Soccer Monday: Bundesliga returns, Napoli keeps winning and USMNT opens post-Qatar camp
Soccer Monday: Bundesliga returns, Napoli keeps winning and USMNT opens post-Qatar camp
Here's what you might have missed this weekend
It was another action-packed weekend of soccer this past weekend from across the world and right here at home.
The Bundesliga returned after its annual winter break (made longer by the recent World Cup), while Serie A saw Napoli’s continued domination. The USMNT is back training together, albeit with many new faces, as it prepares to start the year with a win.
Here are the three biggest stories from this weekend.
3. Bundesliga returns from winter break
After a 10-week break, the German top flight returned this weekend from their extended winter break. Leaders Bayern Munich recorded a 1-1 road draw on Friday against RB Leipzig.
SC Freiburg had the chance on Saturday to close the gap at the top of the table to two points with a win against Wolfsburg. Instead, SC Freiburg collapsed in their first competitive match of the year, losing 6-0 to Wolfsburg.
In another lopsided outcome, Koln slaughtered Werder Bremen 7-1, recording the team’s biggest league win in 40 years.
2. Can anyone stop Napoli?
The answer appears to be no as the team continues to win games in a quest to capture the Serie A title.
Napoli earned a 2-0 road win in the Campania derby against Salernitana thanks to goals by Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Victor Osimhen. The win puts Napoli at 50 points, 12 away from second-place AC Milan who plays Tuesday against Lazio.
Juventus, who have been deducted 15 points for financial wrongdoing, went from third place to ninth following its 3-3 game on Sunday against Atalanta.
1. USMNT back in training
The Americans are back at it after reaching the round of 16 at the recent World Cup in Qatar.
The team opened its January camp on Saturday in Southern California with interim manager Anthony Hudson calling up 24 players ahead of friendlies against Serbia and Colombia to open up the year.
The roster only includes five players who took part in the World Cup. The remaining spots were given to players looking to make their first senior USMNT appearance.
The U.S. takes on Serbia Wednesday at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles and Colombia on Jan. 28 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.