By FRANCO PANIZO
Alejandro Bedoya might have been “exposed” while playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team this week, but he has no time to dwell on that.
Nantes resumes league play when it hosts Stade Rennes on Sunday, and Bedoya will be looking to make his second straight start for the Canaries in the match. The 28-year-old midfielder is coming off a rough performance in the Americans’ 4-1 loss to Brazil on Tuesday, but could bounce back in a major way and regain some confidence if he helps Nantes continue its solid start to the Ligue 1 campaign with another victory.
Danny Williams – Bedoya’s replacement and the lone U.S. goal-scorer in that humbling defeat to Brazil – is also eyeing a return to his club’s starting lineup. Williams has a tougher challenge, however, as he faces a shorter turnaround. Reading play Ipswich Town on Friday, and that short window for recovery could force Williams to start the game on the bench.
If you are wondering what other fixtures are worth watching, look no further than Saturday’s Premiership slate of action. Tim Howard and Everton get things underway by hosting star-studded and reigning league champions Chelsea, while Geoff Cameron and Stoke City hit the road with the hopes of recording their first win of the season via a massive upset of Arsenal.
Here is who the Americans Abroad do battle with this weekend:
FRIDAY
Danny Williams, Andrija Novakovich and Reading play Ipswich Town.
Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Hamburg. (Johnson is out injured.)
Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro play Morelia.
Michael Orozco, Paul Arriola, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana play Chivas de Guadalajara.
Caleb Stanko and SC Freiburg play Kaiserslautern.
Terrence Boyd and RB Leipzig play SC Paderborn 07. (Boyd is out injured.)
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play VfL Bochum.
SATURDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Chelsea.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Arsenal.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Queens Park Rangers.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Bristol City.
Cody Cropper and Milton Keynes Dons play Middlesbrough.
Gedion Zelalem and Rangers play Livingston.
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play VfL Wolfsburg.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play VfB Stuttgart.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play FC Cologne. (Chandler is out injured.)
Bobby Wood and FC Union Berlin play Karlsruhe.
Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Sandefjord.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Jose Torres and Tigres UANL.
Edgar Castillo and Monterrey play Cruz Azul.
Greg Garza and Atlas play Dorados de Sinaloa.
Gabriel Farfan and Jaguares de Chiapas play Miguel Ibarra, William Yarbrough and Club Leon.
SUNDAY
DeAndre Yedlin, Lynden Gooch and Sunderland play Tottenham Hotspur.
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Leicester City.
Tim Ream, Emerson Hyndman and Fulham play Blackburn Rovers.
Aron Johannsson and Werder Bremen play TSG Hoffenheim.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Stade Rennes.
Desevio Payne and FC Groningen play SC Heerenveen.
Rubio Rubin and FC Utrecht play Vitesse Arnhem.
Rhett Bernstein, Erik Hurtado and Mjondalen IF play Tromso.
Zarek Valentin, Danny Cruz and FK Bodo/Glimt play Odd.
Cole Grossman and Stabaek IF play Rosenborg.
A.J. Soares and Viking FK play Valerenga.
Joe Corona and Veracruz play Pumas UNAM.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Do you see Bedoya bouncing back in a big way this weekend? Is the turnaround too short for Williams to start for Reading on Friday?
Share your thoughts below.