by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
Brad Friedel is enjoying a great start to the Premiership season, and it could get even better for him this weekend.
Friedel and Aston Villa head to Ewood Park this Saturday to take on Friedel's former club, Blackburn Rovers. A win for Friedel in the stadium he is so familiar with, in front of the fans that used to cheer him on, would truly cap off the 38-year-old's remarkable start to the season, a start that includes three shutouts and 23 saves.
Other intriguing matches to keep an eye on are Hull City-Liverpool and Fulham-Arsenal. With Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey both facing EPL giants, a goal against top-notch opposition could well be in store for American fans.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:
FRIDAY
Matt Taylor and FSV Frankfurt play Energie Cottbus.
SATURDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Portsmouth.
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Blackburn Rovers.
Jozy Altidore and Hull City play Liverpool.
Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Arsenal.
Jay DeMerit and Watford play Reading. (DeMerit is out injured.)
Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday play Cardiff City.
Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons play Mike Grella and Leeds United.
Jon-Paul Pittman and Wycombe Wanderers play Swindon Town.
Zak Whitbread and Millwall play Leyton Orient.
Ian Joyce and Southend United play Oldham Athletic.
DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu and Rangers play Aberdeen. (Edu is out injured.)
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Borussia Dortmund.
Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo and Hannover 96 play VfL Wolfsburg.
Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Karlsruhe.
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play AS Nancy Lorraine.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Odense BK.
Edgar Castillo and UANL play Atlas.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play Chiapas.
Marco Vidal and Indios de Ciudad Juarez play U.A. de G.
SUNDAY
Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Sunderland.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Bari.
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play SC Freiburg.
David Yeldell and TUS Koblenz play FC Augsburg.
Kenny Cooper and 1860 Munich play SC Paderborn 07.
Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes play Bordeaux.
Dan Califf and FC Midtjylland play Sonderjyske.
Marcus Tracy and Aalborg play FC Copenhagen.
Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play Santos.
Troy Perkins and Valerenga play Bodo/Glimt.
Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Sandefjord.
Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek play Stromsgodset. (Diskerud is with the U.S. U-20 national team.)
MONDAY
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Manchester City.
Kamani Hill and Guimares play Uniao de Leiria.
Benny Feilhaber, Jeremiah White and AGF Aarhus play Esbjerg.
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play GAIS.
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Which Americans Abroad match are you most looking forward to? Which player(s) do you see having a big impact this weekend? Think Friedel and Aston Villa will top Blackburn? Do you see Altidore scoring this weekend? Will Dempsey once again raise his level of play against an EPL elite?
Share your thoughts below.
