Freddie Ljungberg will change in the visitors’ locker room at Qwest Field Saturday night as the Chicago Fire make the trip to Seattle to tangle with the Sounders.

“It’s going to be weird,” he told the Fire’s official Web site. “I have a lot of friends there, so it’s going to be weird in that way. But I’ve played against friends before – you just have to put your friendship away for 90 minutes and get on with it.”

Whether the Sounders faithful, sure to be in a foul mood anyway after the team’s 2-0 loss to Monterrey FC in CONCACAF Champions League play in mid-week, greet him warmly is another matter all together.

Here is this weekend’s slate:

Saturday, August 28
Columbus vs. FC Dallas, TeleFutura, 4 p.m.
Toronto FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m.
New England vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose, 7:30 p.m.
Colorado vs. Houston, FSC, 9:30 p.m.
Los Angeles vs. Kansas City, 10:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 29
Chivas USA vs. DC United, ESPN2, 10 p.m.

News and notes

Sports Illustrated’s Steve Davis is pleased with the playoff-level intensity that league matches are featuring these days. … The Washington Post’s Steven Goff has several interesting tidbits on his blog, including DaMarcus Beasley’s next club destination. … Fanhouse has a feature up on Danny Mwanga that’s worth a read.