AMSTERDAM – Another weekend brings another tempting menu of European action involving Americans, including Fabian Johnson and Daniel Williams staring into the eyes of the charging Bundesliga bull that is Bayern Munich. All times listed in ET.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea – Stoke City vs. West Ham United (Saturday, 10 am on Fox Soccer 2Go)
Shea could get his first EPL start if Matthew Etherington fails a late fitness check, while Cameron may work in central defense for the suspended Robert Huth. Signs point to a positive result for the Potters; they have lost just once in at home this season, whereas West Ham have dropped seven of eight winless matches on the road. Stoke are also 2-0-1 in their last three Brittania Stadium meetings with the Hammers.
READ: Shea shows well in Stoke City debut
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Fabian Johnson, Daniel Wiliams – Hoffenheim vs. Bayern Munich (Sunday, 9:30 am on GolTV)
After dropping into the bottom two last week, the last thing Hoffenheim should want to see are the runaway league leaders. Nevertheless, that's the weekend gig. Johnson will keep his left back place and Williams should start with Eugen Polanski out serving a ban. Bayern have won nine straight games overall and have not lost in league play since October. They are also unbeaten in four tries at Rhein-Neckar-Stadion, but with just one win.
ITALIAN SERIE A
Michael Bradley – AS Roma vs. Genoa (Sunday, 2:45 pm on beIN Sport)
It's possible that the US midfielder, who has won all three of his career meetings with Genoa, could work from the bench with Daniele De Rossi back. The Romans are after their third straight win, which could lift them into the Europa League zone with a little help.
DUTCH EREDIVISIE
Jozy Altidore – AZ Alkmaar at RKC Waalwijk (Sunday, 8:30 am)
The AZ forward, who has 11 goals in his last 11 games across all competition, will hop back on his horse to chase down the league scoring lead at RKC. He's bagged a goal and two assists in three previous meetings against Erwin Koeman's strugglers. Sunday's visitors have lost five Eredivisie matches in a row by a combined 10-1 count. Though Altidore's Cheese Farmers were forced to a settle for a 3-3 draw in this fixture last season, they had won seven consecutive home games in the series before that.
READ: Jozy Altidore's brace, assist leads AZ to Dutch Cup final
DANISH SUPERLIGA
Conor O'Brien – FC Nordsjælland vs. AC Horsens (Sunday, 8 am)
Word out of Farum Park is that the American will take up the two-way slot in FCN's 4-3-3 midfield on his debut. O'Brien brings over four goals and three assists, and the Wild Tigers will be placing more attack responsibility on his shoulders. Nordsjælland haven't dropped a Superliga game at home in nearly a year and they've also posted three straight shutout victories against Horsens.
BEST OF THE REST
England:
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Reading, Sat. 10 am on Fox Soccer Plus
Germany:
Jermaine Jones – Schalke at Wolfsburg, Sat. 9:30 am
Michael Parkhurst – Augsburg at Werder Bremen, Sat. 9:30 am
Austria:
Terrence Boyd – Rapid Vienna at RZ Pellets WAC, Sun. 10 am
