AMSTERDAM – Aston Villa's Brad Guzan and Tim Howard of Everton will square off in a Premier League duel on Saturday, headlining a weekend full of key European games involving Americans.
All times listed in ET.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Brad Guzan – Aston Villa (Saturday, 10 am on Premier League Extra Time). While these teams are dead even in 216 meetings since 1888, Howard has lost to Villa just once since the start of 2009 and backstopped off an EPL sweep last season. Guzan has yet to win this clash of countrymen in three tries and the visitors enter this contest with three straight shutout losses in EPL play. The Villans may receive a boost, though, with top gun Christian Benteke and back line marshal Ron Vlaar both striving to make injury returns at Goodison Park.
Jozy Altidore – Sunderland at Southampton (Saturday, 10 am on Premier League Extra Time). Capping a week that included a report claiming Sunderland are ready to offload Altidore and him scoring a nice goal on international duty, the US striker (and his two assists in three career matches against the Saints) will likely remain at the bench-ready this weekend. The visitors are unbeaten in four league games and have lost but one of their last eight overall road games. What's more, Sunderland are 4-2-1 in their last seven at Southampton.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Timothy Chandler – Eintracht Frankfurt at Paderborn (Sunday, 11:30 am). With their offense on fire, Eintracht have won two straight and gone four with defeat to reach fifth place. Presumed right back starter Chandler has never faced promoted Paderborn, who are 1-0-1 in a series just now reaching three years of age. The visitors, still missing left back Constant Djakpa, stand shy of a Champions League place by a single goal scored through seven rounds.
Fabian Johnson – Borussia Mönchengladbach at Hannover 96 (Saturday, 9:30 am on MyGermanTV+). Level on points with second place and one of four remaining Bundesliga unbeatens, the Foals are hoping to have Johnson back from a minor Achilles strain in Hannover. From the start or off the bench, the US international will probably see any Saturday minutes on the wing. He who has a goal and an assist in five career outings against the Reds, who have struggled recently against 'Gladbach. Saturday's guests have taken half of the last four games at AWD-Arena and three of four overall.
FRENCH LIGUE 1
Alejandro Bedoya – Nantes vs. Reims (Saturday, 2 pm on beIN Sport Connect). Both Bedoya and his team have yet to heat up offensively, but their hard work has Nantes playing early with the big boys in fifth place. The Canaries have not lost in over a month, conceding just twice in four games. The question here is, which Reims side will they be hosting? The injury-hit guests have three clean sheet victories and a draw against PSG this season, but have been outscored 17-3 in their five losses. Nantes has never lost at Reims, who managed a pair of scoreless draws in last season's meetings.
BEST OF THE REST
John Anthony Brooks – Hertha Berlin at Schalke, Sat. 12:30 pm on GolTV
Julian Green (questionable) – Hamburg vs. Hoffenheim, Sun. 9:30 am on GolTV
Rubio Rubin – FC Utrecht at Dordrecht, Sun. 8:30 am
Sacha Kljestan – Anderlecht at Mechelen, Sat. noon
Coach Bob Bradley, Andrew Jacobson, Michael Stephens – Stabæk vs. Viking, Sun. noon
Mikkel Diskerud – Rosenborg vs. Vålerenga, Sun. 2 pm
Conor O'Brien – Wiener Neustadt vs. Sturm Graz, Sun, 10:30 am
