3 USMNT players to watch in Bundesliga this weekend
- Monchengladbach take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga's opening match on Friday, Aug. 23
- Gio Reyna is back at Dortmund after a loan with Nottingham Forest
- Kevin Paredes will miss Wolfsburg's first two matches with a foot injury
The Bundesliga finally kicks off this weekend, and several USMNT players will be in action after an eventful summer.
The U.S. Men's National Team's Copa America 2024 squad made headlines for only featuring players who compete in Europe. Some of the Stars and Stripes' best talent are all making a name for themselves overseas, including Christian Pulisic in Serie A and Antonee Robinson in the Premier League.
Young American internationals are also finding success in the Bundesliga. Players like Gio Reyna, Joe Scally, and Lennard Maloney have all developed their game in Germany, and are preparing to represent their respective clubs this weekend. Kevin Paredes, an emerging star on the USA's U-23 squad, will miss Wolfsburg's opening two fixtures after suffering a foot injury in training.
Still, there are plenty of USMNT players to keep up with on ESPN+ as the Bundesliga gets underway.
3 USMNT players to watch in Bundesliga this weekend
1. Gio Reyna - Borussia Dortmund
Gio Reyna will hope to play meaningful minutes for Borussia Dortmund this season after he spent most of his time on the bench or on loan to Nottingham Forest last year. The American international shined at the club in the 2022/23 season, scoring seven goals in just 22 appearances, before falling down the depth chart.
The 21-year-old was an unused substitute last weekend in BVB's DFB Pokal match against FC Phonix Lubeck, and could find himself in a precarious spot on the roster should Nuri Sahin opt to keep him off the pitch in Dortmund's opening fixture against Frankfurt on Saturday, Aug. 24.
2. Joe Scally - Borussia Monchengladbach
Joe Scally became the USMNT's starting right-back this summer after Sergino Dest suffered an ACL injury, and the 21-year-old put in solid performances for the Stars and Stripes at Copa America 2024. Plenty of fans had their doubts about Scally's ability to hang with some of the best attackers in the world, but the defender more than rose to the occasion.
The American only made four appearances for Monchengladbach last season, but it set to have a big year in the Bundesliga. Scally got the nod at right-back against Erzgebirge Aue in the DFB Pokal last weekend, and is expected to once again start in Gladbach's opening fixture against the reigning Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen, on Friday, Aug. 23.
3. Lennard Maloney - FC Heidenheim
Lennard Maloney might only have two caps for the USMNT, but the midfielder is giving the new Stars and Stripes' manager, Mauricio Pochettino, plenty of reasons to give him more call-ups in the future. Maloney is not as well known as Gio Reyna or even Joe Scally, but if he continues to perform well in Germany, he could set his sights on breaking into the USA's struggling midfield.
The 24-year-old is a regular feature in Heidenheim's starting XI and helped the club finish eighth in the Bundesliga last season, which earned them a spot in the Europa League qualifiers. Catch Maloney and Heidenheim on Sunday, Aug. 25, as they take on newly promoted side, St. Pauli.
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