By AARON CRANFORD
A battle between two Americans abroad in Germany headlines Friday’s soccer action.
John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin will square off against Aron Johannson and Werder Bremen Friday afternoon, and while the U.S. forward makes his first start of the Bundesliga season, Brooks will not see his first starting nod of the new season, as he came off the bench for Hertha BSC in its league opener against FC Augsburg and will do the same Friday.
Meanwhile in France, Paris Saint-Germain will try continue its run at a repeat Ligue 1 championship against Montpellier, but stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria are both expected to be unavailable for Friday’s affair.
Friday’s MLS match features two Western Conference foes, and while the Houston Dynamo sit on the outside of the playoff line looking in, the Portland Timbers are hoping to expand upon their two-game win streak at home.
If you will be watching today’s action, feel free to leave your thoughts, opinions, and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (today’s soccer on TV schedule after the jump):
2:30 p.m. — beIN Sports en Espanol — Malaga vs. Sevilla
2:30 p.m. — GolTV USA/FOX Soccer 2Go USA — Hertha Berlin vs. Werder Bremen
2:30 p.m. — beIN Sports USA — Montpellier vs. Paris Saint-Germain
8:30 p.m. — Univision Deportes — Queretaro vs. Cruz Azul
10:30 p.m. — Azteca America — Tijuana vs. Tigres UANL
11:00 p.m. — UniMas — Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo
Portland v Houston melano making his first start. He’s looking pretty good, watsup with cubo though he hasn’t started yet for 7 million dollars transfer fee man you gotta be at least starting.
Well I wouldnt expect him to win balls in the air
Aron didn’t impress. I swear he lost every areal challenge. And really didn’t get the ball
Wouldn’t really expect him to impress, first time outta the box. Unfamiliarity, yips, lack of confidence, higher pace-of-play…guys making a jump up usually swim when they do that.
The thing is, is he going to adjust, progress, and start showing some things? Obviously he’s doing it in practice or he wouldn’t be getting a start…but adjusting to the actual game is a different thing.
AJ subbed off in 81st minute.
1-1 in 80th minute. AJ with no shot attempts and JB is on the bench
I was hoping it would be on fs1. But then I remembered it was fox and they would rather run nascar or some stupid show, it woulda been a great watch to see 2 Americans playing each other in the bundlesliga. Johanson even got the start smh fox..
Aron Johannsson gets his first start yet the game is relegated to a channel nobody gets. Thanks a lot FoxSports.
THIS is exactly why I didn’t get why some people were hoping that ESPN or Fox would get Premier League and/or La Liga or other leagues. NBC shows every game or gives you free access. BeIN shows every game (or makes it available) and the have multiple leagues. ESPN pre-empts ESPN FC for drag racing and little baseball. Fox has the Bundesliga, but sticks their coverage on FOX Soccer 2Go USA, not even Fox 1 or Fox 2, but instead something I have to pay an extra $20/month to get. I’ll keep my NBC SN and BeIN Sports.
PS – please don’t say why complain about paying 20/month for FOX Soccer 2Go USA when you pay 10/month for BeIN. I get 4 leagues (La Liga, Serie A, League 1, The Championship) on BeIN as well as free access to their online app, other soccer programming and their 1 hour daily wrap up shop, 1/2 hour game day pre-show. Fox coverage has been lacking so far.
Relegated?
I think that you meant to respond to SBI TROLL. His/her use of the relegate was also correct.
My guess is Fox is contracted for games on Saturday and Sunday not the Friday games. Plus usually this early in the year they probably picked the games to air this week well before AJ was transferred. And neither team I would guess have had a big American following in the past so no national coverage. Fox has to pay the bills too, its why we see the Chicago Fire on ESPN and FOX so much, 3rd largest market gets you on TV even if you stink.
Pay bills? These are the same crazy republicans that want to cut social security for seniors, privatize public works and cut taxes conglomerates.
What their doing is holding hostage some quality football for an exorbitant profit.
People don’t stay rich by being stupid with their money.
Come on, people, keep the boards clear of irrelevant politics!