AMSTERDAM – There's one last weekend chock-full of crunch contests involving Americans before big European leagues start closing shop, with Stabæk boss Bob Bradley set to guide Cole Grossman and the rest of his team in an early derby showdown with visiting Tippeligaen leaders Rosenborg.
See below for a round-up of Americans who could be in action in Europe this weekend. All times are listed in ET:
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa at Burnley (Sunday, 10 am on Esquire Network/NBC Deportes En Vivo Extra/NBC Sports Live Extra)
Villa have clinched survival, but manager Tim Sherwood will likely do a bit of shuffling in the last game before next weekend's FA Cup final tilt with Arsenal. That means deposed starter Guzan could get a second chance audition. The Villans have won the last three at home to Burnley and have not lost to their Sunday guests since 1967.
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Brad Friedel, DeAndre Yedlin – Tottenham (Sunday, 10 am on CNBC)
Is it remotely possible we could see the 19th clash between Howard and Friedel in the latter's last game as a pro? Back corridor word has it Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is considering an FA Cup final bet on arch rivals Arsenal as insurance for punching their Europa League ticket to give the retiring star one last EPL start. Meanwhile, Yedlin has had a standout week in training and is also pushing for a slightly risky nod from the boss. Howard won the last meeting with Friedel in 2012 to snap a seven-game win drought in their personal series, but Everton managed just two points in the four games between the clubs since then.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Fabian Johnson – Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Augsburg (Saturday, 9:30 am on MyGermanTV+)
Having already earned a Champions League group phase pass for the fall, Johnson & Co. will now try to pull off a silver medal smash-and-grab against his former employers. Needing two assists to become the first American reach double figures for an overall European campaign since Eddie Lewis finished with 10 for Leeds United in 2007, the American should keep his left wing place. Though they require help from arch nemesis FC Cologne against second-place Wolfsburg, the Foals are running on the strength of eight wins in their last nine league games.
AUSTRIAN BUNDESLIGA
Conor O'Brien – Wiener Neustadt at Rapid Vienna (Sunday, 11:45 am)
After his star turn helped the cellar dwellers revive survival hope, they still face a must-win and a must-hope match away to streaking runners-up Rapid. Though they desperately need ninth-place Admira Wacker to drop points against Sturm Graz, first things come first. O'Brien has been a part of two derby losses, by a combined 8-1 tally. Furthermore, Wiener Neustadt have not won in this series since 2010, a span of nine games.
NORWEGIAN TIPPELIGAEN
Coach Bob Bradley, Cole Grossman – Stabaek vs. Rosenborg (Monday, noon)
If such a thing as a pressure-packed, high-stakes, 10th round Tippeligaen tilt exists, this is it. Norway has been abuzz for a week about Bradley taking a surprise shot at the summit against their neighboring rivals. As for Grossman, he is among the highest-ranked midfielders in VG's player ratings for the young season. The Blue Ones, who have been known to occasionally cause some trouble at the Lerkendaal, have evenly split the last four clashes there.
BEST OF THE REST
England:
Geoff Cameron – Stoke City vs. Liverpool, Sat. 10 am on SyFy
Germany:
Timothy Chandler – Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayer Leverkusen, Sat. 9:30 am on MyGermanTV+
Bobby Wood - FC Heidenheim vs. Erzgebirge Aue, Sun. 9:30 am on MyGermanTV+
Norway:
Danny Cruz, Zarek Valentin – Bodø/Glimt at Lillestrøm, Mon. 9:30 am
Alex DeJohn – IK Start vs. Quentin Westberg – Sarpsborg 08, Mon. 2 pm
A.J. Soares – Viking at Aalesunds FK
