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Several of Europe’s top leagues are in their final weekend of action before taking a short break and heading into the New Year so this will be the last major weekend of 2024. The transfer window will also reopen soon and their could be some shifting pieces but for now we have a good amount of on-field action to keep an eye on, so here it is:
Friday
Hellas Verona v AC Milan – 2:45p on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah were both held out of AC Milan’s game last Sunday as they were held to a scoreless draw by Genoa and fell to eight place in the Serie A table. Milan face a Hellas Verona side that are just a point clear of the relegation zone this weekend.
Saturday
Hoffenheim v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scally and Borussia Monchengladbach easily handled Holstein Kiel 4-1 last Saturday and will now travel to Hoffenheim to face the fourteenth place team that has drawn three straight matches.
Werder Bremen v Union Berlin – 9:30a on ESPN+
Jordan Pefok saw another 34’ off the bench last weekend as Union Berlin snapped a three match losing streak while drawing last place Bochum 1-1, just Bochum’s third point on the season. This Saturday Berlin will face a Werder Bremen side that have won two straight matches.
Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad – 10:15a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Luca de la Torre was an unused substitute last weekend in Celta Vigo’s 1-0 loss to Sevilla. Celta fell to thirteenth in the La Liga standings, six points out of the relegation spots. They host Real Sociedad this weekend who are four points ahead of them in the table in seventh place.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal – 12:30p on USA Network
Chris Richards did not make the bench last weekend as he was recently blessed by the birth of his firstborn. However, he also did not see the field midweek (though he was back on the bench) as Palace fell to Arsenal 3-2 in the EFL Cup. Palace face Arsenal again this weekend as Arsenal look to bounce back from a scoreless draw against Everton and Palace look to build on a five match unbeaten streak in EPL play.
Sunday
PSV v Feyenoord – 8:30a on ESPN+
Malik Tilman got a rare rest on Tuesday as Richard Ledezma and Ricardo Pepi both started PSV’s KNVB Beker 8-0 win over Koninklijke HFC Haarlem, with Pepi scoring two of the goals. PSV suffered their second league loss of the season last weekend against Heerenveen and will face a fourth place Feyenoord side that are seven points back.
Fulham v Southampton – 9a on Peacock
Antonee Robinson picked up two more assists (he’s now to six on the season) as Fulham held league leading Liverpool to a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Robinson has been in great form this season and rumors continue to swirl about his future but for now Fulham will host last Southampton who have just one win this season and are coming off a 5-0 loss to Tottenham last weekend.
Manchester United v Bournemouth – 9a on Peacock
Tyler Adams was used as a substitute on Monday, a week after being held out of the squad for rest, as Bournemouth drew with West Ham 1-1. Adams had started the previous four matches before his break. Bournemouth have won three of their last four and pulled into sixth place, three points ahead of their opponent this weekend, thirteenth place Manchester United. United are coming off a midweek Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham but defeated Manchester City 2-1 last weekend.
Venezia v Cagliari – 9a on Paramount+
Gianluca Busio continues to wrack up the Serie A minutes, going another 90’ last weekend in Venezia’s 2-2 draw with Juventus. Venezia remain in last place in Serie A, five points back of safety. This weekend they face a Cagliari side that are four points ahead of them in the last relegation position.
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund – 11:30a on ESPN+
Gio Reyna has suddenly started twice in the past week and picked up a goal last weekend to put Borussia Dortmund ahead of Hoffenheim 1-0 shortly after the break. Unfortunately, BVB would settle for the draw when they gave up a stoppage time goal. Dortmund fell to eighth place with the draw, one point ahead of their opponent this weekend, Wolfsburg.
Monza v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+
Tim Weah and Weston McKennie both started last weekend in Juventus’s 2-2 draw with Venezia and McKennie started again midweek in the team’s 4-0 Italian Cup win, a nice bounce back for a player who recently missed two weeks due to “muscle fatigue”. Weah came off the bench midweek but technically had the assist on Juventus’s fourth goal. Despite not yet suffering a league loss Juventus have fallen to sixth place as they have just six wins through sixteen matches and need to find a way to convert some of those draws to wins if they are doing to close the gap to finish in the top four of the table. They will have their second straight match against a relegation level opponent as they face 19th place Monza on Sunday.
Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano – 3p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Johnny Cardoso has returned from injury to start the last two matches for Real Betis and picked up the only goal of the match on Thursday as Betis defeated Helsinki 1-0 in UEFA Conference League action. Betis are in ninth place and will host Rayo Vallecano this Sunday.