Pepi On Fire

Striker stays hot with stoppage-time winner in the Champions League

In a night of pure footballing drama, Ricardo Pepi produced the crucial stoppage-time winner that completed a miraculous 3-2 comeback victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Trailing 2-0 deep into the second half after first-half goals from Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov, PSV seemed destined for defeat. The turning point came with Shakhtar's Pedrinho receiving a red card in the 69th minute, giving PSV a numerical advantage that they would ultimately capitalize on.

Teammate Malik Tillman sparked the comeback with two quick goals - a deflected free-kick in the 87th minute and a spectacular top-corner strike in the 90th minute. Then, five minutes into injury time, Pepi delivered the knockout blow, finding himself unmarked at the back post and coolly slotting home the winner.

"I think definitely this one. To be honest, it is up there for sure,” Pepi said after being asked if it was the most important goal of his career. “I had a similar goal last year in the Champions League — a very important goal, but I think this one was important. We needed the three points and now we get put in a good spot to eventually make it to the next round.” PSV.nl

With this win, PSV moves up to 18th in the Champions League group stage, keeping their hopes of progression alive. In the Eredivisie, they continue to dominate, sitting five points clear at the top of the table with 36 points from 13 games.

"It was crazy, to be honest, but I feel like we have something special in our group," Pepi explained. "We don't stop until the final whistle blows. I think that is something very special that we have worked on and at the end of the day, the result went our way and it was something very special tonight." PSV.nl

Tillman echoed Pepi's excitement, describing the moment as "crazy" and saying, "Incredible comeback. I honestly don’t know what to say, it’s an amazing comeback. After the second goal, I think everyone went crazy, so that pushed us as well. Thanks to the fans and the defense as well." PSV.nl

The victory is particularly significant for Pepi, who joined PSV last summer for €11 million after a successful loan at Groningen. He has already made a significant impact, scoring 10 goals in all competitions, including nine in the Eredivisie - a joint league-leading tally.

"Emotions are all over the place," Pepi said. "I was very happy. It was a crazy game, a lot of emotions going through the game being down 2-0 and eventually coming back and winning 3-2. It doesn't feel real. At the end of the day, I'm just very happy to help the team." PSV.nl

Tillman’s Historic Brace

Midfielder put in another stunning Champions League performance

Malik Tillman etched his name in Champions League history with a stunning performance for PSV that will be remembered for years to come. In a breathtaking match against Shakhtar Donetsk, the 22-year-old American became the first USMNT player to score a brace in the prestigious competition. With PSV trailing by two goals and the match seemingly lost, Tillman produced a remarkable turnaround that left fans and commentators in awe.

The game appeared bleak for PSV when Shakhtar took a commanding 2-0 lead by the 37th minute. However, everything changed when the Ukrainian side was reduced to ten men after a red card in the 69th minute. Tillman seized the moment with extraordinary skill, first sneaking a free kick past goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk in the 87th minute. The free kick, taken near the right corner, caught the goalkeeper by surprise.

Just three minutes later, the American unleashed an outrageous long-range shot that rocketed into the top corner, leveling the match and igniting the Philips Stadion.

Tillman's performance was complemented by his teammate Ricardo Pepi, who scored the winning goal in the 95th minute. Together, they made history as the first USMNT teammates to score in the same Champions League match, showcasing the rising talent of American players in Europe’s top competition.

Bigger Role for Reyna?

Poised for Opportunity Against Bayern Munich

After months of injury struggles, Gio Reyna is finally making his way back to full fitness and could play a pivotal role in Borussia Dortmund's upcoming clash against Bayern Munich.

The 22-year-old American attacking midfielder has endured a challenging few seasons, with recurring injuries constantly interrupting his development. His latest setback came in September when a groin injury during international duty sidelined him for two months.

Reyna has recently begun his comeback, making promising appearances in Dortmund's last two matches. He came off the bench for 12 minutes in the 4-0 win against Freiburg and followed that with a 28-minute cameo in the midweek Champions League victory against Dinamo Zagreb.

Head coach Nuri Sahin has been particularly supportive of Reyna's return, offering encouraging words after the Freiburg match. "We're happy that they're back, that we can bring them on, that they're in training," Sahin said. "Gio trained brilliantly this week. It's important to get training minutes and, if possible, to get as many minutes as possible into the legs." OneFootball

The timing of Reyna's return could not be more crucial with Dortmund preparing to host Bayern Munich in the highly anticipated Der Klassiker. Borussia Dortmund enters the clash with a perfect home record this season, riding the momentum of two consecutive victories while Bayern Munich arrives in formidable form, having won their last seven matches without conceding a single goal. The defensive struggles that plagued them earlier in the season seem resolved, while their attack looks lethal. Harry Kane, who previously scored a hat-trick at the Westfalenstadion, remains a constant threat.

McKennie Likely Out

Juventus Midfielder Sidelined Ahead of Lecce

Juventus is grappling with mounting injury challenges as they prepare for their upcoming Serie A match against Lecce, with American midfielder Weston McKennie likely to be absent from the squad. The 26-year-old USMNT star has been sidelined due to muscle fatigue, casting uncertainty over his availability.

McKennie has been a consistent performer for the Bianconeri this season. However, the player’s muscle issue has complicated Juventus's already strained squad depth. 

The team traveled to their recent Champions League match against Aston Villa with only 17 players available, highlighting the growing injury concerns. McKennie also missed out on his first return to England since his loan move to Leeds in the Spring of 2023.

The midfielder's absence was first noted when he stopped training two days before the Villa match, unable to participate fully due to muscle fatigue. Currently, his participation in the Lecce game remains doubtful, with the final decision pending on his condition during the upcoming training sessions. It was reported Friday he had personalized training.

Juventus's injury woes extend beyond McKennie. The club is also managing injuries to key players like Douglas Luiz and Arkadiusz Milik, creating additional challenges for head coach Thiago Motta. The coach has acknowledged the complex nature of these injuries, suggesting that the demanding schedule might be taking its toll on the players.

While top scorer Dusan Vlahovic is expected to be fit for the Lecce match, McKennie's potential absence represents a significant blow to Juventus's midfield lineup.

As the Serie A match approaches, keep an eye on McKennie's recovery and if he can overcome his muscle fatigue in time to support his team at the Via del Mare stadium.

Scally Available

Fullback cleared after being subbed early last weekend

Borussia Mönchengladbach right-back Joe Scally will be available for Saturday's critical Bundesliga match against Freiburg, allaying fears about his fitness after being substituted early in the team's previous match due to a head injury.

The 21-year-old American defender was forced off in the 20th minute of Gladbach's last game against St. Pauli, raising concerns about a potential concussion after a clash of heads with Philipp Treu in the second minute. However, the club's official channels confirmed on Wednesday that Scally had returned to training "without any problems," clearing him for selection.

The match represents a significant opportunity for Gladbach, who currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga standings, level on points with Freiburg but ahead on goal difference. Die Fohlen enter the weekend buoyed by a five-game unbeaten streak.

Freiburg, positioned seventh, have experienced a recent dip in form, failing to win their last four Bundesliga matches. Their most recent outing—a 4-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund—will have only increased their desperation to return to winning ways.

Gladbach will be without key midfielders Florian Neuhaus, Luca Netz, and Grant-Leon Ranos, making Scally's availability particularly crucial for the team's defensive lineup.