By FRANCO PANIZO
Currently trailing on aggregate, Jose Torres and Tigres UANL will need to come up with a big performance at home if they are to salvage their season this weekend.
First-place Tigres are down on aggregate after suffering a 1-0 loss to Monterrey in the first leg of their Liga MX quarterfinal series on Wednesday, and Los Felinos cannot settle for anything less than a victory on Saturday in order to avoid an early exit from the playoffs. Torres was partially responsible for the goal Tigres surrendered in the first leg, so an improved outing will be needed if he is chosen to start again.
Another player who could use a win in his respective playoffs is Sacha Kljestan. Kljestan and Anderlecht currently sit in first place of the Pro League postseason standings with three matches left, but they only have a two-point advantage over Club Brugge. That scenario should see Anderlecht go out and search for three points on the road against Racing Genk, who could move atop the table with a win of their own.
Wondering what other match might be worth watching? Look no further than Tottenham’s clash with Stoke City on Sunday, as it could pit Clint Dempsey against U.S. Men’s National Team teammate Geoff Cameron in a match Spurs will likely need to win in order to stay in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League spot.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play Odense BK.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Chelsea.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play Bayern Munich.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Fortuna Dusseldorf. (Chandler is out injured.)
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play VfB Stuttgart.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Hamburg SV. (Williams is out injured.)
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Beira Mar.
Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Moreirense.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play Wolfsberger AC.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Pumas UNAM in the Liga MX playoffs.
Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Joaquin Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey in the Liga MX playoffs.
SUNDAY
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur.
Tim Howard and Everton play Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United.
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Watford.
Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Sevilla.
Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Real Madrid Castilla.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play AC Milan.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play Energie Cottbus.
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play FC Cologne.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play SC Paderborn 07.
Joe Gyau and St Pauli play TSV Eintracht Braunschweig.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Willem II Tilburg.
Eugene Starikov and FK Rostov play Zenit St Petersburg.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Racing Genk in the Pro League playoffs.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play FC Midtjylland.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play Aalborg BK.
Brian Span and Djurgarden IF play Malmo FF.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Sandnes Ulf.
Herculez Gomez, Benji Joya and Santos Laguna play Atlas in the Liga MX playoffs.
Freddy Adu and Bahia play Vitoria in the first leg of the Baiano finals.
MONDAY
Maurice Edu and Bursaspor play Eskisehirspor K.
Alejandro Bedoya and Helsingborg IF play BK Hacken.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK.
—–
Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Do you see Torres and Tigres bouncing back vs. Monterrey this weekend? Expecting Kljestan and Anderlecht to pick up three more points?
Share your thoughts below.