By FRANCO PANIZO
This time last year, Joe Corona and Club Tijuana were fighting to gain promotion to the top division in Mexican soccer. Now, the team has its eyes on the Primera Division title, but it will need a road comeback to keep that dream alive.
Corona is one of several Americans partaking in the liguilla this season, and he and fellow Americans Edgar Castillo and Greg Garza will look to help Tijuana overturn a 2-1 deficit to CONCACAF Champions League winner Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the Mexican playoffs.
Also in the hunt in their respective league's playoffs, RSC Anderlecht can secure the Belgian league title this weekend if they can knock off second-place Club Brugge at home. Anderlecht is currently seven points ahead of Club Brugge in the standings, and a win would put them out of reach with two games remaining. After a mid-week return from suspension off the bench, Sacha Kljestan should assume his role in Anderlecht's midfield as the club aims to win its 31st league championship.
Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers are nowhere near the league title in England, but they are close to the Championship. Still in the relegation zone with two games remaining, Bolton could use a win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday to move closer to avoiding the drop and securing another season in the Premier League.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Blackpool in the League Championship promotion playoffs. (Spector is out injured.)
Ricardo Clark, Sean Cunningham and Stabaek IF play Rosenborg.
SATURDAY
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Arsenal.
Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Milton Keynes Dons.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Oldham Athletic.
Mike Grella and Bury play Stevenage.
Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Motherwell.
Terrence Boyd and Borussia Dortmund play SC Freiburg.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Andrew Wooten and Kaiserslautern.
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Joe Gyau and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. (Williams is out injured.)
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Werder Bremen.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play FC Porto.
Mix Diskerud and KAA Gent play KV Kortrijk in the Pro League playoffs.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Lyngby.
Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Monterrey in the Liguilla.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play America in the Liguilla.
SUNDAY
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur.
Stuart Holden, Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers play West Bromwich Albion. (Holden is out injured.)
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Sunderland.
Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann and Everton play Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Dundee United.
Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona play Palermo.
Villyan Bijev and Fortuna Dusseldorf play MSV Duisburg.
Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC play Eintracht Frankfurt.
Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play St Pauli.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Alemannia Aachen.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play AC Ajaccio.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play FC Groningen.
Eugene Starikov and Zenit St Petersburg play Spartak Moscow.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Club Brugge in the Pro League playoffs.
Brad Rusin and HB Koge play AGF Aarhus.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play Aalborg BK.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Sandnes Ulf.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Aalesund.
Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna play Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas in the Liguilla.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Morelia in the Liguilla.
MONDAY
Adam Henley and Blackburn Rovers play Wigan Athletic.
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play AS Nancy Lorraine.
Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE play FC Midtjylland.
Samuel Petrone and Mjallby AIF play GAIS.
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Think Corona and Tijuana will top Monterrey? Expect Kljestan and Anderlecht to beat Club Brugge? Do you see Ream and Bolton winning?
Share your thoughts below.