For several U.S. men’s national team stars and fringe players, the final weeks of the European season will bring different goals for each of them.
Weston McKennie and Tim Weah will not only try to lift the Coppa Italia trophy later this month but also solidify a top-four finish in Serie A play. Gio Reyna, Matt Turner and Nottingham Forest aim to avoid relegation from the English Premier League while Josh Sargent and Norwich City continue their quest for promotion back to the top-flight.
Tanner Tessmann, Gio Reyna, Kristoffer Lund, and Nicholas Gioacchini are all in the Serie B promotion playoff mix. Cameron Carter-Vickers is aiming for a domestic double in Scotland by season’s end.
Here is a closer look at what’s left to play for for several USMNT stars:
Weston McKennie, Tim Weah – Juventus
Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Juventus have four matches remaining on their schedule this season.
The Old Lady sits third in the Serie A table, six points clear of sixth-place AS Roma for the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot. In addition, Juventus will face Atalanta in the Coppa Italia Final on May 15, providing both American players with the opportunity to lift silverware by season’s end.
McKennie and Weah have both played key roles in the squad this season and will seek a strong ending before USMNT involvement this summer.
Gio Reyna, Matt Turner – Nottingham Forest
It’s pretty simple for Nottingham Forest heading into its final two matches of the season..win and you’re staying in the English Premier League.
Gio Reyna, Matt Turner and Co. are three points clear of Luton Town heading into their final two matches. A home clash with Chelsea comes on Saturday at the City Ground before Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad visits Burnley on the final day of the season.
Reyna has struggled for consistent playing time during his loan spell from Borussia Dortmund while Turner has mainly served as a backup during the second half of the season. Both will be doing everything they can to help Forest remain fully prepared for a crucial set of matches.
Josh Sargent – Norwich City
It’s do or die time for Josh Sargent and Norwich City.
The Canaries will face off with Leeds United in the EFL Championship promotion playoffs, starting with this Sunday’s first leg showdown at Carrow Road. Sargent led the Canaries with 16 goals in league play this season, rebounding confidently from a lengthy injury spell during the first half of the campaign.
David Wagner’s men only won one of their final five matches of the league season, but now have a fresh slate to turn things around and reach Wembley Stadium.
Brenden Aaronson – Union Berlin
Brenden Aaronson and Union Berlin need to be perfect if they want to avoid automatic relegation to the 2. Bundesliga or dropping into the relegation playoffs.
Union Berlin are only one point clear of the bottom three in the Bundesliga with two matches remaining. Aaronson came off the bench last weekend and registered one assist in Union’s 4-3 home loss to Bochum.
Saturday’s crucial six-pointer at Cologne will be another tough test for Aaronson and Co. before a season finale vs. European-chasing Freiburg.
Joe Scally, Jordan Pefok – Borussia Moenchengladbach
After failing to win any of their last four matches, Joe Scally, Jordan Pefok and Borussia Moenchengladbach haven’t sealed their Bundesliga status just yet.
Gladbach sits four points clear of the bottom three heading into their final two matches of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Scally has remained a regular contributor this season (30 appearances, one goal, three assists) while Pefok (25 appearances, five goals) has been in and out of the squad this season.
Both will need to be impactful if Gladbach wants to remain in the top flight.
Emmanuel Sabbi – Le Havre
Emmanuel Sabbi made the move to Ligue 1 last summer with big aspirations but Le Havre’s immediate future remains undetermined.
Sabbi and Le Havre are only three points clear of the relegation zone with two matches remaining. The 26-year-old has contributed five goals and one assist in 28 league appearances, serving as one of the consistent starters in the squad.
A victory at Nice on Friday could be what seals Le Havre’s stay in Ligue 1, but a defeat would add extra drama to May 19th’s season finale vs. Marseille.
Johnny Cardoso – Real Betis
Johnny Cardoso has already earned his first taste of European Football this season and very well could enjoy that again next fall.
Cardoso and Real Betis are two points out of the final European qualification spot in the La Liga standings heading into their final four matches of the season. The USMNT midfielder has made quite an impact in Manuel Pellegrini’s squad, logging one goal and two assists in 13 league appearances.
Real Betis will face Almeria and Las Palmas in back-to-back matches before ending the season against two clubs ahead of them in the standings; Real Sociedad and Real Madrid.
Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio – Venezia
The Serie B promotion race has been one of the better ones in recent time and we have a total of four American players involved in this season’s.
Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio and Venezia need to pick up three points at Spezia on Friday if they want to have a chance at automatic promotion back to Serie A. Busio and Tessmann have both featured in 36 matches apiece, contributing a combined 13 goals and seven assists.
Failure to win on Friday means Venezia will take part in the promotion playoffs but a win over Spezia paired with a Como loss to Cosenza means Tessmann, Busio and Co. will be back in the Italian top-flight next season.
Nicholas Gioacchini – Como
Como hosts Cosenza in Friday’s season finale and a home victory means Nicholas Gioacchini and Co. will be earning automatic promotion to Serie A.
Gioacchini joined Como from St. Louis CITY SC last winter and since has made nine appearances for the promotion-chasing side. The 23-year-old has been an impactful performer off the bench, but is still chasing his first goal for the club.
What a great time it would be if Gioacchini found the back of the net on Friday.
Kristoffer Lund – Palermo
Palermo is already guaranteed a playoff spot in Serie B and a season finale win on Friday would give the squad a major confidence boost.
Kristoffer Lund and Palermo visits Sudtirol on Friday, seeking to snap an eight-match winless run in league play. Lund, 21, has made 34 league appearances in his debut Serie B season, scoring two goals and adding two assists.
Palermo can’t jump up to fifth place even with a win Friday, but a loss paired with positive results for Sampdoria and Brescia could see them drop to eighth place for the playoffs.
Cameron Carter-Vickers – Celtic
Celtic’s quest to repeat as Scottish Premiership champions continues Saturday with a rivalry clash vs. second place Rangers.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and the rest of Brendan Rodgers’ squad hold a three point lead over Rangers heading into the remaining three matches of the SPFL campaign. Celtic hasn’t suffered defeat since losing 2-0 at Hearts on March 3, rolling off an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
Carter-Vickers has made 28 combined appearances in his third season in Scotland, scoring one goal and adding one assist. A rivalry victory over Rangers could be all Celtic needs to clinch the title with two matches to spare.
In addition to potentially winning the SPFL title, Celtic also faces Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park on May 25.
Mark McKenzie – Genk
Mark McKenzie and Genk won’t be in the title race this month, but a shot at Europe for next season remains on the cards.
Genk sits one point ahead of Cercle Brugge in the race for a Europa Conference League playoff spot for 2024-25. Three-consecutive losses against Club Brugge (twice) and Cercle Brugge hasn’t helped Genk’s chances, but final matches against Anderlecht, Royal Antwerp, and Union St. Gilloise aren’t impossible to win.
McKenzie has remained a stalwart in the Genk backline again this season, totaling 40 combined appearances, one goal, and two assists. The 25-year-old has reportedly been linked with a potential move away from Genk this summer, but he will aim for a strong end of the season.
Jonathan Amon – Lyngby
Lyngby’s hopes of remaining in the Danish Superliagen hang in the balance with four matches remaining.
Jonathan Amon and Lyngby are three points clear of the two relegation places. Amon has enjoyed a positive return to action, featuring in 24 matches and registering one assist.
The 25-year-old will lead Lyngby into Friday’s road match at Odense before final matches against Vejle, Viborg, and Hvidovre.
George Bello – LASK
George Bello earned his first taste of European Football with LASK this season and the American defender could take part in the UEFA Champions League or Europa League next campaign.
Bello and LASK currently are holding onto a Europa League group stage spot, but wins over in their final two matches could see them jump into a Champions League qualifier place. LASK are only three points behind second place Red Bull Salzburg heading into a home match vs. Sturm Graz before a May 19 trip to Salzburg.
Bello, 22, has excelled in Belgium following his move from Germany last summer, making 31 combined appearances.
Taylor Booth – FC Utrecht
FC Utrecht needs at least one point on Sunday to seal a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League Playoffs.
Taylor Booth has recently returned to help with those efforts after previously scoring five goals in 15 appearances in Eredivisie play. The 22-year-old Booth has watched FC Utrecht earn four wins out of their past five matches and will aim for a solid ending against Sparta Rotterdam and AZ Alkmaar respectively.
FC Utrecht are six points clear of both Go Ahead Eagles and Sparta Rotterdam heading into their final two matches.
There’s a lot to play for (and cheer for( in these coming days. Make or break time for many of our yanks abroad!
Keep forgetting about Bello and he is Olympic eligible for the US too. He seems to have grown quite a bit this season in Austria. Once was considered the future for the US at LB. The Olympic team definitely has some really good options for both outside back positions.
RB: Reynolds, Harriel, Scally
LB: Lund, Tolkin, Bello, Paredes, Wiley