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Americans Abroad: Weekend Preview

FC Ingolstadt v 1. FC Kaiserslautern - 2. Bundesliga

 

By FRANCO PANIZO

Promotion is within their grasp. Alfredo Morales and Ingolstadt just have to capitalize.

After an impressive season that has seen Ingolstadt sit in first place for much of the campaign, Morales’ squad can lock up a spot in Germany’s top flight on Sunday when they visit VfL Bochum. Ingolstadt isn’t heading into the match in its finest form after settling for draws the past two weeks, but Bochum has lost four of its last five matches and has not posted a shutout since February 21. Morales and Ingolstadt will also enter the match knowing they could earn the 2. Bundesliga crown, as a win coupled with a Kaiserslautern loss would assure a first-place finish.

Other Americans with plenty to fight for this weekend are Greg Garza and Joe Corona. The pair of U.S. Men’s National Team and Club Tijuana players sit only a point above a pack of Liga MX playoff hopefuls, but three points on Saturday against struggling Leon would guarantee a postseason berth. A Xolos win is far from guaranteed, however, given that they have gone six straight games without one and dropped five of those decisions.

The intense battle for playoff spots in Mexico will also bring an interesting duel involving Americans. Ventura Alvarado and Club America still are not guaranteed a place in the postseason, and they will be looking for a result against Edgar Castillo and third-placed Atlas in order to secure a berth.

Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:

FRIDAY

Julian Green and Hamburg SV play SC Freiburg.

Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro play Gabrial Farfan and Jaguares de Chiapas.

Terrence Boyd and RB Leipzig play Andrew Wooten and SV Sanhausen. (Boyd is out injured.)

Heath Pearce and IFK Goteborg play Kalmar FF.

Freddy Adu, Stephen McCarthy and Kuopion Palloseura play HJK.

SATURDAY

Tim Howard and Everton play Sunderland.

Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play West Ham United.

Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play DeAndre Yedlin, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur.

Joe Gyau and Borussia Dortmund play John Brooks and Hertha Berlin. (Gyau is out injured.)

Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Bayer Leverkusen.

Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play Hannover 96.

Bobby Wood and FC Erzgebirge Aue play FC Union Berlin.

Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Bordeaux.

Conor O’Brien and FC Magna Wiener Neustadt play SV Grodig.

Cole Grossman and Stabaek IF play Valerenga.

William Yarbrough and Club Leon play Greg Garza, Joe Corona, Paul Arriola, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana.

Michael Orozco, Herculez Gomez and Puebla play Santos Laguna.

Edgar Castillo and Atlas play Ventura Alvarado and Club America.

SUNDAY

Jann George and SpVgg Greuther Furth play Heidenheimer SB.

Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play VfL Bochum.

Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play NAC Breda.

Desevio Payne and FC Groningen play PEC Zwolle.

Rubio Rubin and FC Utrecht play Excelsior.

Zarek Valentin, Danny Cruz and FK Bodo/Glimt play Stromsgodset.

AJ Soares and Viking play Odd.

Josh Gatt, Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play IK Start.

Jose Torres and Tigres UANL play Toluca. (Torres is out injured.)

MONDAY

Gedion Zelalem and Arsenal play Swansea City.

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Which of these matches are you most anticipating? Expecting Morales and Ingolstadt to lock up promotion? How do you see Garza, Corona and the Xolos doing?

Share your thoughts below.

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