Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

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photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The end of last year's club season was one to forget for Jozy Altidore, but he is hoping to make the start of the upcoming campaign one to remember.

Altidore will seek his first minutes in league play with Villarreal since 2008 when the club opens its season at Real Sociedad. Altidore has received playing time in Villarreal's pre-season friendlies and Europa League matches, so a cameo off the bench could be in the cards. If Altidore were to play and find the back of the net, it would be his first official goal since the Turkey friendly back in May.

Another forward with an intriguing match on the horizon is Herculez Gomez. Along with teammates Jose Torres and Marco Vidal, Gomez will look for his first goal of the season when Pachuca visits Puebla, the club where Gomez shone at and tied the league lead in goals in 2009. The match will be Gomez's first against his former club, and it should be interesting to see what kind of reception he gets.

There are also a pair of American duels to keep an eye on. Tim Howard and Brad Friedel look to do battle when Everton and Aston Villa face off, while Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 will go up against Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96.

Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad will be playing this weekend:

FRIDAY

Frank SimekandCarlisle United play Colchester United.

Matt Taylorand FSV Frankfurt play RW Oberhausen.

Sammy Ochoaand Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. play Morelia.

SATURDAY

Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnsonand Fulham play Blackpool.

Marcus Hahnemannand Wolverhampton Wanderers play Newcastle United.

Jonathan Spectorand West Ham United play Manchester United.

Conor Doyleand Derby County play Queens Park Rangers.

Mike Grellaand Leeds United play Watford.

Zak Whitbreadand Norwich City play Nottingham Forest. (Whitbread is out injured.)

Anton Peterlinand Plymouth Argyle play Peterborough United.

Maurice Eduand Rangers play St Johnstone.

Ricardo Clarkand Eintracht Frankfurt play Hamburg SV.

Daniel Williamsand SC Freiburg play Nurnberg.

Jermaine Jonesand Schalke 04 play Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96.

David Yelldelland MSV Duisburg play Amaechi Igweand FC Ingolstadt 04. (Igwe is out injured.)

Carlos Bocanegraand St Etienne play Lens.

Sacha Kljestan! and RSC Anderlecht play Zulte-Waregem.

Alejandro Bedoyaand Orebro SK play Helsingborg.

Edgar Castilloand San Luis play Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante.

SUNDAY

Stuart Holdenand Bolton Wanderers play Birmingham.

Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa playTim Howardand Everton.

Dominic Cerviand Celtic play Motherwell.

Jozy Altidore and Villarreal play Real Sociedad.

Oguchi Onyewu and AC Milan play Lecce.

Michael Bradleyand Borussia Moenchengladbach play Bayer Leverkusen.

Kenny Cooperand TSV 1860 Munichplay VfL Osnabruck. (Cooper is out injured.)

Luis Roblesand Karlsruhe play Alemania Aachen.

Charlie Daviesand Sochaux play Paris Saint-Germain.

Freddy Adu and Aris Salonika play Kavala.

Michael Parkhurst andFC Nordsjaelland play Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK. (Tracy and Rolfe are out injured.)

Ryan Millerand Halmstads BK play Kalmar FF.

Steve ClarkandHonefoss BK play Aalesunds.

Mikkel Diskerudand Stabaek IF play Lillestrom.

Clarence Goodson, Hunter Freemanand IK Start play Rosenborg.

Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez, Marco Vidaland Pachuca play Puebla.

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What kind of role do you see Altidore having this weekend? Do you see Gomez coming off the bench and scoring against Puebla? Which goalkeeper is more likely to keep a cleansheet, Howard or Friedel? Expecting Jones and Schalke to defeat Cherundolo and Hannover?

Share your thoughts below.



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