AMSTERDAM – Another set of big weekend clashes are in store for American playing overseas, with Timothy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt trying to keep slim Europa League hopes alive away to John Anthony Brooks and Bundesliga survivalists Hertha Berlin.
All times listed in ET.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
DeAndre Yedlin – Tottenham vs. Hull City (Saturday, 10 am on Premier League Extra Time)
Yedlin made comments to reporters this week that sounded like they came from a guy not expecting to get a start over the last two games of the season, but he should get himself ready anyway. Spurs are winless in three, thinning at the back and barely clinging to the last Europa League slot. Hull, who are trying to avoid the drop, have not beaten Tottenham since 2008.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
John Anthony Brooks – Hertha Berlin vs. Timothy Chandler – Eintracht Frankfurt (Saturday, 9:30 am on MyGermanTV+)
Brooks & Co. can clinch safety with his first career win against Eintracht and any amount of help from any of the five teams below them in the table. However, Chandler has yet to lose to Hertha in four meetings, and his side are striving to rally for a Europa League spot (which becomes a lot easier if Wolfsburg win the cup final at the end of the month). Though the Frankfurters have not traditionally fared well in Berlin, they have won on two of their last four visits.
Fabian Johnson – Borussia Mönchengladbach at Werder Bremen (Saturday, 9:30 am on MyGermanTV+)
A victory will clinch a Champions League group phase invite for the Foals. Hot hand Johnson has a goal and four assists in the last 10 games, but he has yet to take part in a victory over Bremen in eight career tries. While currently unbeaten in six on the road, it is fair to say that 'Gladbach are also not big fans of trips to Bremen. They have not won there since 1987, a span of 24 matches.
DUTCH EREDIVISIE
Aron Johannsson
– AZ Alkmaar at Excelsior (Sunday, 8:30 am on NGSN)
It all comes down to one game, and AZ only need a better result than Feyenoord posts at Zwolle to grab the automatic Europa League invite. Even or worse puts them in a four-team playoff for the last berth. Johannsson has goals in consecutive games, and with seven on the season, an outside shot to make it four years running with an American in double figures for the Cheese Farmers. They have won just once in six tries at Excelsior, who will enter this one winless in eight.
NORWEGIAN TIPPELIGAEN
Coach Bob Bradley, Cole Grossman – Stabak at Molde FK (Saturday, noon)
Stabak midfield ace Grossman will start and (barring an in-game emergency) Molde backup netminder Ethan Horvath will have a great seat for the show. Bradley's boys are level on points with leaders Rosenborg, but he has only managed to guide the Blue Ones to one point in three tries against the champs. However, the visitors will arrive in eight straight overall wins, the last six in league play by shutout.
BEST OF THE REST
England
:
Geoff Cameron – Stoke City at Burnley, Sat. 10 am on Premier League Extra Time
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa at Southampton, Sat. 7:45 am
Tim Howard – Everton at West Ham United, Sat. 10 am on Premier League Extra Time
Netherlands:
Rubio Rubin – FC Utrecht at Vitesse, Sun. 8:30 am on NGSN
Norway:
Rhett Bernstein
– Mjondalen at Valerenga, Sat. 9:30 am
Danny Cruz, Zarek Valentin
– Bodo/Glimt vs. Tromso, Sat. 9:30 am
A.J. Soares
– Viking vs.
Alex DeJohn
– IK Start, Sat. 2 pm
Austria:
Conor O'Brien – Wiener Neustadt at Admira Moedling, Sat. 12:30 pm
