AMSTERDAM – This weekend's European menu will feature no less than four tasty showdowns between clubs employing Americans, topped by the Aston Villa star Brad Guzan's chase for his first career triumph over an in-form Tim Howard and Everton.
All times listed are ET.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa vs. Tim Howard – Everton
(Saturday, 10 am on Premier League Extra Time)
The Villa goalkeeper has yet to win in four tries when facing Howard. In fact, he's yet to allow less than two goals in a game against the Toffees, who just so happen to be cruising into town on a hot streak consisting of a 5-0-1 record and four shutouts. As for the Everton netminder, he also carries an eight-match unbeaten streak against the Villans and has only lost twice in nine career visits to Birmingham. Of course, Guzan has the sizable matter of standing two points above the trap door with four games left to consider.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
John Anthony Brooks – Hertha Berlin vs. Fabian Johnson – Borussia Mönchengladbach
(Sunday, 11:30 am on GolTV)
Saturday's monster clash of US international gets a proper follow-up with this contest pitting two of the hottest Americans on the continent against each other. Johnson (at right) has a goal and four assists in his last seven starts but is just 1-2-2 lifetime against Hertha. Brooks will be after his points against the Foals after taking part in defeats the last two meetings. However, the youngster is leading a capital-side backline that has conceded just four goals from their last eight outings.
Timothy Chandler – Eintracht Frankfurt at Werder Bremen
(Saturday, 9:30 am on MyGermanTV+)
In what is effectively Eintracht's last stand in the Europa league race, Chandler & Co. get a shot at a season sweep against one of the American's favorite foes. The US right back has not served in a loss against the current ninth-place side (one of five teams blocking them from European play) since just after he cracked the FC Nürnberg first team in 2011 and has yet to lose in three visits to Bremen. Another win there Saturday could reduce Eintracht's deficit on the all-important sixth place to as few as three points.
FRENCH LIGUE 1
Alejandro Bedoya – Nantes vs. Paris Saint-Germain (Sunday, 3 pm on beIN Sports Connect)
Having celebrated his 28th birthday on Wednesday, Bedoya will wish for his first victory against the red-hot league leaders this weekend. Though Nantes have lost all four of his appearances against PSG, the American has made some noise with a goal in the last meeting and a couple of other impressive displays. The Canaries, who are missing top netminder Kian Hansen, have lost nine straight in this series. Their last victory against the Parisians came at home 11 years ago.
NORWEGIAN TIPPELIGAEN
Coach Bob Bradley, Cole Grossman – Stabæk vs. Rhett Bernstein – Mjøndalen (Sunday, noon)
Bradley's boys will enter play on a three-game win streak that has featured a pair of goals from Grossman and the stingiest defense in the league through five games. Bernstein and Mjøndalen have shown well as a promoted side but did suffer their first defeat of the young season (and a rough one) on Thursday. In last season's second-flight clashes between the teams, Stabæk posted a shutout win at home and a draw.
BEST OF THE REST
England:
Geoff Cameron – Stoke City at Swansea City, Sat. 10 am on Premier League Extra Time
DeAndre Yedlin – Tottenham vs. Manchester City, Sun. 11 am on NBCSN
Austria:
Conor O'Brien – Wiener Neustadt at Austria Vienna, Sat. 12:30 pm
Norway:
Danny Cruz, Zarek Valentin – Bodø/Glimt at Aalesund FK, Sun. 9:30 am
Alex DeJohn – IK Start vs. Tromsø, Sun. 9:30 am
A.J. Soares – Viking vs. Ethan Horvath – Molde FK, Mon. 1 pm
Finland:
Brian Span – IFK Mariehamn vs. Freddy Adu – KuPS, Sun. 9 am
