By FRANCO PANIZO
If Joe Corona and Edgar Castillo can build on their midweek performance, Atlas is in deep, deep trouble.
Having each scored a goal in Club Tijuana’s Copa Libertadores rout of Bolivian side San Jose on Tuesday, the Xolos duo will aim to improve on their most recent outing while trying to help Tijuana win their fourth straight game across all competitions. Tijuana is currently on a good run of form – having scored seven goals and allowing none in their last three matches – and they will want to continue that as a win over second-placed Atlas could see them leapfrog Los Zorros.
On the other side of the pond, Jermaine Jones and Schalke will try to begin a winning streak when they visit VfL Wolfsburg. Schalke picked up their first win in some time last weekend, so the club should be in good spirits on Saturday against relegation-threatened Wolfsburg.
Another Bundesliga team attempting to fight the drop is Hoffenheim and they are set to partake in one of the weekend’s more intriguing matches involving Americans Abroad. Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and Hoffenheim host league-leaders Bayern Munich on Sunday and a result there could give Hoffenheim enough confidence to go on a run in an effort to relegation. Gaining a result won’t be easy though, not against a Bayern side unbeaten in their past 21 matches in all competitions and winners of nine straight.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
FRIDAY
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Crystal Palace.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play SSV Jahn Regensburg.
Herculez Gomez, Hector Joya and Santos Laguna play Jaguares de Chiapas. (Joya is currently with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.)
Tim Howard and Everton play Reading.
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Barnsley.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Hull City. (Packwood is out injured.)
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Ipswich Town.
Mike Grella and Scunthorpe United play Brentford.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Notts County.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Borussia Dortmund. (Cherundolo is out injured.)
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play SC Freiburg. (Chandler is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.)
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play VfL Wolfsburg.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play Werder Bremen.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play VfB Stuttgart.
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Dynamo Dresden.
Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Pacos de Ferreira.
Maurice Edu and Bursaspor play Sivasspor. (Edu is suspended.)
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Genk in the second leg of the Cofidis Cup semifinals. (Kljestan is suspended.)
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Cruz Azul.
Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Morelia.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Puebla play Club Leon. (Orozco is suspended.)
Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Atlas.
SUNDAY
Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Arsenal. (Dempsey is out injured.)
Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Atletico Madrid.
Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Numancia.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Genoa.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Bayern Munich.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play FC Ingolstadt 04.
Joe Gyau and St Pauli play VfR Aalen.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play RKC Waalwijk.
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Rio Ave.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play Wolfsberger AC.
Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play AC Horsens.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play Charlie Davies and Randers FC.
MONDAY
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Manchester City.
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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Think Corona, Castillo and Tijuana will oust Atlas? How do you see Johnson, Williams and Hoffenheim faring?
Share your thoughts below.