Socceroos Abroad: Festive fixtures get underway

There was plenty of Socceroos abroad action over the weekend as the festive fixtures got into full swing in Europe. 

There will be more action this weekend, with games coming quickly in the next few weeks. 

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Here is a recap and look ahead for all the latest Socceroos abroad news. 

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In Spain's La Liga, Maty Ryan (cap #555) put in a solid display for Levante in the side's 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad on Sunday. The Socceroos captain made five saves to preserve a point for his team. La Liga will resume in early January. 

Plenty of Socceroos received game time in the EFL Championship on Sunday, with more matches coming this weekend. 

Lewis Miller (cap #635) produced a standout performance for Blackburn Rovers, playing a full game in defence as they won 2-0 against Millwall on Sunday. The defender won nine of his 11 ground duels and two tackles, helping the side keep their first clean sheet since early November. 

Riley McGree (cap #509) went off in the 16th minute following an injury in Middlesbrough's 2-0 loss to Bristol City on Sunday. Sam Silvera (cap #634) was on the Middlesbrough bench. 

Middlesbrough host Blackburn on Saturday at 2:00 am (AEST). 

Nestory Irankunda (cap #643) came on after 76 minutes for Watford as they picked up a 1-0 win against Stoke City on Sunday. The winger could get some minutes on Saturday at 2:00 am (AEST) away to Leicester City. 

Hayden Matthews (cap #648) scored an own goal in his full game for Portsmouth as the side drew 1-1 with Derby County. Callum Elder (cap #614) played a full game for Derby, while September window call-up Adrian Segecic came on in the 66th minute for Portsmouth. 

Cameron Burgess (cap #633) played a full game for Swansea City in a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Wrexham on Sunday. Despite scoring an own goal, the defender made 14 clearances, two blocks and an interception as Swansea secured their seventh win of the Championship campaign. Swansea travel to Coventry City on Saturday at 2:00 am (AEST). 

In EFL League One, Alex Robertson (cap #630) played 74 minutes, scoring an own goal as Cardiff City lost 2-1 in Lincoln on Sunday. Cardiff will look to get back to winning ways at home to Exeter City on Saturday at 2:00 am (AEST).

Elsewhere in the competition on Sunday, Joe Gauci (cap #631) was on the bench for Port Vale's 1-0 loss to Peterborough. Gauci could be back in the starting team when Port Vale travel to Huddersfield on Saturday at 2:00 am (AEST). 

Shifting to Germany, Jackson Irvine (cap #568) played a full game for St. Pauli as the side drew 0-0 with Mainz on Monday morning. Connor Metcalfe (cap #611) was on St. Pauli's bench. 

St. Pauli return to action in early January, with Bundesliga football back underway soon after. 

Moving over to Scotland, Martin Boyle (cap #599) scored Hibernian's only goal in a 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Sunday. November window call-up Jack Iredale played a full game for Hibs. 

Cameron Devlin (cap #625) played a full game for Hearts on Monday in a 2-1 win against Rangers. 

Hearts travel to Hibernian on Saturday at 11:30 pm (AEST). 

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (cap #644) was subbed on in the 72nd minute for Motherwell in their 1-0 win against Dundee FC on Sunday morning. The striker could get some minutes away to Rangers on Sunday at 2:00 am (AEST). 

Concluding the Scottish action last weekend, Nicholas Milanovic (cap #651) was on Aberdeen's bench for their 3-1 loss to Celtic on Monday. 

In the Eredivisie, Ajdin Hrustic (cap #589) played all of Heracles' 3-0 loss to SC Heerenveen on Sunday morning. 

Continuing in the Netherlands top flight on Sunday, Max Balard (cap #652) played a full game for NAC Breda as they went down 1-0 to Telstar.

The Eredivisie will resume in mid-January of next year.  

On Sunday evening, Milos Degenek (cap #585) played all of TSC Backa Topola's 1-0 win against OFK Beograd in the Serbian Super Liga. 

Moving to Croatia, Fran Karacic (cap #607) and September call-up Anthony Kalik made the bench for Hajduk Split in a 2-1 win over Vukovar 91 on Monday morning. 

Hajduk Split will return to football in Croatia late January. 

In Spain's second tier, Awer Mabil (cap #597) played 86 minutes for Castellon in a 2-0 loss against Cadiz on Monday morning. 

In Belgium, Ryan Teague (cap #649) made the bench for KV Mechelen in a 1-0 loss to St. Truiden on Monday. 

In EFL League Two, Gethin Jones (cap #639) played all of MK Dons' 4-0 win against Harrogate Town on Sunday. Jones will be in action again this Saturday when MK Dons host Swindon Town at 2:00 am (AEST). 

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In EFL League One, Raphael Borges Rodrigues continued his run of starts, playing a full game for Wigan Athletic in a 2-0 loss against Blackpool on Sunday. Wigan are away to Bradford on Saturday at 2:00 am (AEST).