The American weekend preview

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jan 20, 2023

The Bundesliga returns this weekend. That means Gio Reyna is back in action at Borussia Dortmund as well as Jordan Pefok with Union Berlin, among others.

Soccer on TV: Weekend Viewing

SATURDAY

• Union Berlin vs. Hoffenheim (Bundesliga, 9:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+)
 
Union held the Bundesliga lead for the first time in its history in the fall and topped the standings until Matchday 13. It's still in contention for a Champions League berth next season, sitting in fifth place, but it needs Jordan Pefok to rediscover his form. He had three Bundesliga goals for Union at the start of the season but hasn't scored in the last four months.

• Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle United (Premier League, 12:30 pm. ET, NBC, Universo)

Chris Richards' promising first Premier League start for Crystal Palace in a 1-1 tie with Manchester United should earn him another start at Selhurst Park in place of injured Joachim Andersen.

Premier League Mornings Live Fan Fest: NBC Sports’ studio crew goes live with an on-site broadcast of Premier League action on Saturday and Sunday at Universal CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort.  Special guests will join Alan Shearer and Gary Cahill and stars of other sports.

• Inter Miami vs. Vasco da Gama (friendly, 7 p.m. ET)

Inter Miami's biggest match of the preseason is its first friendly of 2023 against Vasco da Gama at DRV PNK Stadium. Inter Miami signed Josef Martinez on Wednesday and completed the permanent transfer of Leo Campana on Friday. Vasco is one of Brazil's most famous clubs but has bounced back and forth between the top two flights three times in the last decade.

SUNDAY

• Leeds United vs. Brentford (Premier League, 9 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Leeds crushed Cardiff City, 5-2, in their midweek FA Cup replay, but the pressure remains firmly on manager Jesse Marsch. Leeds has not won a league match since Nov. 5 and is just two points out of last place with seven teams bunched in what shapes up to be an intense relegation fight.

On Friday, Marsch dismissed reports of dissent in his locker room: "I can be criticized for a lot of things. right? And it's not like you just went on results and that's what the discussion has been is. The results haven't been good enough, that's enough fodder. I don't think anyone needs to try to invent anything else."

• Borussia Dortmund vs. Augsburg (Bundesliga, 9:30 a.m. ET,  ESPN+)

Soccer returns at Signal Iduna Park after a Bundesliga layoff of 10 weeks. A sellout crowd of more than 80,000 fans is expected. The eyes of American fans will be on Gio Reyna, who should play his first competitive match since all the post-World Cup revelations about American soccer's biggest soap opera ever.

Reyna's playing time averaged just 24 minutes as it was slowly built up in the fall. He should get plenty of chances this winter and spring to show what he can do. Dortmund sits in sixth place with 19 games still to play in the Bundesliga, in addition to its DFB Pokal and Champions League campaigns, which resume in February.

 • Juventus vs. Atalanta (Serie A, 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+)

While there continues to be a lot of speculation about his future — including reports that he passed on offers from Aston Villa and Bournemouth — Weston McKennie will be a mainstay in the Juve midfield until he isn't.

The Texan has started all four Juve games since the World Cup break and assisted on the opening goal in the 2-1 win over Monza in the Coppa Italia on Thursday.

Photo: Anke Waelischmiller/Sven Simon/dpa via ZUMA Press/ISI Photos