AMSTERDAM – It will be another eventful weekend for Americans in Europe, with silver-winning guests, heated derbies and title implication tilts on the card (all times ET):
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Clint Dempey, Brad Friedel – Tottenham Hotspur at Manchester City (Sunday, 8:30 am on Fox Soccer)
It's a fair bet that both Americans will start when Spurs visit the defending champs. Dempsey has three career goals against Citeh, while Friedel will try to get revenge for last season's two losses. Tottenham have lost two straight at City of Manchester Stadium, but had won six of seven prior to that.
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa vs. Manchester United (Saturday, 12:30 pm on Fox Soccer)
The Aston Villa Player of the Month will get his second home start against the Red Devils, having performed well in a 1-0 loss last season. The hosts will be without American Eric Lichaj (suspended) and Darren Bent (injury). The Villans have posted three draws from United's last four visits, but haven't beaten them at home since 1995.
ITALIAN SERIE A
Michael Bradley – AS Roma at Lazio (Sunday, 9 am on beIN Sport/RAI)
It remains to be seen if the US midfielder will keep his place with Daniele De Rossi set to return to the line-up for this Eternal City derby. Roma suffered a series sweep last season, which ended a five-game winning streak against Lazio. Expect some officiating excitement; no less than 10 straight contests between these clubs have ended with at least one ejection (10 total in that span) or penalty kick (nine) – and the last three featured both.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Jermaine Jones – Schalke vs. Werder Bremen (Saturday, 9:30 am)
The second-place Miners will try to rebound from their first loss of any kind since September when "westside" rivals Bremen invade. A good omen: midfield general Jones has never lost a home contest to Bremen. Schalke, who won last season's two meetings by a combined 8-2 count, have won seven of the last nine home meetings.
BELGIAN JUPILER LEAGUE
Sacha Kljestan – Anderlecht vs. Club Brugge (Sunday 8:30 am)
With assists in consecutive games, the former Chivas USA man should go from the start as the champs try to grab sole possession of the top with a derby win. The gettin' is good right now; Club Brugge have lost four straight league games and are winless in six. Having been held to home draws by the boys from Brugge four of the last five times, Anderlecht will likely need to go without injured captain Olivier Deschacht.
NORWEGIAN TIPPELIGAEN
Steve Clark (HBK), Josh Gatt (MFK) – Molde FK vs. Hønefoss (Sunday, noon)
Though they could clinch the title repeat on Sunday, Molde will most likely be playing to take their one-point league lead to the final round. The Molde speedster has only faced in-form netminder Clark once, notching an assist in a 1-1 away draw in May. Hønefoss has yet to defeat the reigning champs in seven clashes.
BEST OF THE REST(all times ET)
England:
Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu – Stoke City vs QPR (Sat. 10 am on Fox Soccer 2Go)
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Sunderland (Sat. 10 am on Fox Soccer)
Spain:
Oguchi Onyewu – Málaga vs. Real Sociedad (Sat. 4 pm on beIN Sport en Español)
Germany:
Steve Cherundolo – Hannover 96 at Stuttgart (Sun. 11:30 am on GolTV)
Fabian Johnson, Daniel Williams – Hoffenheim at Fortuna Düsseldorf (Sat. 9:30 am)
Netherlands:
Jozy Altidore – AZ Alkmaar at ADO Den Haag (Sat. 1:45 pm)
Denmark:
Clarence Goodson – Brøndby at Silkeborg (Sun. 11 am)
Michael Parkhurst, FC Nordsjælland vs. Charlie Davies, Randers FC (Sat. 11 am)
Conor O'Brien – SønderjyskE at Odense BK (Sun. 8 am)
Austria:
Terrence Boyd – Rapid Vienna vs. RZ Pellets WAC (Sun. 12:30 pm)
Norway:
Mikkel Diskerud – Rosenborg vs. Fredrikstad (Sun. noon)
Sweden:
Alejandro Bedoya – Helsingborg at Hollvikens (Svenska Cupen) (Sun. 7 am)
