12712_fabiandanny_isi_usmntjt0906122623 John Todd/isiphotos.com
5 to Watch This Weekend

Where Is the Best U.S. Soccer Action? Right Here

You have roughly 45 minutes to find a television to watch the first important USMNT-related game of the weekend. Luckily, Jon Arnold has four more in case your boss is close.
BY Jon Arnold Posted
December 07, 2012
8:51 AM
There are plenty of U.S. players to watch for each weekend, but this weekend provides a special treat since there are two American vs. American matchups. Which ones will get the upper hand and have all the bragging rights when they’re back in national team camp? Tune into these matches—plus a few others—to find out:

FRIDAY
Hamburg v. Hoffenheim
2:30 p.m. (all times Eastern)
GolTV

It’s fair to say there have been some struggles at Hoffenheim. While Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams have been relative bright spots, you know things aren’t going well when it’s the first week of December and there’s already another coach at the helm. Sneak out of the office early to see if the American duo plus interim manager Frank Kramer have any luck snapping a four-match losing streak. Maybe Johnson will even do this again:

SATURDAY
Aston Villa v. Stoke City
10 a.m.
Fox Soccer Plus

In the first of our American vs. American battles, we have two starters and two guys who will hope to make the bench. Brad Guzan’s play in goal has not only kept Shay Given off the field but has earned accolades from players and pundits alike. It’ll be Geoff Cameron’s hope to help the Potters put a few past Guzan to take three points. Meanwhile, Eric Lichaj will cross his fingers to feature for the Villians with Maurice Edu doing the same for a spot in the Stoke team.

Roma v. Fiorentina
4 p.m
beIN Sport (Tape Delayed, live at 2:45 on RAI)

In person, on live TV, or tape delayed, you know you have to tune in to watch Michael Bradley. A three-match winning streak has his Roma team just outside the European places, but a win against Fiorentina would move them level. That’s easier said than done, though, since the visitors haven’t lost since a late September stumble against Inter.

SUNDAY
Everton v. Tottenham Hotspur
10 a.m.
FoxSoccer2Go

Clint Dempsey was going wild for Spurs during their midweek Europa League win against Panathinaikos, a match Brad Friedel started at goalkeeper. Can Dempsey replicate that same form against Friedel counterpart and U.S. No. 1 Tim Howard in Everton’s goal?

Hannover 96 v. Bayer Leverkusen
11:30 a.m.
GolTV

Leverkusen is on a tremendous run of form that has them sitting in second place in the Bundesliga. It’s up to American Steve Cherundolo, who captains Hannover, to have his squad up to the task of stopping Stefan Kießling off the board. It’s also apparently a last call for GolTV if you’re a Comcast customer, since the network is making way for beIN Sport on December 12, so get your fill now if that’s you.

BEST OF THE REST
La Liga: Malaga v. Granada (6 p.m. Saturday tape delayed on beIN Sport)—Oguchi Onyewu has become a regular contributor to the side when they’re not playing La Liga matches. See if he gets a run out this weekend for the fifth-place Anchovies. Maybe even order a pizza in their honor since the game is being showed Saturday night.

NO U.S. ANGLE BUT...
Premier League: Manchester City v. Manchester United (8:30 a.m. Sunday on Fox Soccer)—This derby has real title implications for the English league… but you probably already knew that.

Club World Cup: Ulsan v. Monterrey (2 a.m. Sunday on Fox Soccer)—Stay up late to see how CONCACAF’s representative to this strange but usually fun tournament fares against the K-League’s Ulsan Hyundai. One thing that could be in Rayados’ favor? The match is being played in Toyota.

So what are you watching this weekend? Which matches did we miss that we should tune in for? Let us know in the new and improved comments section.

Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) is a freelance writer based in Phoenix and the co-host of MLS in 30 on NASN.TV.

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