By OkayGoal
Alex Freeman enjoyed a productive international break with the U.S. Men’s National Team but now turns his sights back to La Liga action and a trip to one of the world’s iconic venues.
Freeman and Villarreal resume their league schedule on Saturday against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. The USMNT defender is coming off a busy window, featuring in all four of the squad’s friendlies on home soil.
Freeman entered the break off the back of consecutive starts for Villarreal, a positive sign after bouncing between the starting lineup and bench earlier in the season. After logging nine appearances in his first season with Villarreal, the 22-year-old Freeman has improved as a defender, forcing his way into more playing time this fall.
In what will be Villarreal’s first match in a seven-fixture October, Freeman will hope to lead the club to a historic road win.
In England, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United resume Premier League action with a trip to reigning champions Arsenal. Sebastian Berhalter, Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough take on Wolves in one of the mouthwatering contests of the weekend. Jack McGlynn and Stoke City visit Bolton Wanderers.
In Spain, Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid take on Deportivo Alaves in La Liga action.
In Italy, Weston McKennie and Juventus visit Cagliari while Christian Pulisic and AC Milan take a trip to Sassuolo.
In Germany, Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen continue Bundesliga play against Mainz. Mathis Albert and Borussia Dortmund take on Werder Bremen.
In France, Folarin Balogun and Monaco face off with Mark McKenzie and Toulouse. Gio Reyna and Strasbourg visit Nice.
Elsewhere, Sergino Dest and PSV face a showdown against Heerenveen in Eredivisie action. Diego Kochen and Lyngby take on Brondby in Danish league play. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic take on Motherwell in SPFL play. Liga MX play pushes forward with Alex Zendejas and Club America hosting Monterrey while Danny Leyva and Necaxa visit Pachuca.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth visit Chelsea on Saturday.
Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United visit Arsenal on Saturday.
Chris Richards, Zavier Gozo and Crystal Palace host Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Haji Wright is OUT (Quad Injury) for Coventry City.
EFL Championship
Sebastian Berhalter, Aidan Morris, Max Arfsten, Rokas Pukstas and Middlesbrough host Wolves on Saturday.
Jack McGlynn, Luca Bombino and Stoke City visit Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
George Campbell and West Bromwich Albion host Kristoffer Lund and Birmingham City on Saturday.
Charlie Kelman and Charlton Athletic host Bristol City on Saturday.
Caleb Wiley and Preston North End host Millwall on Saturday.
Patrick Agyemang is OUT (Injury Recovery) for Derby County.
League One
Lynden Gooch and Huddersfield Town host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson and Cheltenham Town host Salford City on Saturday.
Julian Eyestone and Rotherham United host Gillingham on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Alex Freeman and Villarreal visit Real Madrid on Saturday.
Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid visit Alaves on Saturday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Real Sociedad host Deportivo A Coruna on Sunday.
La Liga 2
Konrad De La Fuente and Sporting Gijon visit Cadiz on Sunday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen visit Lennard Maloney and Mainz on Saturday.
Cole Campbell and Elversberg visit Union Berlin on Sunday.
Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach visit FC Koln on Sunday.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt visit RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Mathis Albert and Borussia Dortmund host Werder Bremen on Friday.
Santiago Casteneda and Paderborn host Stuttgart on Saturday.
2. Bundesliga
John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel visit Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday.
Jordan Pefok, Julian Green and Greuther Furth visit Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd and Waldhof Mannheim visit Sonnenhof Grobaspach on Saturday.
Italy
Serie A
Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan visit Sassuolo on Sunday.
Weston McKennie and Juventus visit Cagliari on Sunday.
Ben Cremaschi and Parma visit Inter Milan on Saturday.
Gianluca Busio is OUT (Injury) for Venezia.
Serie B
Jonathan Klinsmann and Cesena visit Benevento on Saturday.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun and Monaco host Mark McKenzie and Toulouse on Saturday.
Gio Reyna and Strasbourg visit Nice on Sunday.
Tanner Tessmann and Lyon visit Lens on Friday.
Bryan Reynolds and Stade Rennes host Auxerre on Sunday.
Tim Weah is OUT (Suspension) for Marseille.
Ligue 2
Mael Corboz and Grenoble visit Montpellier on Friday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Ricardo Pepi, Sergino Dest and PSV host Heerenveen on Friday.
Kevin Paredes and FC Utrecht host Willem II on Sunday.
Scotland
Premiership
Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic visit Motherwell on Sunday.
J.J. Williams and Hearts host St. Mirren on Saturday.
C.J. Fodrey and Falkirk host Matai Akinmboni and Dundee FC on Saturday.
Championship
Christopher Cupps and Greenock Morton visit Arbroath on Saturday.
Denmark
Superliagen
Diego Kochen and Lyngby visit Brondby on Sunday.
Matthew Hoppe and Sonderjyske visit AGF Aarhus on Monday.
Austria
Bundesliga
Donovan Pines and Grazer AK host Red Bull Salzburg on Saturday.
George Bello, Sam Adineran and LASK host Rapid Vienna on Sunday.
2. Liga
Jonathan Amon and SKN St. Poelten visit First Vienna FC on Friday.
Belgium
First Division A
Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege host Sporting Charleroi on Sunday.
Poland
Ekstraklasa
Maxi Dietz and Gornik Zabrze visit Jagiellonia Bialystok on Saturday.
Greece
Super League
Erik Palmer-Brown and Panathinaikos visit Olympiakos on Sunday.
Israel
Liga Ha’Al
Kenny Saief, Andrija Novakovich and Maccabi Haifa visit Hapoel Jerusalem on Monday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Alex Zendejas and Club America host Monterrey on Saturday.
Danny Leyva and Necaxa visit Pachuca on Sunday.