By FRANCO PANIZO
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach escaped the Bundesliga's dungeon with their 4-0 rout of FC Cologne last weekend, and now they'll turn their sights towards escaping the relegation zone altogether.
Moenchengladbach hosts Mainz, and despite sitting pretty in third place, the O-Fives are reeling, having lost their last three games all by way of shutout. Should Bradley and Moenchengladbach extend Mainz's losing streak to four and win back-to-back games for the first time this season, they could leave the drop zone if other results go their way.
One of the clubs in direct competition with Moenchengladbach in the race to avoid the drop is Schalke 04, who should have Jermaine Jones in its starting eleven when it locks horns at home with Werder Bremen. With a Champions League match against Lyon looming, Jones and Schalke can't get caught looking ahead, otherwise last place could await them.
Far from battling relegation, Pachuca will look to defeat Monterrey in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Apertura. Pachua was held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg on Thursday, and Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Marco Vidal will be hoping to continue their playoff run with a road victory.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
SATURDAY
Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers play Blackpool.
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Liverpool.
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Newcastle United.
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Leeds United. (Whitbread is out injured.)
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Scunthorpe United.
Jemal Johnson and Milton Keynes Dons play Sheffield Wednesday.
Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Brentford.
Frank Simek, Mike Grella and Carlisle United play Walsall.
Maurice Edu and Rangers play Kilmarnock. (Edu is out injured.)
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Dundee United.
Jozy Altidore and Villarreal play Valencia.
Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Fiorentina.
Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach play Mainz.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Borussia Dortmund.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play TSG Hoffenheim.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Werder Bremen.
Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96 play Hamburg SV.
Amaechi Igwe and FC Ingolstadt 04 play VfL Bochum. (Igwe is out injured.)
Charlie Davies and Sochaux play Lorient.
Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play AJ Auxerre.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Germinal Beerschot.
SUNDAY
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Blackburn Rovers.
Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Fulham play Manchester City.
Luis Robles and Karlsruhe play FC Augsburg.
Kenny Cooper and TSV 1860 Munich play FSV Frankfurt. (Cooper is out injured.)
Freddy Adu and Aris Salonika play Kerkyra.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Copenhagen.
Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play Brondby. (Tracy and Rolfe are out injured.)
Benny Feilhaber and AGF Aarhus play Bronshoj.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Fredrikstad in the first leg of the promotion/relegation series.
Edgar Castillo and San Luis play Club America.
Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez, Marco Vidal and Pachuca play Monterrey.
MONDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Sunderland.
David Yeldell and MSV Duisburg play Energie Cottbus.
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How do you see Bradley and Moenchengladbach doing this weekend against Mainz? Think Schalke and Jones can defeat Werder Bremen and jump out of the relegation zone? How do you see the trio of Americans at Pachuca faring in the second leg?
Share your thoughts below,
