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Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Bocanegra Celtic (Reuters)


By FRANCO PANIZO

Rangers' hopes of winning the league for a fourth consecutive season are all but over, but that likely won't stop this weekend's match against first-place Celtic from being as fervent as usual.

Rangers host Celtic on Sunday in a game that should still be intense despite Celtic's 21-point lead in the league. Making the Old Firm derby even more interesting is the fact that this could be the last one in which Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya participate, as Rangers heads into an offseason full of uncertainty.

This weekend also marks the beginning of the season in Norway, and that means Josh Gatt and Molde FK's Eliteserien title defense will officially get underway. Gatt should be in the starting lineup for Molde in its game with Stromsgodset after being recalled from the U.S. Under-23 men's national team this past Sunday.

Another marquee match to keep an eye on is Tottenham's visit to Chelsea, where Brad Friedel and Spurs will try to end their recent slump. Tottenham has failed to win their last four league games.

Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:

FRIDAY

Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Dynamo Dresden.

Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Stromsgodset.

SATURDAY

Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Chelsea.

Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Arsenal.

Stuart Holden, Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers play Adam Henley and Blackburn Rovers. (Holden is out injured.)

Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann and Everton play Swansea City.

Daniel Potts and West Ham United play Burnley.

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Crystal Palace. (Doyle is out injured.)

Robbie Rogers and Leeds United play Millwall.

Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Brighton.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Colchester United.

Mike Grella and Bury play Preston North End.

Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Stevenage.

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Bayern Munich.

Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Joe Gyau and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Borussia Moenchengladbach. (Gyau is with the U.S. Under-23 men's national team.)

Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play Mainz.

Andrew Wooten and Kaiserslautern play SC Freiburg.

Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen.

Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC play SpVgg Greuther Furth.

Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Lille.

Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Lyon.

Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Feirense. (Onyewu is out injured.)

Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Lillestrom.

Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna play Queretaro.

Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis play Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante.

Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Atlas. (Corona is with the U.S. Under-23 men's national team.)

SUNDAY

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Cardiff City.

Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Dominic Cervi and Celtic.

Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona play Siena.

Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play VfB Stuttgart.

Terrence Boyd and Borussia Dortmund play FC Cologne. (Boyd is with the U.S. Under-23 men's national team.)

Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play MSV Duisburg.

Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play RKC Waalwijk.

Eugene Starikov and Zenit St Petersburg play FK Rubin Kazan.

Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE.

Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play AC Horsens.

Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF Lyngby.

Brad Rusin and HB Koge play Odense BK.

Ricardo Clark, Sean Cunningham and Stabaek IF play Aalesund.

DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Cruz Azul.

Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Pumas UNAM.

MONDAY

Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Manchester United.

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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Do you see Bocanegra, Edu, Bedoya and Rangers topping Celtic? Excited by the return of the Eliteserien? Think Friedel will help Tottenham to victory versus Chelsea?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Not that there is a rush or need at the present moment but, what is Holden’s projected return to regular football?

    I hate how you have to preface comments on here because people get so offended you inquire about an injured player.

    Reply
  2. My best analogy for the SPL is like forming a single elimination boxing tournament by inviting Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, and six kids fro West Point’s plebe boxing class. Of course, noone cares about boxing anymore either……..

    Reply
  3. I’m in Florida, and I care. May not be packed with star power like Real vs Barca or Man U vs Man City, but it’s still one of the oldest rivalries in the sport. I’m really excited for the Old Firm, but that’s just me.

    Reply

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