US men’s national team star Christian Pulisic was slated to start Chelsea’s Premier League game Saturday against Burnley, but picked up an undisclosed injury in warmups.
Pulisic scored midweek in Champions League action for Chelsea, a 4-0 win against Russian side FC Krasnodar. He previously missed the opening stage of the 2020-21 season while recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in last year’s FA Cup final.
Pulisic’s status will be watched closely, particularly ahead of the USMNT’s upcoming friendly Nov. 12 against Wales.
Dest and Konrad start on the bench for Barcelona
Sergino Dest began Barcelona's La Liga match at Alaves on the bench and had company from a US compatriot in the form of Konrad de la Fuente. The 19-year-old was looking to get his first league minutes of the season while Dest started Barcelona's last La Liga outing, a 3-1 defeat in El Clasico to Real Madrid.
Only Dest got off the bench, however, with the US men's national team full back coming on in the 69th minute, though he was unable to prevent Barcelona dropping two points in a 1-1 draw.
Sargent scores in Bundesliga
USMNT forward Josh Sargent scored his first goal of the 2020-21 Bundesliga season for Werder Bremen, bagging the opener in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Sargent made it 1-0 in the 51st minute, capping off a breakaway with a powerful right-footed finish. Check out the highlight below:
Sargent had four goals and four assists last Bundesliga season, helping Werder Bremen narrowly stave off relegation. He scored in their DFB-Pokal match earlier this year, but was held goalless in five prior league games.
Henry scores for Suwon
It’s nearly been a year since Canada national team center back Doneil Henry joined Suwon Samsung Bluewings from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and now he has his first goal for the K League 1 club.
In their match Saturday against Gangwon FC, Henry powerfully headed home the opener in the seventh minute of an eventual 2-1 win. Check out the goal below, with Henry previously starting his MLS career in 2010 with Toronto FC:
Steffen not in City squad
Manchester City earned a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday, but USMNT goalkeeper Zack Steffen didn’t make the Premier League side’s matchday squad after suffering a small knock, according to Manchester Evening News reporter Simon Bajkowski.
While Steffen still awaits his debut in England’s top flight, he’s backed up Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson in their previous five EPL matches this season.
Steffen, however, has already made two Carabao Cup starts for Manchester City since spending the 2019-20 season on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Bundesliga. As for his MLS roots, he was with Columbus Crew SC before heading to Europe.
Marsch sets record
After a 5-0 win Saturday over WSG Swarovski Tirol, Red Bull Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch is the first coach in Austrian Bundesliga history to win 28 of his first 38 games. It comes at an ideal time, too, as they'll face German powerhouse and defending champions Bayern Munich midweek in UEFA Champions League action.
Before heading overseas, Marsch coached two different MLS clubs in the New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact.
Other Bundesliga notes
Giovanni Reyna (NYCFC youth alum) played the final 15 minutes of Borussia Dortmund’s 2-0 win Arminia Bielefeld, while FC Dallas youth product Chris Richards made the bench for Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win against 1. FC Koln.
RB Leipzig faced Borussia Monchengladbach later in the day, but Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls academy product) didn't make the matchday squad as he recovers from injury.
Dundee duo wins
Former D.C. United midfielder Ian Harkes started and went 77 minutes in Dundee United's 2-1 win Saturday over Ross County, ending a stretch of two straight draws. As for former Colorado Rapids and Orlando City SC midfielder Dillon Powers, he didn't feature off the bench.
Harkes joined the Scottish Premiership side for the 2019 campaign, while Powers is in his first year with the club. They're currently fifth in the league table.
Palmer-Brown goes the distance
Former Sporting Kansas City center back Erik Palmer-Brown played the full 90 minutes in Austria Wien's 2-1 league loss Saturday against Hartberg. He's currently on loan from Manchester City and has started five Austrian Bundesliga games over the last month-plus.
