GOAL takes a look at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including key matches in Serie A, Bundesliga and Eredivisie
International breaks are over for the foreseeable future, with the USMNT next set to take on Panama in the CONCACAF Nation's League seminfinals in March at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. As a result, this is not the last-minute frantic effort to impress Mauricio Pochettino time of year.
Instead, it's about individual quality, and surviving the chaos of the Christmas period in European football. It is a good thing, from an American point of view, that there are a number of names well-positioned to do so.
Leading the charge – at this moment – is not Christian Pulisic, but rather Ricardo Pepi. The PSV striker is in a rich vein of form, and should bounce Luuk de Jong from the lineup before too long. There's also Tim Weah, who in brief moments has been an attacking X-factor for Juventus – who look so solid defensively that they sometimes forget that you have to do things at the other end of the pitch. Also, a word for the Dortmund duo – yes, duo – with Gio Reyna returning to form and fitness to complement to exciting flashes shown by U.S. U19 international Cole Campbell.
It will all make for compelling watching, especially in Italy and Germany. The Serie A title race is razor-thin, while both Campbell and Reyna could have an opportunity to shake Bayern Munich's title charge in Der Klassiker on Saturday. GOAL US looks ahead at some of the biggest storylines to follow among Americans Abroad this weekend.
AFPRicardo Pepi, prolific goalscorer?
Let's make something clear: Ricardo Pepi, in all likelihood, won't be playing for Liverpool next year. Nor will he be suiting up for the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Manchester United. That is neither fair nor realistic. But if he keeps banging in goals at this rate, Pepi might just get a step up.
The American has always run a bit hot and cold as a forward – it's why he burst onto the scene so quickly for the USMNT before falling out of favor. But the "hot" part has been running for more than just a few weeks now. Pepi hit the ground running to start the campaign, and hasn't really stopped.
In August, the rhetoric was mostly around where Pepi's minutes would come from. These days, it's a question of why Luuk de Jong, the guy ahead of him in the striker rotation, starts any games at all when Pepi is right there.
With 10 goals in 16 games, five in his last three, he's a constant threat up front. Pepi is in a fine run of form, and seems poised to continue that. PSV have second-place Utrecht – home to fellow American Paxten Aaronson – to worry about on Sunday. A win and they go eight points clear. Lose, and there's a title race in the Eredivisie. Pepi's inclusion, ideally from the beginning, could quite literally define where PSV's season goes from here.
AdvertisementGettyTim Weah to turn things around?
We could have all seen this coming, right? Juventus, the team that concedes the fewest goals in Europe, and do everything humanly possible not to get hit on the counter-attack, spent their last two games playing out 0-0 draws against counter-attacking sides. Sure, there was hype leading up to Juventus' games against Milan and Aston Villa, but two scoreless draws were fairly easy to call (and likely won't concern Thiago Motta too much, either.)
The issue is, those scoreless draws can't keep coming forever, and at some point some attacking intent has to emerge. Dusan Vlahovic, a well-rounded striker, is usually the guy to provide. But he is still recovering from an injury, and might not be fully sharp against Lecce on Sunday. Attention, then, turns to Weah, who has grabbed a few timely goals for Motta's side. The Serie A title race is a deviously packed affair, four points separating the top six teams. Win, and hope results elsewhere go their way, Juventus could finish the day in second.
It will require, perhaps, just a bit more imagination in the final third. Weah, as he has shown for club and country, could be the man to provide it.
AFPChristian Pulisic, superstar?
Just when you thought Christian Pulisic has scored or assisted every kind of goal this season, he adds another to his locker. The latest addition to his fine collection came against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. The American saw a gap, waited momentarily for a pass, and darted onto a through ball before finishing into the bottom corner. Pace on the ball, and agility in small spaces, has always been Pulisic's thing. Pure speed? Maybe not so apparent.
But it showed up all the same midweek. At times, it truly seems as if the American has carried Milan this season. And there's some accuracy to that sentiment. Rafael Leao might be the most overtly talented winger for the Rossonieri, but Pulisic is certainly the most materially impactful.
Milan, at least in an attacking sense, will go as far as Pulisic can carry them. The next challenge is Empoli, a pesky mid-table side. Milan have won just two of their last five. Their opponents have just three Serie A wins all season. Pulisic needs to step up, again.
GettyMore minutes for Gio Reyna?
Finally, Reyna returns. And he made it through 30 agreeable minutes as Dortmund won 3-0 in the Champions League midweek. There wasn't much to his performance, but there really didn't have to be. This is a footballer whose upper leg muscles are so fragile that minutes, not performances, mean more.
There is also perhaps the harsh reality that with the rise of exciting teenage winger Cole Campbell that Reyna is no longer the most relevant American for the German side.
Either way, it would appear likely that Reyna will have another chance to impress this weekend. A start in Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich would be an immense surprise. Reyna isn't fit enough for a game of this magnitude. But if there ever was a time for him to come off the bench, impact a game, and perform a bit of casual miracle working, it is this weekend. Expectations should be tamed, but Reyna's return could take a leap on Saturday.
