By FRANCO PANIZO
It's been a tough season for Jonathan Spector and West Ham United, but they can still manage to climb out of the basement and avoid relegation with a strong run during the final month of play. That run will have to begin on Sunday as the Hammers go on the road to face one of the most talented teams in the Premiership.
Manchester City hosts West Ham in a match that still carries significance for both teams. City is looking to solidify its Champions League spot, while West Ham is hoping to miracously avoid the drop. Spector started against Chelsea last week, so there's a chance he could get the nod to help contain the likes of David Silva and Yaya Toure.
Far from their league's relegation zone, Maurice Edu and Rangers will attempt to remain in first place in Scotland when they battle Motherwell. A win will likely be needed for Rangers, as Celtic sits only a point behind with a game in hand.
Oguchi Onyewu and FC Twente are also league leaders, but they too are only a point ahead of second-place Ajax in the Eredivisie. Twente will look to stay in first when it faces Willem II Tilburg, but Onyewu is unlikely to start if recent league matches are any indication.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich.
Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Sammy Ochoa and Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. play Gustavo Adrian Ruelas and Santos Laguna.
SATURDAY
Jermaine Jones and Blackburn Rovers play Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers. (Holden is out injured)
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Sunderland.
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Michael Bradley and Aston Villa play West Bromwich Albion.
Tim Howard and Everton play Wigan Athletic.
Mike Grella, Eric Lichaj and Leeds United play Burnley.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Bristol City.
Eddie Johnson and Preston North End play Ipswich Town.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Scunthorpe United.
Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Southampton.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Dagenham & Redbridge.
Maurice Edu and Rangers play Motherwell.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Borussia Dortmund.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Hamburg SV.
Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96 play Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Mainz.
Amaechi Igwe, Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Erzgebirge Aue. (Igwe is out injured.)
David Yelldell and MSV Duisburg play FSV Frankfurt.
Freddy Adu and Caykur Rizespor play Adanaspor.
Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play FC Midtjylland. (Tracy is out injured.)
Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Pachuca play Necaxa.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Atlas.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Toluca.
SUNDAY
Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Birmingham.
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Manchester City.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Dundee United.
Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play AS Monaco.
Oguchi Onyewu and Twente Enschede play Willem II Tilburg.
Jozy Altidore and Bursaspor play Kayserispor.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Club Brugge in the playoffs.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Lyngby.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play AC Horsens.
Gale Agbossoumonde and Djurgardens IF play Trelleborg FF.
Edgar Castillo and Puebla play Morelia.
Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Holmlia in the NM Cupen.
Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Eldsvag in the NM Cupen.
MONDAY
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Portsmouth.
Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Southampton.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Le Mans.
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play AIK.
Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play Gefle.
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Think Spector and West Ham have any chance of upsetting Manchester City? Do you see Edu helping Rangers to a win? Expecting Onyewu to get a start?
Share your thoughts below.