Few rivalries in world soccer rival the Old Firm, and, on Sunday, Emerson Hyndman will once again take part in the historic clash with a spot in a cup final on the line.
Hyndman and Rangers are set to face off with Celtic as the Old Firm will decide a finalist in the Scottish Cup. Hyndman has been a revelation since moving to Rangers via a winter loan move, but the American midfielder will face his toughest test yet as his side faces a Celtic team that cruised to an early lockup of the Scottish League title.
In Germany, Christian Pulisic and Borussia Dortmund takes on rival Borussia Moenchengladbach (Fabian Johnson is still out injured), but the most interesting clash of the weekend occurs further down the table. Bobby Wood and Hamburg still aren’t safe from a relegation fight, and the U.S. Men’s National Team forward could help put some distance between his side and the red line with a win over Terrence Boyd and struggling Darmstadt.
Eric Lichaj faces the same plight as Nottingham Forest battles potential relegation to League One with a clash with Danny Williams and Reading looming, while Tim Ream and Fulham do battle with David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town in a match with promotion playoff implications.
Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
ENGLAND
FA CUP
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Tottenham face Chelsea on Saturday
PREMIER LEAGUE
Brad Guzan and Middlesbrough face Bournemouth on Saturday.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City face Swansea City on Saturday.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Tim Ream and Fulham face David Wagner and Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest face Danny Williams and Reading on Saturday.
GERMANY
BUNDESLIGA
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt face Augsburg on Saturday.
Alfredo Morales and Ingolstadt face Aron Johannsson and Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Bobby Wood and Hamburg face Terrence Boyd and Darmstadt on Saturday.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin face Wolfsburg on Saturday.
Fabian Johnson and Borussia Monchengladbach face Christian Pulisic and Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
2. BUNDESLIGA
Jerome Kiesewetter and Fortuna Dusseldorf face St. Pauli on Friday.
Andrew Wooten and Sandhausen face Karlsruher on Sunday.
Russell Canouse and VfL Bochum face Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday.
Julian Green and VfB Stuttgart face Union Berlin on Monday
MEXICO
Liga MX
Paul Arriola, Joe Corona, Michael Orozco, Amando Moreno, Alejandro GUido, John Requejo and Tijuana face Toluca on Friday.
Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro face Chiapas on Saturday.
Omar Gonzalez and Pachuca face Atlas on Saturday.
Edgar Castillo and Monterrey face Jose Torres and Tigres on Saturday.
William Yarbrough and Leon face Puebla on Saturday.
Jorge Villafana, Ventura Alvarado and Santos Laguna face Club America on Sunday.
ITALY
SERIE A
Josh Perez and Fiorentina face Inter Milan on Saturday.
NETHERLANDS
EREDIVISIE
Desevio Payne and FC Groningen face Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday.
Matt Miazga and Vitesse face Feyenoord on Sunday.
EERSTE DIVISIE
Gedion Zelalem and VVV Venlo face FC Eindhoven on Friday.
Shane O’Neill and NAC Breda face FC Emmen VV on Friday.
DENMARK
DANISH SAS-LIGAEN
Rubio Rubin and Silkeborg face Viborg FF on Friday.
Steve Clark and AC Horsens face Esbjerg on Saturday.
SWITZERLAND
SWISS SUPER LEAGUE
Caleb Stanko and FC Vaduz face FC Basel on Saturday.
BELGIUM
JUPILER LEAGUE
Ethan Horvath and Club Brugge face Anderlecht on Sunday.
SCOTLAND
SCOTTISH CUP
Emerson Hyndman and Rangers face Celtic on Sunday.
SWEDEN
ALLSVENSKANLIGA
Mix Diskerud and IFK Goteberg face Ostersunds on Sunday.
Out of curiosity has anyone watched much of Miazga? I know he’s been getting minutes but can anyone say how he’s been progressing or if he has any chance of making Chelsea’s 18 next season?
I haven’t watched him play, but he was a consistent late game sub for most of the season. He seemed to have won a starting spot the last month or so. He was playing a full 90 minutes consistently and by all accounts doing very well. He came off early last game with some sort of knock. I’ve actually been surprised no one has been reporting the severity of the injury.
In terms of starting next year for Chelsea, I’d say that his chances are slim to none. He hasn’t been all-world with his current team and that is what Chelsea expects from their starting players. He would have to be better than Luiz and Cahill, which I haven’t seen or heard any evidence of. On a positive note, Vitesse seem to really like him and rumors are they want to extend his loan for another season.
When he made the transfer I did some research on Chelsea transfer going back to 2010. Players that Chelsea loans out almost never return to Chelsea. It was over 90%, and many ended up being sold to the club they transferred to or to clubs in lower divisions.
it’s probably hard to gauge a defender’s progress in the eredivisie since it’s so attack-minded, but regarding his chances at chelsea’s first team—as others have said—it’s basically irrelevant: chelsea views players of miazga’s caliber merely as assets that will (hopefully) increase in value and then be sold.
miazga was more fortunate than most, as he actually saw the field for chelsea, but that was more due to happenstance (injuries, suspensions, the fact that they hadn’t had time to loan him out yet) than anything else.