aiming to add a Club World Cup title to his list of accolades over the past year when he and Chelsea face South American club champion Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final on Saturday. Pulisic didn’t play in the semifinal win over Al Hilal on Thursday
In Spain, Sergino Dest and Barcelona face rivals Espanyol while Yunus Musah and Valencia take on Alaves.
In Germany, John Brooks and Timmy Chandler will go head-to-head while George Bello aims to make his first start for Arminia Bielefeld.
In England, Josh Sargent and Norwich City host Manchester City in Carrow Road. Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream and Fulham visit Hull City in the EFL Championship.
In France, Tim Weah and Lille squares off with Nicholas Gioacchini and Montpellier in Ligue 1 play.
Elsewhere, Brenden Aaronson and Red Bull Salzburg take on Rapid Vienna in Bundesliga play while Jordan Pefok and Young Boys host FC Basel in a top-three showdown in Switzerland. Reggie Cannon returns to Boavista after his involvement on international duty with the USMNT.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad action:
Club World Cup
Christian Pulisic and Chelsea face Palmeiras in the Club World Cup Final on Saturday.
England
Premier League
Josh Sargent and Norwich City host Zack Steffen and Manchester City on Saturday.
Championship
Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream and Fulham visit Hull City on Saturday.
Duane Holmes and Huddersfield host Sheffield United on Saturday.
Ethan Horvath and Nottingham Forest host Stoke City on Saturday.
Matthew Olosunde and Preston North End visit Peterborough United on Saturday.
League One
Lynden Gooch and Sunderland visit AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Marlon Fossey and Bolton Wanderers visit Oxford United on Saturday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Tyler Adams and RB Leipzig host Cologne on Friday.
Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund visit Union Berlin on Sunday.
Tim Tillman, Julian Green and Greuther Furth host Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach host Ricardo Pepi and Augsburg on Saturday.
George Bello and Arminia Bielefeld visit Hoffenheim on Sunday.
John Brooks and Wolfsburg visit Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Stuttgart visit Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Chris Richards is OUT (Injury) for Hoffenheim.
2. Bundesliga
Bryang Kayo and Nuremberg visit Karlsruher on Saturday.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd and Kaiserslautern host Magdeburg on Saturday.
Johan Gomez and FSV Zwickau visit Hallescher FC on Friday.
Italy
Serie A
Weston McKennie and Juventus visit Atalanta on Sunday.
Gianluca Busio, Tanner Tessmann and Venezia visit Torino on Saturday.
Serie B
Andrija Novakovich and Frosinone visit Perugia on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Sergino Dest and Barcelona visit Espanyol on Sunday.
Matt Miazga and Alaves host Yunus Musah and Valencia on Sunday.
Matthew Hoppe and Mallorca host Athletic Bilbao on Monday.
Segunda Liga
Shaq Moore, Samuel Shashoua and Tenerife visit Alcorcon on Sunday.
France
Ligue 1
Tim Weah and Lille visit Nicholas Gioacchini and Montpellier on Sunday.
Konrad De La Fuente and Marseille visit Metz on Sunday.
Erik Palmer-Brown and Troyes visit Brest on Sunday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Luca De La Torre and Heracles host FC Utrecht on Friday.
Cole Bassett and Feyenoord visit RKC Waalwijk on Sunday.
Richie Ledezma and PSV visit Vitesse Arnhem on Saturday.
Portugal
Liga Primeira
Reggie Cannon and Boavista visit Portimonense on Saturday.
Alex Mendez and Vizela host Gil Vicente on Sunday.
Belgium
Pro League
Mark McKenzie and Genk host Standard Liege on Sunday.
Sam Vines and Royal Antwerp visit RFC Seraing on Friday.
Kyle Duncan and Oostende visit Mechelen on Saturday.
Bryan Reynolds and Kortrijk visit Beerschot on Sunday.
Chris Durkin and Sint-Truiden visit Union St. Gilloise on Sunday.
Owen Otasowie and Club Brugge host Sporting Charleroi on Sunday.
Scotland
Scottish Cup
James Sands and Rangers visit Annan Athletic on Saturday.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic host Raith Rovers on Sunday.
Ian Harkes and Dundee United visit Partick Thistle on Saturday.
Chris Mueller and Hibernian visit Arbroath on Sunday.
Christian Ramirez and Aberdeen visit Joe Efford and Motherwell on Saturday.
Sebastian Soto and Livingston visit Hearts on Saturday.
Austria
Bundesliga
Brenden Aaronson and Red Bull Salzburg visit Rapid Vienna on Friday.
Switzerland
Super League
Jordan Pefok, David Wagner and Young Boys host Basel on Sunday.
Hungary
Nb I
Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros visit Zalaegerszeg on Sunday.
Turkey
Super Lig
Haji Wright and Antalyaspor host Fatih Karagumruk on Sunday.
Tyler Boyd and Rizespor visit Altay on Friday.
Argentina
Copa De La Liga Profesional
Alan Sonora and Independiente visit Estudiantes on Saturday.
Joel Sonora and Velez Sarsfield host Aldosivi on Friday.
Brazil
Gaucho
Johnny Cardoso and Internacional visit Caxias on Saturday.
Mexico
LIGA MX
Sebastian Saucedo and Pumas host Club Leon on Sunday.
re. CP, good quotes from him in this article. I really like what he’s saying, what he’s learning and understanding to grow, and growing. Maybe you can do a feature on it Ives? Cheers
https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usa/story/4591097/christian-pulisic-i-put-too-much-pressure-on-myself-to-save-usmnt
Love to hear this from him. We don’t need him to be anything more than the outstanding LW that he is. He does that to his potential and we’re in really good shape as are the players around him. Doing his quintessential CP thing- he’ll gouge a defense– create loads of space for everyone else. Weah doing the same on the opposite wing- Reyna delivering dimes in the middle…. we could really come alive.
Azteca would be an outstanding place to demonstrate this.
Pulisic’s form, good or bad, is not what’s wrong with this team.
There’s a reason he felt the need to do more to get the team going.
Has a First Division European team (let alone a Top 5 League) ever had more former MLS players on it than Venezia?
At the same time?
I may be missing someone but Eddie Lewis, Eddie Johnson, Boca, McBride, Clint, all played for Fulham at around the same time though probably not at the exact same time.
Tim Ream came later.
Kasey Keller did not play in MLS before he played for Fulham.
Yeah…and them being relegated does not bode well for MLS level talent.