By FRANCO PANIZO
The majority of leagues in Europe are winding down and for several Americans Abroad that means the race for success or survival is about to heat up.
Tim Howard is one of the Americans still with something to play for this late into the season, as he and Everton are within striking distance of a Europa League spot. The Toffees could move into that position with a win this Sunday, but their task is no easy one. Everton are set to take on rivals Liverpool in the final Merseyside Derby of the season and the match is at Anfield, where the Toffees are winless in their last five games.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma are also in for a battle this weekend. They travel to Florence to take on fourth-placed Fiorentina on Saturday and will surely need all three points in order to maintain their narrow lead over Udinese, Inter Milan and Lazio and remain in Serie A’s final Europa League place.
For Fabian Johnson and Hoffenheim, there is a big opportunity to move forward in their fight against relegation on Saturday. Hoffenheim face fellow strugglers Werder Bremen on Saturday and a victory there could push the club into the relegation play-off spot with a chance to move out of the drop zone completely in the final two games of the season.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play with this weekend:
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play FC Erzgebirge Aue.
Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play Silkeborg IF.
Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana play Chivas de Guadalajara.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Norwich City.
Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Southampton.
Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United play Newcastle United.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Blackburn Rovers. (Spector and Packwood are out injured.)
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Blackpool.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Millwall.
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Nottingham Forest.
Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Granada.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Fiorentina.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Mainz.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Werder Bremen. (Williams is out injured.)
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play FC Ingolstadt 04.
Eugene Starikov and FK Rostov play Kuban Krasnodar.
Maurice Edu and Bursaspor play Orduspor.
Brian Span and Djurgarden IF play Atvidabergs FF.
Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Aalesund.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL.
Joaquin Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Cruz Azul.
Herculez Gomez, Benji Joya and Santos Laguna play Morelia.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Puebla play Queretaro.
Freddy Adu and Bahia play Juazeiro BA in the second leg of their Baiano semifinal series.
SUNDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Liverpool.
Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Almeria.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play SC Freiburg.
Joe Gyau and St Pauli play MSV Duisburg.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play FC Union Berlin.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play PEC Zwolle.
Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Academica de Coimbra.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Standard Liege in the Pro League playoffs.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play SK Sturm Graz.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play AGF Aarhus.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Copenhagen.
Alejandro Bedoya and Helsingborg IF play Syrianska FC.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Tromso.
MONDAY
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Sunderland.
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Benfica.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play IK Start.
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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Think Howard and Everton can go on the road and top Liverpool? Do you see Bradley and Roma beating Fiorentina?
Share your thoughts below.