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5 to Watch

Season-Ending Clashes Highlight U.S. TV Weekend

Hoffenheim and Tottenham face long odds in their season-ending battles. Will Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams get relegated? Will Clint Dempsey qualify for the Champions League? Tune in to find out.
BY Eduardo Mendez Posted
May 17, 2013
1:47 PM
Several European leagues are coming to a close this weekend, and there are some very important games featuring United States national team players. Here’s your guide to this weekend’s top action.

SATURDAY
Borussia Dortmund vs. Hoffenheim
9:30 a.m. (all times Eastern)
Tape delayed on GolTV at 11:30 a.m.

These are bleak times for Americans Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams. On the final day of the season, Hoffenheim is two points shy of staving off relegation. Fortuna Dusseldorf remains in the driver’s seat, but both Fortuna and FC Augsburg must lose if Hoffenheim is to stay in Germany’s top division next season. That already-daunting task grows increasingly more difficult with a must-win game in the most turbulent environment possible—a trip to the hallowed grounds of Borussia Dortmund.

Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas
10:30 p.m.
MLS Live

Eddie Johnson will have the opportunity to send a message before he begins camp for a five-game stretch in May and June. The surging Seattle Sounders sit 12 points back of FC Dallas in the Western Conference, but the Sounders are now riding an impressive five-game unbeaten streak after a franchise-worst start to the season.

SUNDAY
Tottenham vs. Sunderland
11:00 a.m.
Fox Soccer Channel

Wigan Athletic's 4-1 loss to Arsenal on Tuesday did more than doom the Latics to relegation. It also cast a shadow over Clint Dempsey's Champions League aspirations. Tottenham will enter the final Premier League weekend in fifth place, one point behind Arsenal for the fourth and final Champions League spot. Spurs now must win its final match against Sunderland and it will need Arsenal to lose or draw at Newcastle. Remote controls will be getting a workout on Sunday.

New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
1:00 p.m.
ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPN Deportes

Twenty-six players were called up for the national team roster, but it’s the one name that wasn’t that’s stealing headlines. Landon Donovan’s performance in the Galaxy’s 4-1 destruction of the Philadelphia Union was not enough to change the mind of Jurgen Klinsmann. Perhaps a repeat performance against the Eastern Conference leaders will spark a new round of second guessing. We know at least one national teamer will be in attendance: defender Omar Gonzalez will hope to aid the Galaxy's cause before joining Klinsmann and company.

Cruz Azul vs. Santos Laguna
9:00 p.m.
ESPN Deportes

Herculez Gomez is the last hope for the American contingent in the Liga MX playoffs, but things didn’t exactly go according to plan for Santos Laguna in Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Cruz Azul. It’ll take four goals in Estadio Azul to extend Gomez’s commitment with Santos. Anything short of that will bring an end to another trophyless season.

BEST OF THE REST
Premier League: Chelsea vs. Everton (Sunday, 11:00 a.m., Fox Soccer 2 Go)—Tim Howard will look to cut the reigning Europa League champions’ celebration short.

NO U.S. ANGLE BUT...
Copa del Rey: Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid (Friday, 3:25 p.m., ESPN)—It’s a Madrid derby for Spain’s most prestigious cup. You won’t find a better match on TV this weekend.

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.

Eduardo Mendez is a Brooklyn-based writer and an ASN contributor.

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