By FRANCO PANIZO
If Alejandro Bedoya is going to bounce back from his U.S. Men’s National Team performance this weekend, he will have to do so against one of the most talented teams in the world.
Bedoya and Nantes have a golden opportunity to jump into Ligue 1’s UEFA Champions League qualifier spot on Sunday, but are set to do so vs. an AS Monaco side that boasts the likes of Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez. The Canaries do have an advantage as the battle of the third- and fourth-placed teams in the league is in their home stadium, but the task will not be an easy one given that Monaco will be keen on ending a two-game winless skid.
Tim Howard is another American likely to be involved in one of the marquee matches this weekend. Everton and Liverpool are set to write the latest chapter of the Merseyside Derby on Saturday. Howard figures to be a key player in the match at Goodison Park given that the second-place Reds’ boast one of the more explosive offenses in the Premiership.
Wondering what other match is worth watching? Look no further than Stoke City’s Saturday clash with Sunderland, as it could pit U.S. Men’s National Team players Geoff Cameron and Jozy Altidore against one another. Both teams are currently near the bottom of the Premiership standings, so picking up a win could wind up going a long way in their quest to avoid relegation.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
SATURDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Liverpool.
Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Jozy Altidore and Sunderland.
Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town play Sheffield Wednesday.
Zak Whitbread and Derby County play AFC Bournemouth. (Whitbread is out injured.)
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Blackpool. (Spector is out injured.)
Danny Williams and Reading play Blackburn Rovers.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Burnley.
Oguchi Onyewu and Queens Park Rangers play Charlton Athletic.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Watford. (Holden is out injured.)
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Eintracht Frankfurt.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play Fabian Johnson, Joe Gyau and TSG Hoffenheim.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Bayer Leverkusen.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play VfL Wolfsburg.
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Cologne.
Andrew Wooten and Kaiserslautern play FC Union Berlin.
Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play Roda JC Kerkrade.
Eugene Starikov and FK Tom’ Tomsk play FK Rubin Kazan.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Royal Charleroi SC.
Conor O’Brien and Odense BK play Randers FC.
SUNDAY
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Manchester City.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Hamburg SV.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Monaco.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play Red Bull Salzburg.
Babajide Ogunbiyi, Mike Grella and Viborg FF play FC Copenhagen.
Josh Gatt, Ben Spencer, Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK in the NM Cupen final. (Gatt is out injured.)
Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play America.
Freddy Adu and Bahia play Portuguesa de Desportos.
MONDAY
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play West Bromwich Albion.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Cagliari.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? How do you see Bedoya and Nantes faring against Monaco? Think Howard and Everton will knock off Liverpool?
Share your thoughts below.