Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
With more Americans plying their trade abroad than ever before, it's becoming more frequent to see battles between compatriots. This weekend is no different, and there's an intriguing one on tap that involves two U.S. men's national team players.
Jose Torres and Edgar Castillo, who were both called up by Jurgen Klinsmann for the national team's upcoming friendlies, are set to square off in Pachuca's home game against Club America on Saturday. Both teams are sitting in the middle of the Apertura table, but only one point seperates America's eighth place position and Pachuca's eleventh. That means Castillo and Torres' performances could prove vital as their respective clubs look to make their way up the standings.
Jozy Altidore isn't going up against any fellow Americans, but he will look to continue his goal-scoring ways when AZ Alkmaar plays FC Groningen. Altidore has been on fire since the start of the season, and he's likely to earn a start after his two-goal performance in AZ's Europa League win on Thursday.
Two other players who will attempt to benefit from the goals they scored during the week are Eric Lichaj and Robbie Findley. Lichaj, who netted in Carling Cup action on Tuesday, will be hoping to make the gameday roster for a league game for the first time this season when Aston Villa takes on Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Findley will aim to start versus West Ham United after scoring on Tuesday, too.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play VfB Stuttgart.
Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Hansa Rostock.
Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas play Toluca.
SATURDAY
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Tim Howard and Everton play Blackburn Rovers.
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Chelsea.
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Liverpool. (Holden is out injured.)
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Burnley.
Mike Grella and Leeds United play Ipswich Town.
Anton Peterlin and Walsall play AFC Bournemouth.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Leyton Orient. (Simek is out injured.)
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play FC Augsburg.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play VfL Wolfsburg.
Fabian Johnson and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Werder Bremen.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Borussia Dortmund.
Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC play FSV Frankfurt.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Dijon FCO.
Eugene Starikov and FK Tom Tomsk play FK Amkar Perm'.
Brad Rusin and HB Koge play Chris Rolfe, Marcus Tracy and Aalborg BK. (Tracy is out injured.)
Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play Trelleborgs FF.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play Edgar Castillo and Club America.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Atlas.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play Chivas de Guadalajara.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Herculez Gomez and Estudiantes Tecos.
SUNDAY
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Newcastle United.
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Manchester City.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play West Ham United.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Watford.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play St Mirren.
Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Aberdeen.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Mainz.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Michael Bradley and Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play FC Union Berlin.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play FC Groningen.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play C.S. Maritimo.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Club Brugge.
Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE play Odense BK.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Lyngby.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Midtjylland.
Samuel Petrone and Mjallby AIF play GAIS.
Mix Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Lillestrom.
Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Aalesund.
Joe Corona and Club Tijuana play Queretaro.
DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Morelia.
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Who do you think will win between Torres and Pachuca and Castillo and America? Do you see Altidore scoring versus FC Groningen? Think Lichaj will make Aston Villa's gameday roster?
Share your thoughts below.
