Aussies Abroad Preview: Genreau starts Ligue 1 campaign, Rowles and Atkinson vs Miller in Edinburgh Derby

Denis Genreau kicking off the Ligue 1 season and an Edinburgh Derby with a distinct Australian flavour headlines another big weekend of Aussies abroad action around the globe. 

Check out our preview of all the upcoming Aussies Abroad action! 

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Europe

Starting in France, where Toulouse FC and Denis Genreau kick off their Ligue 1 campaigns with a home match against OGC Nice at 9pm (AEST) on Sunday. 

Since making the move from Macarthur FC after the Olyroos Olympics campaign and the Socceroos qualifiers in June last year,  Genreau flourished with the French side and racked up 34 appearances as Toulouse won Ligue 2 and secured promotion. 

Last season, Toulouse held first place in Ligue 2 for 30 of the 38-week season but this time around, the task ahead presents a much different challenge. A strong pre-season, which included wins against Montpellier and Real Sociedad, has the team in the best possible position for success but ultimately, the goal will be to avoid relegation. 


In Germany, Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe will resume the 2. Bundesliga season with FC St. Pauli when they travel to FC Kaiserslautern on Sunday at 9:30pm (AEST). Following a last-gasp 4-3 victory in the cup in their last outing, St. Pauli will be looking to translate their form to continue their unbeaten start to the season. 

Following a huge victory over Club Brugge with ten men, Jason Davidson and James Jeggo's K.A.S Eupen will be looking to claim another big scalp when they travel to K.R.C. Genk on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

 

In Italy, Fran Karačić will kick off his campaign with Brescia Calcio when they play Pisa S.C. in the Coppa Italia first round on Sunday at 1:45am (AEST).

Meanwhile, in Denmark, Joel King's Odense Boldklub will be aiming to pick up their first win of the Danish Superliga season when they host AGF Aarhus on Monday at 2am (AEST). 

Over in Spain, Awer Mabil will wrap up his pre-season with Cadiz CF when they travel to Sevilla on Sunday at 5am (AEST). Mabil also played 15 minutes off the bench as Cadiz lost 4-1 to Atletico Madrid on Friday. 

Maty Ryan will be hoping to cap off his pre-season with his first minutes of the summer when Real Sociedad play Athletic Club on Saturday at 4:45 am. 

In Olyroos abroad news, Alou Kuol will be aiming for a place in VfB Stuttgart's squad when they kick off the Bundesliga season against RB Leipzig on Sunday at 11:30pm (AEST). Kuol featured throughout pre-season and was an unused substitute in their DFB-Pokal Cup match last weekend. 

Josh Rawlins will also be hoping to earn a place in the matchday squad when FC Utrecht kick off the Eredivisie against RKC Waalwijk on Sunday morning at 5am (AEST). 

United Kingdom

Starting in Scotland, where Aaron Mooy and Celtic travel to Ross County in Round 2 of the Scottish Premiership on Sunday morning at 12am (AEST). Mooy came off the bench and played seven minutes to close out Celtic's 2-0 victory over Aberdeen in their last outing, so he will be hoping to build on that. 

Nathaniel Atkinson and Kye Rowles will also be in action when Heart of Midlothian travel to Lewis Miller's Hibernian on Sunday night at 9pm (AEST) in the Edinburgh Derby.  Atkinson was forced off in the first half of Hearts' last match after struggling with his energy levels following illness, but he will be available for selection against Hibs. 


Aziz Behich will be hoping to make his Scottish Premiership debut when Dundee United host Livingston on Monday morning at 12am (AEST). Dundee will be full of confidence after beating AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in the first leg of their third-round Europa Conference League qualifier on Friday.

In England, Riley McGree and Middlesbrough will be looking for their first win of the Championship season when they travel to London to face off against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday morning at 12am (AEST). 

Kenny Dougall's Blackpool FC also play Stoke City on Sunday morning at 12am (AEST) while Bailey Wright's Sunderland face off against Bristol City at the same time. 


In Olyroos Abroad news, Tyrese Francois will be aiming to be involved in Fulham's opening day Premier League match against Liverpool on Saturday at 9:30am (AEST). 

Jacob Chapman could also feature in Huddersfield's squad to take on Birmingham City on Saturday at 4:45am (AEST). The 21-year-old goalkeeper was an unused substitute in Huddersfield's 1-0 loss to Burnley in their last Championship outing. 

In League One, Jay Rich-Baghuelou will be aiming for back-to-back starts when Accrington Stanley travel to Shrewsbury Town on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

Having scored in his League Two debut for Crewe Alexandra FC, Lachlan Brook will be looking to continue his form when Crewe host Harrogate Town on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 


Meanwhile, Cameron Peupion could also be in action for Brighton & Hove Albion's under-21s on Friday when they kick off the Premier League 2 season against Crystal Palace on Tuesday morning at 4am (AEST). 

Asia & The Middle East

Fresh from sealing a move to Al-Wakrah SC in Qatar, Trent Sainsbury lined up for his new club in the opening game of the Qatar Stars League on Thursday. The Socceroos defender played 90 minutes in the heart of defence and grabbed a goal on debut. 

Sainsbury will be in action again when Al-Wakrah play Al-Gharafa SC on Thursday at 12:30am (AEST). 

In Japan, another Aussie managed to get himself on the score sheet. Adam Taggart played the last 20 minutes of Cerezo Osaka's J. League Cup tie against Kawasaki Frontale and scored the equaliser in the 89th minute with a neat finish inside the six-yard box. 

Cerezo host Vissel Kobe on Saturday at 8pm (AEST) in J.League action as they look to break into the top three. 

Elsewhere in Japan, Mitch Duke's Fagiano Okayama face off against Iwate Grulla Morioka on Saturday at 7pm (AEST). Fagiano will be hoping to return to winning ways against mid-table position after three consecutive draws. 

The United States

Finishing with Major League Soccer, where Socceroos defender Miloš Degenek and his Columbus Crew side will be in action on Sunday at 9:30am (AEST) against New York City. Having lost their previous match against CF Montréal, Columbus will be looking to bounce back against the second-placed team on the Eastern Conference ladder.