AMSTERDAM – On a weekend card chock-full of tough crunch-time challenges for Americans playing overseas, John Brooks and Hertha Berlin will put their fine defensive form to the test away to Bundesliga kings Bayern Munich.
All times listed in ET.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa at Manchester City (Saturday, 12:30 pm on NBC)
The Villans backstop will try to push his side closer to survival in a building where he's suffered two losses by a combined 9-0 count. Guzan is 1-4 lifetime against Citeh, who have taken seven straight home meetings with Villa, six by shutout. The visitors cannot use loaned Man City winger Scott Sinclair, but could get Gabriel Agbonlahor back in his place.
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Manchester United (Sunday, 8:30 am on NBCSN)
The Toffees netminder has often looked quite comfortable hosting the Red Devils since his Old Trafford departure, piling up a 3-1-2 record with six goals conceded against his old employers at Goodison Park. Howard and Everton enter this contest with a five-game unbeaten streak containing four wins. He may need to tame old nemesis Robin van Persie, who has eight career goals against Howard and is aiming for a return to the United lineup.
DeAndre Yedlin – Tottenham at Southampton (Saturday, 7:45 am on NBCSN)
With Hugo Lloris expected back, Brad Friedel's deputy stint is likely done. But with Kyle Walker and Danny Rose out, Yedlin is angling for his first EPL start at right back. The occasion is big either way, with Southampton just one point behind their weekend visitors in the race for the last Europa League slot. Spurs have won five in a row in the series, and two of the last three at St. Mary's.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
John Brooks – Hertha Berlin at Bayern Munich (Saturday, 12:30 pm on GolTV)
The US defender and his club have been on a roll, with five clean sheets from a seven-match unbeaten run. This week, they roll into Allianz Arena hoping Bayern are still winded from thrashing Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday. Brooks has lost both his games against the reigning champs/clear league leaders, but with the dinged-up Bavarians in the midst of a string of huge games, the capital crew may also hope to sneak their first win in Munich since 1969.
Timmy Chandler – Eintracht Frankfurt at Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 9:30 am on GolTV)
If Chandler & Co. have any hope of snatching an invite to Europe at the wire, they will want to pull a rare feat this weekend. The American has never won in Dortmund and Eintracht have managed just one victory from their last 18 visits. A win on Saturday would give the visitors their first season sweep in the series in 24 years, push them ahead of BvB in the table and potentially get them as close as three points from the last Europa League slot.
Fabian Johnson – Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Wolfsburg (Sunday, 11:30 am on GolTV)
With 'Gladbach now trailing in the race for an automatic Champions League group phase pass on goal differential, Johnson could get the nod on left wing against second place Wolfsburg. The US handyman, who missed out on a 1-0 loss at Wolves earlier this season, is 2-2-1 against his former employers. The Foals are winless in the last four series meetings, but also unbeaten in the last four at home.
BEST OF THE REST
England:
Geoff Cameron – Stoke City vs. Sunderland, Sat. 10 am on Premier League Extra Time
France:
Alejandro Bedoya – Nantes at Toulouse, Sat. 2 pm
Netherlands:
Aron Johannsson – AZ Alkmaar at FC Twente, Sun. 10:45 am on NGSN
Rubio Rubin – FC Utrecht at Go Ahead Eagles, Sat. 1:45 pm
Norway:
Coach Bob Bradley, Cole Grossman – Stabæk at Lillestrom
Zarek Valentin – Bodo/Glimt at Sarpsborg 08
Austria:
Conor O'Brien – Wiener Neustadt vs. Sturm Graz, Sat. 12:30 pm
