Photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Geoff Cameron and Brad Guzan are two of the Americans enjoying succesful seasons and they will have a chance to further build on them this weekend. Against one another.
Cameron and Guzan are set to square off, as Stoke City visits Aston Villa in what is arguably the biggest game involving Americans on Saturday. Cameron is set for his 14th start of the season for the Potters while Guzan should again be in goal for the Villans, who could also start fellow American Eric Lichaj in a game that is sure to attract many viewers stateside.
Another of this weekend’s prominent match-ups will take place at Goodison Park, where Tim Howard and Everton will host Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham on Sunday. Dempsey has recently been hitting his stride with Spurs and seems poised for another big performance, but Howard will be keen on nullifying his U.S. Men’s National Team teammate en route to ending the Toffees’ current four-game skid.
Jozy Altidore is not involved in a clash with a fellow American, but he will be aiming to end his current scoring drought when AZ Alkmaar battle Willem II Tilburg on Saturday. Altidore has not found the back of the net since Nov. 10, and a goal this weekend could go a long way in helping AZ secure their first victory in more than a month.
Here is who the Americans Abroad face off against this weekend:
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Hamburg SV.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play FSV Frankfurt.
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal.
Eugene Starikov and FK Rostov play Krasnodar.
Conor O’Brien and SonderjyskE play Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF.
SATURDAY
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu and Stoke City.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Leeds United. (Doyle is out injured.)
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Huddersfield Town.
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Barnsley.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Burnley.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Sheffield United.
Robbie Rogers and Stevenage play Hartlepool United.
Mike Grella and Scunthorpe United play AFC Bournemouth.
Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Granada.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Fiorentina.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play VfB Stuttgart.
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play SC Paderborn 07.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Willem II Tilburg.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play RAEC Bergen Mons.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play FC Wacker Tirol.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play Esbjerg.
SUNDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur.
Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United play Liverpool.
Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Real Madrid Castilla. (Bocanegra is out injured.)
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play SSV Jahn Regensburg.
Joe Gyau and St Pauli play FC Erzgebirge Aue.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Copenhagen.
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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Who will win between Cameron and Stoke and Guzan and Villa? Do you see Dempsey scoring this weekend, or will Howard keep a cleansheet?
Share your thoughts below.