photo by Perry McIntyre/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
St. Etienne will hit the road on Saturday for the second time this season, but for Carlos Bocanegra the match against Stade Rennes will be somewhat of a homecoming.
After failing to make the game-day roster last week, Bocanegra will likely suit up to play against his former club and teammates as Saint Etienne looks for a second consecutive victory. Coming off a 3-0 victory, Rennes currently sits in third place of the French League, and could use a win to remain near the top of the table in the early part of the campaign.
Another match to keep an eye out for will be Bolton Wanderers at West Ham United. Against the Hammers, Stuart Holden will aim to replicate the type of performance he had in the season opener, where he played 90 minutes and had a shot hit off the post. The U.S. national team midfielder could go up against Jonathan Spector should the right back make his first appearance of the season.
That's not the only potential American battle we could see this weekend. Tim Howard and Everton host Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers in a duel between two of three goalkeepers to make the United States' World Cup team.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play Arminia Bielefeld
Sammy Ochoa and Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. play Edgar Castillo and San Luis.
SATURDAY
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers.
Tim Howard and Everton play Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Coventry City.
Mike Grella and Leeds United play Millwall.
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Swansea City. (Whitbread is out injured.)
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Milton Keynes Dons.
Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Walsall.
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Nurnberg.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play St Pauli.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Hamburg SV.
Amaechi Igwe and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Ausgburg. (Igwe is out injured.)
Carlos Bocanegra and Saint Etienne play Stade Rennes.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KSC Lokeren.
Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play Esbjerg. (Rolfe is out injured.)
Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez, Marco Vidal and Pachuca play Monterrey.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Chivas de Guadalajara.
SUNDAY
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Newcastle United.
Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Manchester United.
Maurice Edu and Rangers play Hibernian.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play St Mirren.
David Yelldell and MSV Duisburg play VfL Osnabruck.
Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Lille.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek IF.
Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Viking.
MONDAY
Kenny Cooper and TSV 1860 Munich play VfL Bochum. (Cooper is out injured.)
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Midtjylland.
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play AIK.
Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play Malmo FF.
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Do you see Bocanegra getting a warm reception when Saint Etienne visits Stade Rennes? Think Holden and Spector will start for their respective teams this weekend? How many goals combined will Howard and Hahnemann surrender this weekend (if any)?
Share your thoughts below.