Hello! I hope you had a chance to catch your breath after one of the busiest UEFA Champions League days ever because there's another round of action coming up on Wednesday. Additionally, the US women's national team returns to play on Thursday, so this week will be very busy. I'm Pardeep Kattry with the latest version.
📺 Football fix
All times US/Eastern
Wednesday, October 22
🇪🇺 Champions League: Athletic – Qarabag, 12:45 ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Champions League: Galatasaray – Bodo/Glimt, 12:45 ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇪🇺 Champions League: Chelsea – Ajax, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Champions League: Real Madrid vs Juventus, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Champions League: Sporting Lisbon – Marseille, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇪🇺 Champions League: Monaco – Tottenham Hotspur, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Champions League: Atalanta – Slavia Prague, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Champions League: Eintracht Frankfurt – Liverpool, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Champions League: Bayern Munich – Brugge, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
🇺🇸 MLS Cup Playoffs: Chicago Fire vs. Orlando Pride, 8:30 p.m. ➡️ Apple TV
🇺🇸 MLS Cup Playoffs: Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m. ➡️ Apple TV
Thursday, October 23
🇪🇺 UEL: Go Ahead Eagles – Aston Villa, 12:45 ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
🇪🇺 UEL: Nottingham Forest – Porto, 15:00 ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
🌎 Women's Friendlies: USWNT – Portugal, 19:00 ➡️ TNT
The U.S. women's national team returns to action Thursday in the first of two friendlies against Portugal. This is the first match since head coach Emma Hayes completed a period of expansion of her players in anticipation of next year's Women's World Cup qualifying tournament. Hayes' year in the job means the latest squad includes just seven members of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2024 Olympics, meaning an already impressive group of young players will have ample opportunity to strengthen their position on the long road to the 2027 World Cup.
Some of the USWNT's inexperienced players are not known for their modesty, so the spotlight will likely revolve around them during the October international break. The list includes 18-year-old midfielder Lili Johannes, who returns to the squad for the first time since her summer move from Ajax to Lyon, a major step in her evolution. The move will firstly guarantee her playing time in the UEFA Women's Champions League after Ajax failed to qualify for this season's tournament, but the main benefit may be exposure to some of the world's best players. Lyon are currently coached by Jonathan Giraldes and have assembled one of Europe's strongest club squads under Michel Kang as part of their bid to win the UWCL title for the first time in four years. The team includes USWNT captain Lindsay Heaps, who has had the opportunity to witness Johannes' growth first-hand.
- Heaps: “I'm very glad that Lil was with me in Lyon in the first place. I think she's just such a quality player and such a soccer player, and for her to be out there now and learning from all the players that are there, it's an incredible experience for her, but I also think she fits in so well with our team since she started. I'm really happy for her and I mean she scored some goals. I think you guys probably saw her recent goal in the Champions League, which is absurd when you think about an 18-year-old taking a risk like that. Really, really proud of her.”
Meanwhile, the always competitive USWNT race to start in attack will likely take center stage on Thursday due to the absence of Trinity Rodman, who will miss this international window with MCL sprain. Hayes said the USWNT U-23 member, who is training alongside the senior team in the Philadelphia area this week, will be promoted to her team during the international break but will not be in time for Thursday's game. However, the head coach has no shortage of options and ample minutes with three games in this window. Michelle Cooper, Yazmin Ryan, Emma Sears and Ellie Centnor filled Rodman's usual role at right-back last year, with Centnor being one of the big winners from Hayes' period of experimentation. The 21-year-old is one of three players to play more than 10 games last year and has four goals and two assists to her name, making a strong case for herself in the early stages of the USWNT's World Cup preparations.
Come tomorrow
Paramount+
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