Gio Reyna has won a pair of trophies in 2021, first the DFB Pokal with Borussia Dortmund last spring and then the Concacaf Nations League with the U.S. men’s national team in June. He will attempt to match Christian Pulisic’s haul of three winner’s medals in 2021 when Dortmund faces Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup on Tuesday.
Reyna and fellow American and Bayern Munich defender Chris Richards are set to compete in the Super Cup for the second straight year after they both made appearances off the bench in Bayern’s 3-2 Super Cup win over Dortmund in 2020. A year later, Reyna will be expected to start while Richards should be on the bench for Bayern even though his club future remains unclear amid rumors of a potential loan or transfer.
Brenden Aaronson will look to join the list of Americans competing in the UEFA Champions League group stage when he and Red Bull Salzburg face Danish club Brondby on Tuesday in the first-leg of their Champions League playoff series. Brondy is in the midst of a Covid-19 outbreak, which includes American midfielder Christian Cappis, who is one of seven Brondby players set to miss the first leg after testing positive for Covid.
Jordan Siebatcheu will also be looking to secure his place in the UEFA Champions League group stage when he leads Swiss champions Young Boys into their first-leg playoff against Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros on Wednesday.
Here is a closer look at the Americans Abroad in action this week:
UEFA Champions League playoffs
Brenden Aaronson and Red Bull Salzburg host Brondy on Tuesday (Christian Cappis is OUT (COVID-19) for Brondby.
Jordan Siebatcheu, David Wagner and Young Boys face Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros on Wednesday.
Europa League Qualification
DeAndre Yedlin and Galatasaray face Randers on Thursday.
Europa Conference League Qualification
Bryan Reynolds and AS Roma visit Trabzonspor on Thursday
Christian Ramirez and Aberdeen visit Qarabag on Thursday.
Ben Lederman is OUT (injured) for Rakow’s match vs. Gent on Thursday.
German Super Cup
Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund face Chris Richards and Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
English League Championship
Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream and Fulham visit Millwall on Tuesday.
Ethan Horvath and Nottingham Forest face Blackburn on Wednesday.
Duane Holmes and Huddersfield host Preston on Tuesday (Matthew Olosunde is OUT (Achilles injury) for Preston).
English League One
Lynden Gooch and Sunderland visit Burton on Tuesday.
Liga MX
Sebastian Saucedo and UNAM Pumas visit Fernando Arce and Necaxa on Tuesday.
In the UEFA Champions League qualifying 1st leg between Salzburg and Brondby, Brenden Aaronson came in at the start of the second half. I tuned in after the Dortmund game. Aaronson just scored the winner beating Brondby’s goalie to the near post at the 89th minute, 2-1 Salzburg. The results will give no reasons/excuses why the new Salzburg’s manager not too start Aaronson.
From the highlights, Aaronson also contributed to the first goal. His shot was blocked by the goalie and bounced to a teammate who scored the game tying goal.
Aaronson has started all 5 league matches this season and the Austrian Cup match, I wouldn’t worry too much.
Dortmund made so many mental mistakes and unforced errors in the first half. Their RB Felix Passlack committed back to back mistakes. Even the veteran forward, Marcos Reus almost gifted Bayern a goal with a careless errant pass back to the center outside the box in the first half. It’s brutal to watch. Dortmund were very lucky to be down only 0-1. Many of the ref’s calls were very questionable and bias IMHO in the first half.
It’s no better in the second half, and it was their CB Manuel Akanj’s turn trying to force it playing from the back and gifted Bayern the third goal. Erling Haaland lost his cool on multiple occasions. Marco Rose has a lot work to do to improve the team.