American Exports: Spurs' Dempsey set for first North London derby vs. Arsenal

Clint Dempsey in EPL action for Spurs

AMSTERDAM – It's a quick turnaround to club duty for some US internationals, with Clint Dempsey getting ready for his first north London derby as a member of Tottenham. All times listed in ET.


ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel – Tottenham Hotspur at Arsenal (Saturday, 7:45 am on ESPN2/ESPN3.com
Spurs will try to stay in touch with the Champions League places at the Emirates, where they've caused some trouble in recent years. With two wins from his last three starts against the Gunners, Friedel should take the Tottenham line. Dempsey, who has never scored against Arsenal, might also start. The visitors will arrive without Moussa Dembélé and Scott Parker, but Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon have been passed fit.


Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj – Aston Villa at Manchester City (Saturday, 10 am on Fox Soccer Plus/Fox Soccer 2Go)
The Villans will try to rebound from last weekend's collapse against Manchester United by visiting their local rivals, the reigning champs. It will be the first career showdown with Citeh for Guzan, who has conceded just once in his last 203 road minutes. Meanwhile, Lichaj returns from suspension to bid for a start. Aston Villa won their recent Capital One Cup tie at City of Manchester Stadium, but had dropped the previous six visits by a combined 17-2 tally.


GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Timothy Chandler – FC Nürnberg vs Bayern Munich (Saturday, 9:30 am on GolTV)
Having snapped a four-game home drought last time, Chandler & Co. must now welcome the league leaders. Bayern have won seven straight Bundesliga away games, the last five coming as shutout victories. The Bavarians also swept last season's games against FCN with a pair of clean sheet victories, and have taken five home meetings in a row. Each side will miss a key attacker: Hanno Balitsch for Nürnberg and Arjen Robben for the hosts.


Jermaine Jones – Schalke at Bayer Leverkusen (Saturday, 12:30 pm on GolTV)
The US midfielder will visit his old employer as second-place Schalke look to close the seven-point title deficit to Bayern. Jones put in two strong showings in victories over Leverkusen last season, and the Miners have taken two of the last three at BayArena. David Yelldell is not expected to dress for Bayer, who will be missing red-hot scorer Sidney Sam.


DUTCH EREDIVISIE

Jozy Altidore – AZ Alkmaar at Groningen (Saturday, 2:45 pm)
The Cheese Farmers top gun will take aim for the fourth time at one of the few Eredivisie sides to keep him scoreless thus far. Altidore will again need to do any damage without playmaker Maarten Martens and midfielder Viktor Elm. The Euroborg has been kind to AZ, who have won three of four there to attain a lifetime winning record in that building.



BEST OF THE REST

England:
Tim Howard, Everton – at Reading, Sat. 10 am on Fox Soccer 2Go


Spain:
Oguchi Onyewu, Málaga – at Osasuna, Sat. 10 am on beIN Sport en Español


Germany:
Steve Cherundolo, Hannover 96 – vs. Freiburg, Sat. 9:30 am
Fabian Johnson, Daniel Williams, Hoffenheim – vs. Wolfsburg, Sun. 11 am


Belgium:
Sacha Kljestan, Anderlecht – vs. Kortrijk, Sun. noon


Denmark:
Clarence Goodson, Brøndby – Esbjerg, Sun. 11 am
Conor O'Brien, SønderjyskE – vs. Silkeborg, Sat. 11 am


Austria:
Terrence Boyd, Rapid Vienna – Mattersburg, Sat. 12:30 pm


Norway:
Steve Clark, Hønefoss vs. Mikkel Diskerud, Rosenborg – Sun. noon