By FRANCO PANIZO
Only three points separate Maurice Edu and Bursaspor from third-place Fenerbahce, and they will have a golden chance to pull level with the Turkish heavyweights this weekend.
Currently sitting on 37 points and in fourth place of the Super Lig, Bursaspor will visit the 18-time Turkish champions on Sunday in one of Turkey’s marquee match-ups this weekend. While picking up a result in Istanbul will likely not be easy, a win for Edu and Bursaspor would put them even on points with Fenerbahce and bring them closer to a Champions League spot, so there is plenty to play for.
Another match with some intrigue will take place in the German Bundesliga, as Timmy Chandler and Michael Parkhurst could face off in a battle of U.S. Men’s National Team right backs. Parkhurst’s FC Augsburg host Chandler and Nurnberg, and both teams will be looking for three points so as to try and further themselves away from the drop zone.
If Tim Howard can heal up and be ready for this weekend, he, too, will be involved in a big game. Everton is set to host Wigan Athletic in a do-or-die FA Cup quarterfinals match, but Howard’s availability for the match still seems to be in question due to the back injury that forced him to miss the Toffees’ clash with Reading last weekend.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
FRIDAY
Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg.
Joe Gyau and St Pauli play SSV Jahn Regensburg.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich.
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play FC Porto.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Morelia.
Tim Howard and Everton play Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Reading.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Conor Doyle and Derby County. (Packwood is out injured.)
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Brighton & Hove Albion.
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Sheffield Wednesday.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Brentford.
Mike Grella and Scunthorpe United play Coventry City.
Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Real Valladolid.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Udinese.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Mainz.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Borussia Dortmund. (Jones is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.)
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play ADO Den Haag.
Eugene Starikov and FK Rostov play Alania Vladikavkaz.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KV Mechelen.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play SV Mattersburg.
Herculez Gomez, Benji Joya and Santos Laguna play Atlante.
Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Queretaro.
Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play San Luis.
SUNDAY
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Newcastle United.
Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Liverpool. (Dempsey is out injured.)
Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Murcia.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Eintracht Frankfurt. (Cherundolo is out injured.)
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play MSV Duisburg.
Maurice Edu and Bursaspor play Fenerbahce.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play AGF Aarhus.
Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Midtjylland.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play SonderjyskE.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Puebla play Pumas UNAM.
MONDAY
Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Vitoria de Guimaraes.
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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Do you see Edu and Bursaspor claiming three points against Fenerbahce? Think Howard will return to help the Toffees move to the FA Cup semifinals?
Share your thoughts below.