Aussies Abroad Preview: Club action returns at business end of European seasons

Our Socceroos are set to return to their clubs as many reach the business end of the season. 

Find out when all of our recent squad members will be in action as the Aussies Abroad Preview returns. 

Germany

Ajdin Hrustic returns to Bundesliga action with a match at home to last-place Greuther Fürth (Sunday 12:30am).

FC St Pauli can extend their lead at the top of the 2. Bundesliga this weekend, with a win away at mid-table club Hansa Rostock (Sunday 4:30am). The Hamburg outfit are inching ever closer to a first division berth once again, with both Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe (who is set to join next season) hoping for positive results heading into the last 10 matches.

 

Mainland Europe

Denis Genreau could take another step towards promotion to Ligue 1 this weekend, with a victory at home to second place Paris FC (Sunday 12am). The capital outfit travel south to face Genreau's Toulouse, with a seven point gap separating the sides with just eight games to play. The margin may well be unreachable for Paris, if stretched out to double-digits, with the midfielder given his just reward for a fantastic first campaign in France.

Although still placed well within the Serie B's promotion play-off positions, Fran Karacic and his side Brescia will be hoping to challenge the league's two automatic places. The margin still stands at just four points, with a victory this weekend at home to Vicenza crucial (Sunday 11:30pm).

In Belgium, the task is simple for James Jeggo and AS Eupen heading in to the weekend. Having accrued a five point buffer from the relegation places with two matches remaining, just a single point away at mid-table outfit Genk (Monday 5am) will be enough to assure another season of top-flight football for the midfielder.

Trent Sainsbury will also be looking to finish off his Belgian campaign on a positive note, as the defender gears up to face European-bound Mechelen away from home (Sunday 2:30am). 

It's crunch time in Denmark for Joel King and Odense BK, as the lower-tier round commences, with a round-robin tournament deciding who remains in the Danish SuperLiga next season. OB start off with a home tie against Nordsjælland (Sunday 10pm), who finished just one spot behind King's side in the regular season.

In Turkey, Awer Mabil returns to action with Kasimpasa, as they host mid-table side Gaziantep FK (Sunday 8:30pm). After securing safety with almost 10 matches to spare, the aim now will be for Mabil to strike a rich vein of form heading into Australia's crucial June play-offs.

Giresunspor and Aziz Behich still have a little more of a fight on their hands to retain their safety within the Turkish Super Lig, as five points separate themselves from the bottom four with just eight games remaining. Their next clash will be crucial, with Behich's team returning home to play strugglers Sivasspor (Saturday 9:30pm).

Newly minted Socceroos utility Gianni Stensness also kicks off his domestic campaign in Norway this weekend, as his side Viking travel to Sarpsborg 08 (Monday 2am). It has been a whirlwind fortnight for the midfielder, who has showcased his versatility at the highest level, having played Asia's two strongest nations, both in the middle of the park and in Australia's backline.

England & Scotland

The most important Glasgow Derby in years will take place this weekend, as league leaders Celtic desperately cling onto their three-point gap at the top, when they travel to Ibrox to play arch-rivals and title challengers Rangers (Sunday 9pm).

Midfielder Tom Rogic will be racing the clock to be fit after missing the Socceroos' recent qualifiers due to an injury which occurred in Celtic's most recent fixture, with the Hoops needing every bit of magic from their 'Wizard from Oz' come Sunday night.

Fresh off his international debut against Saudi Arabia, young defender Nathaniel Atkinson will look to continue his momentum with club side Hearts. A trip to Ross County awaits (Sunday 1am).

Asia & The Middle East

Mitch Duke returns from international duty to Japanese outfit Fagiano Okayama, who are in desperate need for a goalscorer after a poor run of results without the Aussie. Having slipped from first to ninth in just two weeks, Duke will need to find form when his side travel to Montedio Yamagata (Sunday 3pm), as a victory is nowhere near a surity.

The AFC Champions League returns in a unique way this season, with a hub style tournament planned for the Eastern and Western side of Asia's premier competition. In the Middle East, Socceroo Martin Boyle gears up with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Faisaly, for the winger's first continental campaign. Starting off the first group game of 6 for Boyle is Jordanian side Al-Wehdat (next Friday). 

United States

Milos Degenek will be aiming for a return to the Eastern Conference summit after being overtaken by the Philadelphia Union prior to the international break. His team Columbus Crew currently sit second after four matches, with the Ohio outfit welcoming Nashville to the Mid-West this weekend (Sunday 8am), a team that many pundits would expect Degenek and Co to overcome.