Top Stories

De La Fuente, Tillman eligible for Champions League debuts

A pair of young American talents are eligible to make their UEFA Champions League debuts this weekend.

Konrad de la Fuente and Malik Tillman both have been added to Barcelona’s and Bayern Munich’s rosters respectively for this weekend’s Round of 16 second legs. The competition resumes play after being postponed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

De La Fuente, 19, has been training with Barcelona’s first team due to several senior players being out injured. It seems unlikely he will play at the Camp Nou on Saturday against Napoli with the Catalan side tied 1-1 on aggregate.

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team player was promoted to Barcelona’s B team in May and came close to helping them achieve promotion to the Segunda Division this summer. De La Fuente scored three goals and added one assist in six combined appearances for Barcelona B, while also featuring in the UEFA Youth League in 2019.

The 18-year-old Tillman may get a shot for Bayern Munich this weekend, whom lead Chelsea 3-0 on aggregate heading into Saturday’s clash at the Allianz Arena. He has been training with Bayern’s first team since the end of the domestic season.

He scored 16 goals in 26 games for Bayern’s Under-19 team this season, playing alongside fellow Americans Chris Richards and Taylor Booth. Near the end of the season, Tillman was promoted to Bayern’s U-23 team, who won the 3. Liga title despite not being allowed to earn promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. He scored five goals in eight games for them.

Tillman was also rewarded with a new three-year contract in late July which now sees him locked up until June 2023 with the German giants. He is the also the younger brother of fellow USMNT prospect and current Greuther Furth midfielder Timothy Tillman.

Should Barcelona and Bayern Munich both advance, they will take part in the final rounds of the UCL in Portugal later this month.

 

 

Comments

  1. Llanez not included in the traveling party. Instead they brought 21 year old Omar Marmoush. Maybe Marmoush is better but just another indication Uly is not in their immediate plans. Wolfsburg runs their players through a prescribed path U19, U23 or loan, then and only then do you get on the field. Their offense was terrible today (yes they’ve been off a month and Shaktar have been playing) but it sure looked like a team that chooses experience over talent. Brooks a pretty stupid 2nd yellow right after they went up a man.

    Reply
  2. Very impressed with Tillman. Big guy with nifty skills, also has quick lateral movement. He can beat players on the dribble outside of the box, or use his quickness inside the box to finish half chances. Very good Individual skill and good technique at this age.

    If he’s paired with Reyna, it will be a disaster for the opposition because it will take 3 guys to stop these 2.

    Reply
    • Malik seems like a lost cause for the US. He hasn’t repped the US since 2015. He has played for Germany 15 times since then. His brother has used the “I’m going to file my switch.” a couple times to keep Germany interested a bait and stay con if you will.

      Reply
      • Remember JR, Fabian Johnson played for Germany’s youth teams from U17- U21. Jermaine Jones played in the German youth setup, as well as 3 matches with the German National team. I’m not disagreeing with you, a lot can happen in a year or 2. You never know!

      • Yes I should have added if he reaches the Reyna level Helium suggests that he’ll be with Germany. If he stumbles when playing professionals as his brother did there is a chance.

    • He’s good enough to be an impact player like a major difference maker, not just good enough to make the team (Green, Kieswitter) but make an impact on the game like Pulisic. He is a little similar to Asamoah Gyan with his strength and skill, but without the dancing skills but more pragmatic due to his German upbringing.

      Reply
      • I haven’t seen enough of him to know if your assessment is correct but if he is, Germany will come calling sooner rather than later.

      • Kiesewetter is with Inter Miami after 12 goals last season for El Paso. Played 22 mins against the Union in MLS is Back.

Leave a Reply to Helium-3 Cancel reply