The Ligue 1 top-six race remains very heated heading into the final weeks, and two U.S. men’s national team players will be part of this weekend’s must-watch showdown.
Tanner Tessmann and Lyon faces a trip to Folarin Balogun and AS Monaco in a top-seven showdown, with only four points separating the two clubs. Tessmann and Lyon are on the outside of the top-six, while Balogun and Monaco are currently third and in the automatic UEFA Champions League places.
The USMNT midfielder has made 23 league appearances for Lyon, scoring one goal. Tessmann has made a smooth adjustment to life in France, featuring in this season’s UEFA Europa League and remaining a consistent player over the final few months.
Balogun recently made his first start since October for Monaco, scoring his first goal of the new year in a 3-1 win over Saint-Etienne. The USMNT forward has four goals to his name this season, battling back from injury to get himself back in the squad.
Monaco earned a 2-0 road win over Lyon back in August and will know a season sweep would play a huge part in them potentially finishing in the top-two.
In Italy, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Juventus square off with Lazio in Serie A play. Christian Pulisic and AC Milan welcomes Bologna to the San Siro.
In England, Haji Wright and Coventry City begin their two-legged playoff series with Sunderland. Tyler Adams and Bournemouth welcome Aston Villa to the Vitality Stadium.
In Germany, Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach travel to recently-crowned champions Bayern Munich. John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel face off with Freiburg.
In Spain, Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis host Osasuna in La Liga play.
Elsewhere, Alex Zendejas and Club America closes their two-legged playoff series against Pachuca. Griffin Yow and Westerlo takes on Sporting Charleroi in Belgian league play. Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split aim for a bounce-back performance against HNK Gorica. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic face off with Hibernian while Dante Polvara and Aberdeen travel to Rangers. George Bello and LASK square off with WSG Tirol in Austrian Bundesliga action.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Antonee Robinson and Fulham host Everton on Saturday.
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth host Aston Villa on Saturday.
Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace visit Tottenham on Sunday.
Championship Playoffs
Haji Wright and Coventry City host Sunderland on Friday. Second leg takes place on May 13.
WSL
Emily Fox and Arsenal host Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Manchester United on Saturday.
Naomi Girma, Catarina Macario, Mia Fishel and Chelsea host Liverpool on Saturday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach visit Bayern Munich on Saturday.
John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel host Freiburg on Saturday.
Gio Reyna, Cole Campbell and Borussia Dortmund visit Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
Lennard Maloney and Mainz visit Bochum on Saturday.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt host St. Pauli on Sunday.
Noahkai Banks and Augsburg visit Stuttgart on Sunday.
Kevin Paredes is OUT (Injury) for Wolfsburg.
James Sands is OUT (Injury) for St. Pauli.
2. Bundesliga
Julian Green, Maximilian Dietz and Greuther Furth visit Hannover on Sunday.
Damion Downs and Cologne visit Nuremberg on Friday.
Johan Gomez and Eintracht Braunschweig visit Elversberg on Saturday.
John Brooks is OUT (Injury) for Hertha Berlin.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd and Waldhof Mannheim host Dynamo Dresden on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis host Osasuna on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan host Bologna on Friday.
Gianluca Busio and Venezia host Fiorentina on Monday.
Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and Juventus visit Lazio on Saturday.
Serie B
Kristoffer Lund and Palermo visit Frosinone on Friday.
Andrija Novakovich and Bari visit Cittadella on Friday.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun and AS Monaco host Tanner Tessmann and Lyon on Saturday.
Jordan Pefok and Stade Reims host Saint-Etienne on Saturday.
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse host Lens on Saturday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Richie Ledezma, Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and PSV visit Feyenoord on Sunday.
Paxten Aaronson and FC Utrecht visit Taylor Booth and FC Twente on Sunday.
Ricardo Pepi is OUT (Injury) for PSV.
Eerste Divisie
Zach Booth and Excelsior visit Jong AZ Alkmaar on Friday.
Women’s Eredivisie
Lily Yohannes and Ajax are off until May 17.
Belgium
Pro League
Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow and Westerlo visit Sporting Charleroi on Friday.
Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege visit Mechelen on Saturday.
Scotland
Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Celtic host Hibernian on Saturday.
Jonathan Tomkinson and Ross County visit St. Johnstone on Saturday.
Dante Polvara and Aberdeen visit Rangers on Sunday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello and LASK host Hartberg on Saturday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split visit HNK Gorica on Sunday.
Denmark
Superliga
Gavin Beavers and Brondby visit Nordsjaelland on Sunday.
Matthew Hoppe and Sonderjyske visit Silkeborg on Sunday.
Jonathan Amon and Lyngby visit Vejle on Monday.
Norway
Eliteserien
Christian Cappis and Viking visit Haugesund on Sunday.
Greece
Super League
Erik Palmer-Brown and Panathiaikos host Olympiakos on Sunday.
Jonathan Gomez and PAOK Salonika host AEK Athens on Sunday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Alex Zendejas and Club America host Pachuca on Saturday.
And Balo is injured … again.