Celta Vigo came into Matchday 38 knowing a victory over La Liga champions Barcelona would clinch them league safety and the hosts received just that in a heroic performance on home soil.
Luca de la Torre started and played 71 minutes in the 2-1 triumph, a result which sealed a 13th place finish for Celta Vigo. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder completed 94% of his passes, won one duel, and made four recoveries as he was on the field for both Celta Vigo goals. Despite a consolation finish from Ansu Fati for Barcelona, Carlos Carvalhal’s squad did enough to stay in the Spanish top flight for another season. De La Torre’s season concluded with 28 league appearances and two assists under his belt. The 25-year-old will next hope for USMNT involvement this summer before the start of Celta Vigo preseason camp.
In Spain, Valencia’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis was enough to stay in La Liga, but Yunus Musah was sent off only three minutes after coming onto the pitch.
In Belgium, Mark McKenzie and Genk tied Royal Antwerp 2-2 on Sunday, but fell short of lifting the Pro League title in the process.
In Germany, George Bello and Arminia Bielefeld are on the verge of relegation following a 4-0 first leg loss to Wehen Wiesbaden.
Elsewhere, Sam Rogers and Rosenborg rolled past Kobe Hernandez-Foster and HamKam in Eliteserien action.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
Germany
DFB Pokal Final
Paxten Aaronson, Timmy Chandler dressed but did not play in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2-0 loss to RB Leipzig on Saturday.
2. Bundesliga Promotion/Relegation Playoffs
George Bello came off the bench and played 17 minutes in Arminia Bielefeld’s 4-0 first leg loss to Wehen Wiesbaden on Friday.
Spain
La Liga
Luca De La Torre started and played 71 minutes in Celta Vigo’s 2-1 win over Barcelona on Sunday.
Yunus Musah came off the bench and played three minutes in Valencia’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis on Sunday. Musah was sent off for a straight red card offense.
Italy
Serie A
Sergino Dest did not dress in AC Milan’s 3-1 win over Hellas Verona on Sunday.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Stade Reims 3-1 loss to Montpellier on Saturday.
Erik Palmer-Brown started and played 90 minutes in Troyes 1-1 draw with Lille on Saturday.
Tim Weah came off the bench and played 45 minutes for Lille.
Netherlands
Eredivisie’s Conference League Playoffs
Taylor Booth came off the bench and played 65 minutes in FC Utrecht’s 1-0 second leg win over Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday. Booth scored from the penalty spot during a 5-4 shootout loss. The teams were tied 2-2 on aggregate after extra time.
Booth did not dress in FC Utrecht’s 2-1 first leg loss to Sparta Rotterdam on Thursday.
Belgium
Pro League
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Genk’s 2-2 draw with Royal Antwerp on Sunday.
Sam Vines did not dress for Royal Antwerp. Royal Antwerp clinched the league title with the result.
Bryan Reynolds started and played 90 minutes in Westerlo’s 2-0 loss to Cercle Brugge on Saturday.
Marlon Fossey started and played 81 minutes in Standard Liege’s 3-1 loss to Gent on Saturday.
Denmark
Superliagen
Emmanuel Sabbi started and played 90 minutes in Odense’s 4-2 loss to Midtjylland on Saturday.
Christian Cappis did not dress in Brondby’s 3-3 draw with Aarhus on Sunday.
Austria
Bundesliga
Sebastian Soto did not dress in Austria Klagenfurt’s 2-1 win over Rapid Vienna on Saturday.
2. Liga
Ulysses Llanez did not dress in SKN St. Poelten’s 1-0 win over Rapid Vienna II on Sunday.
Norway
Eliteserien
Sam Rogers started and played 90 minutes in Rosenborg’s 4-0 win over HamKam on Sunday.
Kobe Hernandez-Foster started and played 90 minutes for HamKam.
Sweden
Allsvenskan
Joe Gyau and Degerfors visit Malmo on Monday.
Turkey
Super Lig
Haji Wright and Antalyaspor are off until June 7.
Brazil
Johnny Cardoso started and played 80 minutes in Internacional’s 1-1 draw with Santos on Saturday.
So Frankfurt kept Aaronson citing this final and he was unused sub? Hmmm….. sounds like he could have been released for the u20 WC.
I’m glad they kept him.
Aaronson has already done the U20 thing.
Cowell and Luna and the other forwards needed to do the U20 thing. Paxton being there might have taken the pressure off the others and I wanted them under pressure.
It will make them better players in the future.
Which is the whole point of the U20 program.
Don’t know if I agree with that. But it’s moot considering he wasn’t released. Hopefully his minutes increase next season and he becomes an even more of a go to player for Frankfurt.
The U20’s are there to develop players.
Paxton had his time.
Winning the U20 WC would have been nice but it’s not the main thing.
They didn’t need Paxton to advance. They had enough talent to beat Uruguay,
They just blew it and there is a lesson there for them.
I’m not at all convinced that guys like Cowell and Luna emerge as much as they did if Paxton were around to save their butts.
We have a lot of followers. We need to develop some leaders. They can’t lead if you don’t let them.