United States’ ‘biggest loser’ in the Champions League Playoffs

USMNT players struggled in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds, with Weston McKennie the lone bright spot.

It was not a great night for American players in the UEFA Champions League. Weston McKennie was the sole standout, scoring in Juventus’ 2-1 win over PSV—a match in which Richard Ledezma featured, though Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman were sidelined with injuries. Beyond that, it was a forgettable evening for USMNT stars.

On Wednesday, Christian Pulisic and AC Milan fell 1-0 to Feyenoord, a game in which Yunus Musah was unavailable due to suspension. Elsewhere, Celtic’s Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich. However, the biggest loser of the night was Giovanni Reyna.

Borussia Dortmund secured a commanding 3-0 away victory over Sporting Lisbon, yet the American midfielder—who wears the No. 7 shirt—did not play a single minute. That raises concerns ahead of the Nations League, especially with the 2026 World Cup just a year away.

Reyna has seen just 192 minutes of action in this season’s Champions League, the second-lowest tally among US players in the competition—only Ricardo Pepi has played less, with 161 minutes spread across seven matches.

Minutes for the Americans in the 2024/25 Champions League

Gio Reyna, a talent yet to take off

Beyond the managerial change following Edin Terzić’s departure, Reyna has struggled for playing time under any coach—whether due to injury or tactical decisions. He remains a promise unfulfilled.

Under new head coach Niko Kovač, the American has played a mere five minutes across two matches. In his first outing under the Croatian manager, against Stuttgart, he entered in the 85th minute, replacing Pascal Groß.

Over 15 matches this season, Reyna has played just 359 minutes, meaning he has been on the pitch for only 27% of available minutes. Last season was no better, as he managed only 592 minutes in 24 games—an average of just 27.4% of possible playing time.

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