Malik Tillman’s loan spell with Scottish Premiership club Rangers kicked off on Saturday in league action and now the U.S. men’s national team attacker will get his first crack at starting in Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s squad in Champions League qualifying on Tuesday.
Tillman played 45 minutes in Rangers’ comeback 2-1 win over Livingston, the first competitive action for the Bayern Munich loanee since he arrived in Glasgow. Tuesday’s showdown with Belgian hosts Union St. Gilloise will be a major opportunity for Tillman to start in European action as Rangers aim to return to the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time since 2010-11. The 20-year-old won six duels and registered one shot on goal in the weekend league win and will be hoping to help Rangers snap Union St. Gilloise’s unbeaten start to the season.
Elsewhere in Europe, Richie Ledezma and James Sands will also be pushing for minutes in Champions League Qualifying. Ian Harkes and Rokas Pukstas enter Conference League Qualifying with their respective clubs.
Here is a closer look at this week’s Americans Abroad:
Europe
Champions League Qualifying
Malik Tillman, James Sands and Rangers visit Union St. Gilloise on Tuesday.
Richie Ledezma and PSV visit Monaco on Tuesday.
Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros visit Qarabag FK on Wednesday.
Josh Cohen and Maccabi Haifa host Apollon Limassol on Wednesday.
Conference League Qualifying
Sam Vines and Royal Antwerp visit Lillestrom on Thursday.
Ian Harkes and Dundee United host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.
Christian Cappis and Brondby host FC Basel on Thursday.
Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split host Vitoria de Guimaraes on Thursday.
International
Copa Libertadores
Joel Sonora and Velez Sarsfield host Talleres on Wednesday.
This is a huge overreaction but 20 mins into CL qualifier and Tillman definitely needs to be in Qatar.
Looked like a 20 yr old, in the next 25 mins. Lack of off ball movement very apparent. Has only been with the club a couple weeks and definitely looked like he/teammates haven’t gelled together yet. Sands not looking great today, they are playing the Belgian regular season champs so it is good competition.
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Ledezma stays on the bench for PSV. They were trying to hang on to an early lead and subbed more defensive
Sands settled in in the second half, but Rangers were outplayed. Tillman not as active in the second but not bad for his first start. Harsh penalty puts them in a deep hole to get to the next qualifying round.
Bryang Kayo with a brace today for Nuremberg II today. 3g in 4 matches for the 4th division side so far this year. He’s on loan from Wolfsburg.