Two of the WSL’s title challengers face off this weekend in a highly-anticipated London Derby.
Catarina Macario, Alyssa Thompson, Naomi Girma and Chelsea travel to face Emily Fox and Arsenal in Saturday’s headlining contest. All four U.S. women’s national team players returned to league play last weekend, with only Fox seeing action.
Macario is still seeking her first goal of the season for Chelsea after bagging 11 in all competitions a season ago. The USWNT attacker scored twice on international duty against New Zealand and should be well-rested after being an unused substitute last Saturday.
Thompson has scored once in seven appearances for the Blues since joining from Angel City FC earlier this summer. The 20-year-old featured in both of the USWNT’s matches against Portugal before being rested against New Zealand in October’s finale.
Girma, who has missed most of the current campaign through injury, recently returned to the bench in Saturday’s 2-0 win over London City Lionesses. The veteran defender was not called in for USWNT duty, with head coach Emma Hayes hoping the break allowed Girma to get back to full fitness.
Fox has registered one assist in nine appearances for Arsenal this season, coming off of the bench in Sunday’s 4-1 road win over Leicester City. The veteran fullback remains a key defender for the Gunners and could square off with both Macario and Thompson on the left flank.
Chelsea comes into the match sitting top of the WSL table on 19 points and the Blues defeated Arsenal in both league meetings last season.
Elsewhere in England, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace take on Brighton & Hove Albion. Tyler Adams and Bournemouth visit Aston Villa. Haji Wright and Coventry City take on Stoke City.
In Spain, Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid host Levante in La Liga action.
In Italy, Weston McKennie and Juventus face Torino in a Turin Derby. Jonathan Klinsmann and Cesena host Avellino.
In Germany, Joe Scally, Gio Reyna and Borussia Moenchengladbach host Kristoffer Lund and FC Koln. Noahkai Banks and Augsburg visit Stuttgart.
Elsewhere, Auston Trusty and Celtic face Kilmarnock in Scottish Premiership play. Donovan Pines and Grazer take on Austria Vienna. Richie Ledezma and Chivas take on Monterrey. Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split face a tough league test against Osijek. Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo visit Sporting Charleroi. Benji Michel and HJK close their league schedule against KuPS.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth visit Aston Villa on Sunday.
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace host Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
Antonee Robinson is OUT (Knee Injury) for Fulham.
Championship
Haji Wright and Coventry City visit Stoke City on Saturday.
Josh Sargent and Norwich City host Leicester City on Saturday.
Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough host Birmingham City on Saturday.
Caleb Wiley and Watford host Bristol City on Friday.
George Campbell, Daryl Dike and West Bromwich Albion host Oxford United on Saturday.
Ethan Horvath and Sheffield Wednesday visit Damion Downs and Southampton on Saturday.
Patrick Agyemang and Derby County visit Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Charlie Kelman and Charlton Athletic visit Wrexham on Saturday.
League One
Lynden Gooch and Huddersfield Town host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
Dom Dwyer and Mansfield Town host Northampton Town on Saturday.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson and Cheltenham Town host Notts County on Monday.
National League
Aidan Dausch and Forest Green Rovers visit Aldershot Town on Saturday.
WSL
Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Manchester United host Aston Villa on Saturday.
Catarina Macario, Naomi Girma, Alyssa Thompson and Chelsea visit Emily Fox and Arsenal on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid host Levante on Saturday.
La Liga 2
Konrad De La Fuente and AD Ceuta host Almeria on Sunday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen host FC Heidenheim on Saturday.
James Sands and St. Pauli visit Freiburg on Sunday.
Joe Scally, Gio Reyna and Borussia Moenchengladbach host Kristoffer Lund and FC Koln on Saturday.
Noahkai Banks and Augsburg visit Stuttgart on Sunday.
Cole Campbell and Borussia Dortmund visit Hamburg on Saturday.
Lennard Maloney and Mainz visit Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Kevin Paredes is OUT (Injury) for Wolfsburg.
2. Bundesliga
John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel host Fortuna Dusseldorf on Sunday.
Johan Gomez and Eintracht Braunschweig host Bochum on Sunday.
Mael Corboz and Arminia Bielefeld host Karlsruher on Saturday.
Julian Green, Maxi Dietz and Greuther Furth host Preussen Munster on Friday.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin visit Kaiserslautern on Saturday.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd and Waldhof Mannheim visit Duisburg on Friday.
Italy
Serie A
Weston McKennie and Juventus host Torino on Saturday.
Yunus Musah and Atalanta host Sassuolo on Saturday.
Christian Pulisic and AC Milan visit Ben Cremaschi and Parma on Saturday.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio and Venezia host Sampdoria on Saturday.
Jonathan Klinsmann and Cesena host Avellino on Sunday.
Andrija Novakovich and Reggiana host Virtus Entella on Saturday.
France
Ligue 1
Tim Weah and Marseille host Stade Brest on Saturday.
Folarin Balogun and Monaco host Lens on Saturday.
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse visit Lorient on Sunday.
Tanner Tessmann and Lyon host Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
Premiere Ligue
Lindsey Heaps, Korbin Shrader, Lily Yohannes visit Montpellier on Friday.
Crystal Dunn and PSG host Fleury on Saturday.
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Jordan Pefok and Tondela host Vitoria de Guimaraes on Saturday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi and PSV visit AZ Alkmaar on Sunday.
Zach Booth and Excelsior host Heracles Almelo on Saturday.
Taylor Booth and FC Twente host Telstar on Friday.
Scotland
Premiership
Auston Trusty and Celtic host Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is OUT (Achilles injury).
Dante Polvara and Aberdeen host Motherwell on Sunday.
Belgium
Pro League
Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow and Westerlo visit Sporting Charleroi on Saturday.
Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege visit Sint-Truiden on Sunday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello and LASK host Rheindorf Altach on Sunday.
Donovan Pines and Grazer AK visit Austria Vienna on Saturday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split host Osijek on Saturday.
Greece
Super League
Erik Palmer-Brown and Panathinaikos host PAOK Thessaloniki on Sunday.
Denmark
Superliagen
Matthew Hoppe and Sonderjyske visit Aarhus on Sunday.
Jonathan Amon and Vejle host FC Kobenhaven on Sunday.
Gavin Beavers and Brondby host Nordsjaelland on Sunday.
Finland
Veikkausliga
Benji Michel and HJK host KuPS on Sunday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Cade Cowell, Richie Ledezma and Chivas host Monterrey on Saturday.
Alex Zendejas is OUT (Injury) for Club America.
