Alex Freeman enjoyed a strong first start for La Liga club Villarreal last Sunday and the young American defender will now aim to reclaim his starting role this weekend.
Freeman played the full 90 minutes in Villarreal’s 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo, rarely putting a foot wrong in the match. The U.S. men’s national team defender completed 96% of his passes (50/52) and won all five of his duels, while also delivering two interceptions and six defensive clearances.
After playing just 70 minutes to date for his new club, Freeman answered the call from manager Marcelino Garcia, giving the 60-year-old something to consider over the final weeks of the season.
With a UEFA Champions League spot all but sealed, Freeman will focus on helping Villarreal claim three points at home against Levante on Saturday. Villarreal has five matches left in the La Liga campaign and for Freeman, consistent starts could be crucial for his confidence heading into a potential FIFA World Cup call-up
In England, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace visit Tyler Adams and AFC Bournemouth in Premier League action. Antonee Robinson and Fulham take on league-leading Arsenal. Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough visit Wrexham in a top-six action.
Elsewhere in Spain, Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid take on Valencia as the La Liga schedule continues.
In Italy, Christian Pulisic and AC Milan visit Sassuolo while Weston McKennie and Juventus host Hellas Verona.
In France, Lindsey Heaps and Lyon welcome Emily Fox and Arsenal to town in UEFA Women’s Champions League action. Tanner Tessmann and Lyon host Rennes in Ligue 1 play. Folarin Balogun and Monaco visit Metz.
In Germany, Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen host RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga Match of the Weekend. Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach face off with Mathis Albert and Borussia Dortmund. Kristoffer Lund and FC Koln visit Union Berlin.
Elsewhere, Auston Trusty and Celtic take on Hibernian in Scottish Premiership play. George Bello, Sam Adineran and LASK face Rheindorf Altach in the Austrian Cup Final. Donovan Pines and Grazer AK host WSG Tirol in Bundesliga play. Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split face NK Varazdin in Croatian league action. Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege visit Royal Antwerp as the Belgian Pro League continues.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
Europe
UEFA Women’s Champions League
Emily Fox and Arsenal visit Lindsey Heaps, Korbin Shrader, Lily Yohannes and Lyon on Sunday. Arsenal leads 2-1 on aggregate.
England
Premier League
Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal on Saturday.
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace visit Tyler Adams and AFC Bournemouth on Sunday.
Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley on Friday.
EFL Championship
Haji Wright and Coventry City visit Watford on Saturday.
George Campbell, Daryl Dike and West Bromwich Albion visit Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough visit Wrexham on Saturday.
Charlie Kelman and Charlton Athletic visit Swansea City on Saturday.
Patrick Agyemang is OUT FOR SEASON (Achilles Injury) for Derby County.
League One
Lynden Gooch and Huddersfield Town visit AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson and Cheltenham Town host Colchester United on Saturday.
WSL
Sam Coffey and Manchester City host Liverpool on Sunday.
Alyssa Thompson, Naomi Girma and Chelsea visit Leicester City on Sunday.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid visit Valencia on Saturday.
Alex Freeman and Villarreal host Levante on Saturday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo‘s Real Sociedad visit Sevilla on Monday.
Segunda Liga
Konrad De La Fuente and AD Ceuta visit Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen host RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Kristoffer Lund and FC Koln on Saturday.
Noahkai Banks and Augsburg visit Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Joe Scally, Gio Reyna and Borussia Moenchengladbach host Mathis Albert and Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg visit Freiburg on Sunday.
Lennard Maloney and Mainz visit St. Pauli on Sunday.
Damion Downs and Hamburg visit Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Cole Campbell and Hoffenheim host Stuttgart on Saturday.
James Sands is OUT FOR SEASON for St. Pauli.
2. Bundesliga
Mael Corboz and Arminia Bielefeld host Bochum on Saturday.
Maxi Dietz, Julian Green and Greuther Furth host Nuremberg on Sunday.
Johan Gomez and Eintracht Braunschweig visit Holstein Kiel on Saturday.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin visit Magdeburg on Sunday.
John Tolkin is OUT (Injury) for Holstein Kiel.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd and Waldhof Mannheim visit Saarbrucken on Saturday.
Mason Toye and Ingolstadt host Erzgebirge Are on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Christian Pulisic and AC Milan visit Sassuolo on Sunday.
Weston McKennie and Juventus host Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Yunus Musah and Atalanta host Genoa on Saturday.
Ben Cremaschi is OUT FOR SEASON (Meniscus Injury) for Parma.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio and Venezia visit Spezia on Friday.
Andrija Novakovich and Reggiana visit Modena on Friday.
Jonathan Klinsmann is OUT FOR SEASON (Neck Injury) for Cesena.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun and Monaco visit Metz on Saturday.
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse visit Strasbourg on Sunday.
Tim Weah and Marseille visit Nantes on Saturday.
Tanner Tessmann and Lyon host Rennes on Sunday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Ricardo Pepi and PSV visit Ajax on Saturday.
Taylor Booth and FC Twente visit AZ Alkmaar on Sunday.
Sergino Dest is OUT (Injury) for PSV.
Scotland
Premiership
Auston Trusty and Celtic visit Hibernian on Sunday.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is OUT (Achilles injury).
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Jordan Pefok and Tondela visit Casa Pia on Sunday.
Belgium
First Division A
Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo host OH Leuven on Saturday.
Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege visit Royal Antwerp on Sunday.
Greece
Super League
Erik Palmer-Brown is OUT (Ankle Injury) for Panathinaikos.
Denmark
Superliagen
Matthew Hoppe and Sonderjyske visit AGF Aarhus on Sunday.
Gavin Beavers and Brondby host Nordsjaelland on Friday.
Jonathan Amon and Vejle visit Randers on Sunday.
1. Division
Neil Pierre and Lyngby host Hillerod on Sunday.
Austria
Cup Final
George Bello, Sam Adineran and LASK face Rheindorf Altach on Friday.
Bundesliga
Donovan Pines and Grazer AK host WSG Tirol on Saturday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split host NK Varazdin on Sunday.
Mexico
Liga MX Playoffs
Alex Zendejas and Club America host Pumas UNAM on Sunday.