Weah Versus Tessmann

Two Americans Headline a Crucial Ligue 1 Showdown

Sunday's clash between Marseille and Lyon at the Vélodrome carries enormous stakes, and two Americans will be right in the middle of it. Tim Weah and Tanner Tessmann, both USMNT midfielders hoping to make their mark ahead of this summer's World Cup, find themselves on opposite sides of one of French football's most heated rivalries.

The match has significant implications for the Champions League. Lyon sits third in Ligue 1 with 45 points, five clear of fourth-place Marseille, and in France, only the top three sides earn automatic qualification for the Champions League group phase. After an extraordinary run of 13 consecutive wins across all competitions, Lyon stumbled last weekend with a 3-1 defeat in Strasbourg, but Paulo Fonseca's side remains firmly in control of its destiny. Tessmann has been a consistent contributor throughout that winning run, starting 18 league matches and earning strong ratings across Lyon's recent victories over Lille, Metz, and Nantes.

Marseille, meanwhile, is in crisis. Roberto De Zerbi's tenure ended following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to PSG on February 8, and new manager Habib Beye's debut last weekend produced a 2-0 loss at Brest. The club has managed just eight points from seven league games in 2026, leaving them in genuine danger of missing out on Champions League football—a financially damaging prospect. Weah has remained one of Marseille's brighter performers amid the turbulence, contributing two goals and two assists in the league this season and posting strong individual ratings even in difficult defeats.

For both players, Sunday represents a chance to shine on a big stage. Tessmann will look to help Lyon extend their advantage, while Weah needs a standout performance to help jolt his club back to life and remind Pochettino of what he can offer this summer.

Richards Strong in Europe

Defender Solid as Crystal Palace Advance in Conference League

Chris Richards turned in a quietly impressive performance as Crystal Palace eliminated Zrinjski Mostar 3-1 on aggregate with a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park on Thursday, booking their spot in the Conference League round of 16.

The 25-year-old USMNT center back, still wearing a bandage on his forehead from a cut sustained in Sunday's Premier League win over Wolves, was a commanding presence throughout. Richards won all six of his aerial duels, made four clearances, two tackles and five recoveries as Palace kept a clean sheet against the Bosnian side. He also completed 91% of his passes, showcasing his composure in build-up play, with ten passes into the final third and five of six long balls finding their target.

Richards came close to adding to his attacking contributions when he connected with a Daichi Kamada free kick in the second half, but headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy—a big chance missed that would have put the tie firmly to bed. Palace's path to victory was more nervy than the scoreline suggests. Maxence Lacroix's 36th-minute header from an Adam Wharton free kick gave the hosts the lead, but a late Zrinjski goal was ruled offside, and Ismaila Sarr spurned several chances to put the match beyond doubt. Evann Guessand finally settled matters in stoppage time, converting a one-two with Brennan Johnson.

Manager Oliver Glasner, who had faced criticism following the 1-1 first-leg draw, exhaled after the final whistle. Palace are now among the favorites to win the competition, and Richards will be a key figure in their European run.

Wright Stays Hot

Forward Keeps Firing as Coventry Close in on Promotion

Haji Wright's remarkable scoring form shows no signs of slowing down. The U.S. men's national team striker netted his 15th goal of the Championship season on Wednesday, sparking a Coventry City comeback in a 2-1 victory at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane that sent the Sky Blues five points clear at the top of the table.

Coventry had been second best for much of the match, with Sheffield United dominating large stretches before Harrison Burrows gave the hosts a deserved lead three minutes after halftime. But Wright quickly silenced the home crowd, cutting inside from the left and drilling a low shot past Michael Cooper in the 52nd minute to draw level. Five minutes later, Jack Rudoni headed home a cross from Ephron Mason-Clark to complete the turnaround and seal a vital three points.

It was a classic Wright goal, arriving at precisely the right moment with clinical execution. It extended what has become one of the more impressive individual scoring runs in the Championship this season. With Coventry chasing their first Premier League promotion in 25 years, his contributions have been central to the push.

Manager Frank Lampard was full of praise for his side's resilience. "The character to come from behind and score two good goals is all credit to the boys," he said. "There was a lot of pressure, the crowd get involved, we needed personality and that was first class."

The win extended Coventry's lead over second-place Middlesbrough to five points, with the top side earning automatic promotion. For Wright, now firmly in the conversation as one of the division's most dangerous strikers, the timing of his form couldn't be better—both for Coventry's title hopes and his own World Cup ambitions this summer.

Cardoso's Moment of Magic

Midfielder Announces Himself on the Champions League Stage

Johnny Cardoso scored his first goal for Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, a crucial strike that helped propel Diego Simeone's side to a 4-1 win over Club Brugge and a 7-4 aggregate victory in the Champions League knockout playoffs.

Three minutes into the second half, with the score level at 1-1 on the night, Cardoso collected a headed clearance outside the box and, after a quick touch, unleashed a powerful half-volley that whistled into the bottom-left corner past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The goal gave Atlético a 2-1 lead on the night and a 5-4 edge on aggregate, effectively swinging the tie in their favor. Alexander Sørloth went on to complete a hat trick as Atlético pulled away.

"I always dreamed about nights like this," Cardoso told Movistar after the match, "playing in the Champions League at home with these fans, scoring a goal and getting the win."

It has been a frustrating debut season for Cardoso in Madrid. After joining from Real Betis last summer, an ankle injury in September sidelined him for six weeks and disrupted his ability to establish himself in Simeone's midfield, leaving him with just 19 appearances so far. Tuesday marked a turning point. "I had problems with injuries at the beginning," he said, "but I know what I can contribute to the team, and now I feel good."

The goal couldn't come at a better time for his World Cup prospects either. With the tournament set to be played on home soil this summer, Cardoso will be eager to make USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino's final roster and performances like Tuesday's make a compelling case.

McKennie's Big Night

Midfielder Scores Again in the Champions League and Signs a New Deal

Weston McKennie continued his remarkable run of form on Wednesday, scoring a crucial 82nd-minute header to level Juventus' Champions League knockout playoff tie against Galatasaray at 5-5 on aggregate. Though Juventus ultimately fell 7-5 after extra time, with Victor Osimhen and Bariş Alper Yilmaz both scoring in the additional period, McKennie's contribution was a reminder of just how important he has become at the club.

The goal came from a set-piece sequence, with Teun Koopmeiners delivering a cross from a free kick that McKennie met at the back post, heading it into the net. It was his fourth Champions League goal of this season and 11th in his career and came despite Juventus playing with 10 men after Lloyd Kelly's red card just before the hour mark. McKennie has registered seven goals and seven assists across all competitions this season, the best goalscoring campaign of his career.

The timing of the performance is significant beyond the pitch. McKennie, who has been with Juventus since 2021—aside from a brief loan spell at Leeds United in 2023—was approaching the final months of his contract. Reports indicate he is close to signing a new deal that would keep him in Turin through 2030, a major commitment from a club that has come to rely on his versatility and attacking output under manager Luciano Spalletti. Entering his prime, McKennie is expected to play a central role for the USMNT at this summer's World Cup, played entirely on home soil.