The German Bundesliga is about to return from its winter break, and for Fabian Johnson that presents an opportunity to pick up right where he left off.

Johnson enjoyed a strong first half to Borussia Moenchengladbach’s campaign, and will aim to carry that form over into 2016. His first opponent of the new year will come on Saturday, when Moenchengladbach hosts second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Both teams are currently trying to solidify their standings in the quest for UEFA Champions League spots, so there will be plenty at stake as the two do battle at Borussia Park.

A match-up of the top two teams in Germany might be intriguing, but some observers and fans might be more interested in Saturday’s clash of U.S. Men’s National Team centerbacks. Ventura Alvarado and Omar Gonzalez are expected to compete against one another when Club America welcomes Pachuca to Estadio Azteca, and there will surely be plenty of eyeballs on each of them. Alvarado and Gonzalez probably will not be seeing much of each other from the run of play, but they could look to get the best of one another if they face off directly on set pieces.

For Lynden Gooch, this weekend could mark his debut for his new team. Sunderland sent Gooch out on loan to League One’s Doncaster Rovers, and the young American midfielder will be hoping that his time in England’s third division will result in consistent playing time starting with Saturday’s road game vs. Fleetwood Town.

Here is who the Americans Abroad lock horns with this weekend:

FRIDAY

Desevio Payne and FC Groningen play NEC Nijmegen.

Jonathan Bornstein, Luis Gil and Queretaro play Joe Corona and Dorados de Sinaloa.

Michael Orozco, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana play Jorge Villafana and Santos Laguna.

SATURDAY

Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Leicester City. (Cameron is out injured.)

DeAndre Yedlin and Sunderland play AFC Bournemouth.

Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play West Bromwich Albion.

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Ipswich Town.

Cody Cropper and Milton Keynes Dons play Bolton Wanderers.

Tim Ream, Emerson Hyndman and Fulham play Hull City.

Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Middlesbrough.

Danny Williams and Reading play Sheffield Wednesday.

Lynden Gooch and Doncaster Rovers play Fleetwood Town.

Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Mainz.

John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play FC Augsburg.

Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Borussia Dortmund.

Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Bordeaux.

Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Omar Gonzalez and Pachuca.

Edgar Castillo and Monterrey play Atlas.

Miguel Ibarra, William Yarbrough and Club Leon play Cruz Azul.

Gabriel Farfan and Jaguares de Chiapas play Veracruz.

SUNDAY

Tim Howard and Everton play Swansea City.

Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play VfL Wolfsburg.

Aron Johannsson and Werder Bremen play Schalke 04. (Johannsson is out injured.)

Rubio Rubin and FC Utrecht play PEC Zwolle.

Jose Torres, Luis Silva and Tigres UANL play Chivas de Guadalajara.

MONDAY

Gedion Zelalem and Rangers play Greenock Morton.

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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Think Johnson will have as strong of a second half to the Bundesliga season as he did in the first half? Who will win between Gonzalez’s Pachuca and Alvarado’s Club America?

Share your thoughts below.