Isi.dempseyclint.bpi_fulhvtotthots.fqh6 Ben Queenborough/isiphotos.com
5 to Watch This Weekend

With Adebayor Away, Dempsey in Spurs Spotlight

Clint Dempsey has to battle to earn a spot in the Spurs lineup every week, but with Emmanuel Adebayor playing in the African Cup of Nations, Deuce should feature against Manchester United on Sunday
BY Jon Arnold Posted
January 18, 2013
11:30 AM
The Bundesliga is back! Unfortunately, the would-be marquee match for U.S. national team fans between Schalke 04 and Hannover 96 has been downgraded from a Must-Watch to an Oh, By the Way. Jermaine Jones is still serving a suspension and Steve Cherundolo is out injured. That means it’s another weekend full of English Premier League and Liga MX. There are worse things in the world. And who knows? We might even slip in a different Bundesliga match.

SATURDAY
West Brom v. Aston Villa
12:30 p.m. (All times Eastern)
Fox Soccer

The late Premier League match Saturday features Brad Guzan and Aston Villa side that has dropped into the relegation zone despite the American goalkeeper’s heroics. A loss to Southampton in their last league game makes this fixture against West Brom crucial. The Baggies had a hot start but have lost their last three, making them seem susceptible to an upset.

Atlas v. Tigres
8 p.m.
UniMás (the channel formerly known as Telefutura)

After missing the first two weeks with an injury, Jose Francisco Torres is ready to make his Tigres debut. Torres is a player Jurgen Klinsmann has tried to integrate into the U.S. squad on a few occasions, and if he can establish himself as a starter at Tigres, it would provide a huge boost for his U.S. chances.

SUNDAY
Nuremberg v. Hamburg
9:30 a.m.
GolTV

Surprise! It’s a Bundesliga match. With the deadline approaching for many USMNT fans as to when they’ll stop paying attention to Timmy Chandler (February 6, as in, if he’s not in a U.S. shirt February 6, I’m done with him), it’s worth watching Chandler and Nuremberg in action.

Tottenham v. Manchester United
11 a.m.
Fox Soccer

With Emmanuel Adebayor on national team duty during the African Cup of Nations, American midfielder Clint Dempsey's good rapport with striker Jermain Defoe means he'll shoulder more responsibility in Spurs' attack. There is perhaps no better team to perform well against than Manchester United, the league leaders. Dempsey has been scoring goals in crucial Premier League matches for years. While Dempsey is likely to get the nod in an attacking role, it would be a major surprise if teammate and fellow American Brad Friedel is between the sticks Sunday.

Puebla v. Santos
1 p.m.
ESPN Deportes

This match should feature three Americans in one match, with DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco Fiscal suiting up for Puebla and Herculez Gomez donning the green and white of Santos. Beasley has had two positive first halves and Orozco Fiscal may have found a home as a starter for Puebla’s back line after falling out of favor with San Luis. Meanwhile, you know what Gomez is capable of, but will he score for Santos this week or will it again be the Oribe Peralta show?

IF ONLY THERE WERE SOME WAY TO WATCH THIS GAME OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY FREEFOOTBALLSTREAMZZZZZ.EU.NET.SKETCH.COM
Serie A: Roma v. Inter (2:45 p.m., Sunday)—Somehow this match between Inter, sitting fourth in the Serie A table, and Roma, sitting sixth, isn’t gracing American screens. If only there were some way to watch Michael Bradley and the gang try to snap their two-match losing skid against a storied opponent.

BEST OF THE REST
Bundesliga: Fortuna Duesseldorf v. Augsburg (11:30 a.m., Sunday, GolTV)—Michael Parkhurst could make his Bundesliga debut in this match that pits his 17th-place Augsburg team against 13th-place Fortuna Dusseldorf. How do you say ‘What a cracker!’ in German?

Liga MX: Pumas v. Tijuana (1 p.m., Sunday, Univision)—TijuanAmericaMania heads to the capital to face off with Pumas in this Sunday matinee. Castillo, Corona, maybe Garza if he’s healthy again. You know the drill.

English Premier League: Southampton v. Everton (3 p.m. ESPN3, ESPN Deportes)—Southampton let manager Nigel Adkins go despite the wishes of most supporters. They’ll be mounting a protest against his sacking Monday. On the pitch, Tim Howard will be in goal hoping to deepen the supporters’ anger by keeping a clean sheet against the Saints.

NO U.S. ANGLE BUT...
La Liga: Valencia v. Real Madrid (3 p.m., Sunday, beIN Sport)—Andres Guardado, the Mexican midfielder, is adjusting to playing left back for Valencia. Tune in to see how he’ll cope with star-studded Real Madrid.

Bundesliga: Werder Bremen v. Borussia Dortmund (12:30 p.m., Saturday, GolTV)—Two entertaining Budesliga sides face off in the best German action this weekend as the league returns from break.

Serie A: Juventus v. Udinese (2:40 p.m., Saturday, beIN Sport)—You might not be able to see Michael Bradley, but you can catch this match. Juventus hasn’t won their past two matches, something that hasn’t happened too often to the Old Lady during the past two years.

So what are you watching this weekend? Which matches did we miss that we should tune in for?

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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