The international break is over, and several Americans returned to their clubs with some of their best performances of the season.
Gio Reyna scored against Paris Saint-Germain and delivered one of his most complete performances since joining Strasbourg. Tim Weah had two assists and was one of Marseille's best players in a 5-2 win over Angers.
Johnny Cardoso is becoming an increasingly important piece of Atlético Madrid's midfield, playing an excellent 90 minutes in a Champions League victory over Manchester United. Yunus Musah also delivered an encouraging performance for AC Milan, showing how valuable his athleticism can be when he is deployed in the right midfield role.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Peyton Miller continues to make his case as one of the most exciting young players in the American pool. He provided two assists in New England's midweek win over Cincinnati, then helped create the winner against Chicago as the Revolution secured a pair of important victories in their playoff push.
There were other encouraging developments across Europe. Malik Tillman scored in the Europa League, Tanner Tessmann scored the winning goal in his first Ligue 1 start of the season, and Alex Freeman continued establishing himself in Villarreal's rotation.
Not everything went smoothly. Chris Richards endured a miserable week with Crystal Palace, Weston McKennie was part of a lopsided Juventus defeat, and PSV lost twice with Sergiño Dest in the lineup. Several Americans also remain sidelined by injuries.
Still, the major takeaway is positive. For several years, much of the USMNT discussion revolved around talented players struggling for consistent opportunities at their clubs. This week provided more evidence of Americans earning meaningful roles and, in some cases, becoming important players for good European teams.
Stock Watch
↑ Up: Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Johnny Cardoso, Peyton Miller, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman, Tanner Tessmann and Cavan Sullivan.
Weah had the most productive European performance of the week, but Reyna and Cardoso may have delivered the more important performances for their long-term USMNT prospects. Reyna is finally accumulating regular starts and controlling stretches of games, while Cardoso is developing into a midfielder Atlético can build around.
Miller continues to improve at an astonishing rate. His combination of speed, intelligent movement and increasingly sophisticated passing has made him one of the most dangerous young attackers in MLS. Musah produced another positive performance in Milan's midfield, Tillman scored in Europe, and Tessmann took advantage of a rare starting opportunity.
Sullivan added another MLS assist and continued his impressive run for Philadelphia.
↗ Encouraging: Tyler Adams, Alex Freeman, Antonee Robinson, Mark McKenzie and Mathis Albert.
Adams started twice as Bournemouth collected two victories, while Freeman contributed in both the Champions League and La Liga. Robinson returned from an ankle issue and played 90 minutes for Fulham. McKenzie helped Toulouse keep a clean sheet, and 17-year-old Mathis Albert made his first Bundesliga appearance of the season for Borussia Dortmund.
— Mixed: Christian Pulisic, Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Joe Scally, Bryan Reynolds and Folarin Balogun.
Pulisic continues to look dangerous for Milan but has not consistently turned those opportunities into goals or assists. Dest remains firmly established at PSV, although the team suffered two disappointing defeats.
McKennie's captaincy in Juventus's Europa League victory was a major positive, but Sunday's 3-0 defeat against Lazio was much less encouraging. Reynolds is earning more opportunities at Rennes, while Scally and Balogun had relatively uneventful weeks.
↓ Concern: Chris Richards, Brenden Aaronson, Lennard Maloney and the injured group.
Richards was part of a Palace defense that conceded eight goals across two defeats, including a humiliating 5-0 loss to rival Brighton. Aaronson was an unused substitute for Leeds, while Maloney received only a couple of minutes for Mainz.
Ricardo Pepi, Gianluca Busio and Kevin Paredes remain sidelined. Cole Campbell also missed Elversberg's game after suffering an ankle injury, while Haji Wright remains unavailable for Coventry.
Spotlight Players
Gio Reyna, Strasbourg
This was the type of performance Reyna needed to remind everyone why he was once considered the most exciting young American player in Europe.
Reyna scored Strasbourg's opening goal in the 17th minute against Paris Saint-Germain, helping his team carry a surprising 1-0 lead into halftime before the defending French champions eventually came back to win 3-1.
The goal was a nice piece of individual play. Gessime Yassine found Reyna on the right side of the penalty area, where the American worked the ball onto his left foot and drove a low shot toward the far corner. It took a slight deflection, but the initial movement and finish were excellent.
More encouraging was his overall involvement in Strasbourg's attack.
Reyna operated centrally, regularly finding pockets of space between PSG's midfield and defensive lines. He was comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, combining with teammates and looking for opportunities to advance the attack.
There was some good defensive work as well, with Reyna contributing to Strasbourg's efforts to frustrate PSG's buildup during the first half.
He was arguably Strasbourg's most influential attacking player over the opening hour, helping them remain dangerous rather than simply dropping deep to defend their early lead.
Alsasports compiled the player evaluations from three publications covering Strasbourg: Direct Racing, L'Équipe and Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace. All three gave Reyna a 6/10, tying him for the highest consensus rating among Strasbourg's starters. That was a strong evaluation in a defeat, with the starting lineup averaging only 4.8 across the three outlets.
More importantly, the coverage specifically praised Reyna's ability to direct the attack for much of the match, rather than simply rewarding him for scoring the opening goal.
Eventually, PSG's superior depth took over. Luis Enrique introduced several of his most dangerous players in the second half, including Ousmane Dembélé, who helped create the equalizer before scoring the winner in the 85th minute. Désiré Doué added another in stoppage time.
The defeat was disappointing, but Reyna's performance deserves recognition. He played the full 90 minutes and received some of the strongest evaluations among Strasbourg's players.
The bigger story is what has been happening over the past two months.
Reyna has now put together eight consecutive appearances across his club and national-team appearances. That is an enormous development for a player whose previous five seasons were repeatedly interrupted by injuries and inconsistent opportunities.
There is still reason for caution. His team has lost three consecutive league games, and not every performance during this stretch has been particularly impressive. Being healthy and starting regularly is only the first step.
But against PSG, Reyna looked like more than a talented player capable of an occasional moment of brilliance. He looked like someone increasingly comfortable taking responsibility for his team's attack.
For the USMNT, that is considerably more valuable.
Johnny Cardoso, Atlético Madrid
Johnny Cardoso's emergence at Atlético Madrid continues to be one of the most encouraging developments in the American player pool.
After an injury-plagued first season in Spain, Cardoso has finally established himself as an important part of Diego Simeone's midfield. Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League victory over Manchester United was arguably his best evidence yet.
Cardoso started at the base of Atlético's three-man midfield, providing the defensive foundation that allowed Pablo Barrios and the other midfielders to operate more aggressively.
The partnership with Barrios was especially effective.
Cardoso consistently made himself available as an outlet when Atlético attempted to play through United's pressure. Instead of remaining stationary in front of the center backs, he moved into open passing lanes, received under pressure and helped advance possession.
When Barrios moved forward, Cardoso was generally responsible for maintaining the midfield structure and protecting the space behind him.
This was an important part of Atlético's control over the game. United frequently struggled to progress through the middle, while Cardoso helped prevent turnovers from becoming dangerous counterattacks.
He finished with nine duels won, six recoveries and 91 percent passing accuracy. Those numbers reinforce what was an impressive all-around performance rather than merely an afternoon of safe passing.
Cardoso also nearly added a goal.
In the 43rd minute, Barrios laid the ball off to him near the edge of the penalty area, and Cardoso struck an excellent shot into the net. It would have doubled Atlético's lead, but VAR disallowed the goal for a handball by Marcos Llorente earlier in the sequence.
Atlético eventually secured the 2-0 victory, with Cardoso playing the entire match.
The Spanish press has taken notice.
Patricia Cazón of AS devoted an extensive article to Cardoso following the game, describing him as Atlético's new midfield "boss." Her evaluation focused on how effectively he helped Atlético escape pressure, created passing options for teammates and advanced the ball into more dangerous positions.
He missed Sunday's 1-0 win over Espanyol because of an illness, not a coaching decision.
The larger development is that Cardoso is no longer simply trying to regain his place after injuries derailed his first Atlético season. He is beginning to demonstrate that he can be a foundational part of Simeone's midfield.
There is still competition from Morten Hjulmand and veteran Koke, so his starting position is not guaranteed indefinitely.
But Cardoso offers an intriguing combination of qualities.
If he can remain healthy and continue playing this well against Champions League opposition, he could force himself into the center of Mauricio Pochettino's plans for 2030.
Peyton Miller, New England Revolution
Peyton Miller is making it increasingly difficult to determine whether his long-term future is actually at left back.
The 18-year-old delivered another outstanding week for New England, playing 178 minutes across two victories and contributing to three goals as the Revolution secured a playoff berth and strengthened their position in the Eastern Conference.
He started Wednesday's 3-2 victory at FC Cincinnati in an advanced attacking role and provided assists on both of Dor Turgeman's goals.
The two assists demonstrated different parts of his rapidly developing attacking game.
In the 21st minute, Joshua Wynder found Miller with a long diagonal pass toward the right side. Miller controlled the ball and delivered an accurate pass into the penalty area for Turgeman to finish first-time.
The second was even better.
Early in the second half, Miller received the ball on the right, drove toward the middle and slipped a perfectly weighted pass between defenders for Turgeman. The striker got around the goalkeeper and finished to give New England a 3-1 lead.
It was an excellent example of how Miller's attacking game has progressed.
His speed has always been extraordinary, but he is becoming more effective at recognizing when to use it, drawing defenders toward him and finding teammates in dangerous positions.
Miller was also dangerous throughout the Chicago game, producing three shots, two on target, and showing the same willingness to attack defenders.
Perhaps the most impressive improvement is how many different ways Miller can now hurt an opponent. His acceleration is remarkable, but his game has become much more than a series of sprints down the sideline.
He recognizes opportunities to arrive at the back post, times his runs to stay onside and is increasingly comfortable attacking defenders one-on-one. His passing has also become more sophisticated, particularly when he moves inside instead of simply delivering crosses from wide positions.
Miller now has seven goals and seven MLS-credited assists this season, extraordinary production for an 18-year-old who spent much of his development playing as a defender.
The position question is becoming fascinating.
For the USMNT, Miller initially appeared to be a potential long-term answer at left back, a position where Antonee Robinson has been remarkably dependable but will be 32 by the 2030 World Cup.
Miller's athleticism and attacking ability could eventually make him an outstanding modern fullback. However, playing higher up the field is allowing him to develop more of the technical skills and decision-making required to become a complete attacker.
He still has defensive work to do, particularly when defending closer to his own goal. His initial USMNT experience demonstrated that there is a significant difference between attacking MLS defenders and handling international-level defensive assignments.
But at this point, it would be premature to insist his future must be at fullback.
If he continues developing his passing, dribbling and attacking instincts, he could become too dangerous to move away from the front line.
Either way, Miller looks increasingly like a player who could have a significant role with the USMNT over the next cycle.
Tim Weah, Marseille
Tim Weah's season at Marseille has been a bit of a roller coaster.
He has established himself as a regular starter and even earned the captain's armband, but some early defensive struggles and a red card against PSG raised legitimate questions about his performances.
This week was much more encouraging as Weah played 90 minutes in Thursday's disappointing 1-0 Europa League defeat to Olympiacos, then followed it with an excellent performance in Marseille's 5-2 victory at Angers on Sunday.
The two assists will get most of the attention, but his defensive work was just as important.
Marseille fell behind in the 14th minute and looked vulnerable to counterattacks in the early stages. Weah's positioning on the right wasn't always convincing, and Angers found some space behind him.
However, he responded well as the game progressed.
With Marseille still trailing 1-0 around the 35th minute, Weah and Conrad Egan-Riley made consecutive defensive interventions to break up a dangerous Angers counterattack that could easily have doubled the deficit.
Only a couple of minutes later, Weah made the decisive contribution at the other end.
He advanced down the right and delivered an excellent cross toward the penalty spot, where Himad Abdelli met it with a header to equalize.
The goal completely changed the complexion of the match.
Marseille took the lead shortly before halftime and eventually pulled away in the second half, with Weah remaining heavily involved.
His second assist was unusual but effective.
In the 85th minute, Weah received a long pass inside the penalty area and redirected it with his shoulder into the path of Igor Paixão, who finished Marseille's fifth goal.
Weah finished with two assists, several important defensive recoveries and one of his most complete performances since joining the club.
The performance also continued an encouraging trend from the Olympiacos game.
Although Marseille lost in Europe, Weah was one of the team's more effective players, consistently making himself available as an attacking outlet and contributing several important defensive recoveries.
His relationship with Amine Harit on the right is improving as well. The two are beginning to recognize when one should move inside and when Weah can advance along the sideline.
The major takeaway is that Weah is showing he can be more than an attacking winger temporarily filling in at fullback.
At his best, he gives a team genuine attacking width while also possessing the athleticism to recover defensively. That is a valuable combination, especially for a team that wants its outside backs to contribute aggressively to possession.
Yunus Musah, AC Milan
Yunus Musah is finally finding the midfield role that gets the most out of his unusual skill set.
Musah started Sunday's 3-2 victory over Atalanta alongside Luka Modrić and delivered one of his better performances of the season.
His most important attacking contribution came in the 21st minute.
Musah collected a loose ball in midfield, accelerated through the Atalanta defense and drove toward the penalty area. His resulting shot struck the hand of defender Obrić, and VAR awarded Milan a penalty.
Gonçalo Ramos converted to give Milan the lead.
It was the perfect example of what Musah does well.
Few American midfielders have his ability to collect possession under pressure and suddenly carry the ball 20 or 30 yards through opposing players.
The question has always been how to turn those runs into effective attacking possessions rather than simply impressive demonstrations of athleticism.
Against Atalanta, Musah looked more comfortable making those decisions.
One particularly impressive sequence came in the 63rd minute, when he received the ball under pressure, turned away from two defenders and carried Milan out of danger.
It was a relatively small moment in a chaotic game, but it demonstrated the skill that makes him valuable in midfield. He can transform a situation where his team appears likely to lose possession into an opportunity to advance the ball.
The Italian press was generally enthusiastic about the performance.
Corriere della Sera and SportMediaset both gave Musah a 7/10, while La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport each awarded him a 6.5.
The evaluations were particularly interesting because they emphasized different parts of his performance.
SportMediaset praised Musah's ability to complement Modrić, providing the defensive coverage and athleticism necessary to allow the Croatian to organize possession. MilanNews24 went even further, arguing that Musah's contributions are often overlooked because his defensive work and ball progression don't produce the goals and assists that generate attention.
The difference from last week's match against Sassuolo was his positioning and responsibility.
Against Sassuolo, Musah was asked to handle too much of Milan's deep buildup, often receiving from the defense and attempting to organize possession.
That has never been his greatest strength.
He is not a natural tempo-setting midfielder who consistently recognizes the next passing option before receiving the ball. He is much more dangerous when he can collect possession in midfield, beat the initial pressure and attack the space that opens.
Playing alongside Modrić helps provide that balance.
Modrić can organize possession and dictate the passing rhythm, while Musah provides the athleticism to cover space defensively and carry the ball forward when opportunities develop.
That doesn't mean Musah simply abandons his defensive responsibilities. His ability to recover possession and close down opposing midfielders is a major part of what allows Milan to use Modrić in a deeper role.
Musah has always possessed physical tools that few American midfielders can match. But his development has been frustrating because those qualities haven't consistently translated into influential club performances.
The USMNT already knows he can defend aggressively and carry the ball through midfield. The challenge is finding a structure that allows him to use those abilities without requiring him to be something he isn't.
If Milan continues using him this way, Musah has a much better chance of becoming a reliable, complete midfielder.
Around the Player Pool
MLS Bonus: Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union
Cavan Sullivan didn't produce the spectacular individual numbers we've become accustomed to over the past couple of months, but he delivered another productive week for Philadelphia.
Sullivan started Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Chicago and provided an assist as the Union extended their impressive unbeaten streak.
The match turned after Chicago defender Jack Elliott was sent off late in the first half, giving Philadelphia a numerical advantage.
The Union took control after halftime and eventually pulled away, with Sullivan contributing to the attack from the right side. He finished with four shots, three on target and an assist.
There is some reason to temper the evaluation because Philadelphia played much of the match with an extra man. Still, Sullivan was again involved in several of the team's better attacking moments.
He followed that with another full 90 minutes in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Charlotte.
One of his best sequences came around the 11th minute, when he won possession, accelerated forward and created an opportunity for a teammate who failed to capitalize.
It was another example of Sullivan's growing ability to turn a defensive action into immediate attacking danger. He didn't score or assist against Charlotte, but he remained active throughout, attempting five shots.
Another assist and 169 minutes across two matches represent another productive week for the 17-year-old.
Premier League
Tyler Adams, Bournemouth
Adams continues to rebuild his importance in Bournemouth's midfield after his interrupted start to the season.
He started Thursday's 3-0 Europa League victory over Sturm Graz, playing 68 minutes, then returned to the starting lineup Sunday as Bournemouth defeated Sunderland 2-0.
The weekend match wasn't much of a defensive test. Sunderland went down to ten men in the 17th minute, allowing Bournemouth to dominate possession and generate 29 shots.
Adams helped maintain control from his deeper midfield position, preventing Sunderland from finding much success in transition. The two starts across four days are the more significant development.
After playing his way back into the lineup, Adams appears firmly established in Marco Rose's plans.
Chris Richards, Crystal Palace
A miserable week for Crystal Palace and a concerning one for Richards.
Palace fell 3-2 against Lyon in the Europa League before suffering a humiliating 5-0 home defeat against Brighton on Sunday.
The Brighton match was effectively over almost as soon as it began. Palace conceded three goals in a ten-minute stretch and never recovered.
Richards played 90 minutes in both defeats, continuing his role as one of the established defenders in a back line that has undergone substantial changes.
The English coverage emphasized the collective nature of Palace's defensive problems. The Guardian highlighted the inexperience of a back line featuring young defenders Jaydee Canvot and Honest Ahanor, while The Times reported manager Pierre Sage's acknowledgment that preparation and motivation had been inadequate.
It would be unfair to attribute eight conceded goals entirely to Richards. Palace's defensive structure was repeatedly exposed, and several younger defenders struggled badly.
However, Richards is one of the most experienced players in the group, and his ability to organize the back line has to be part of the evaluation.
He remains firmly established as a Premier League starter, but these are the kinds of performances that raise questions about whether he can develop into the defensive leader the USMNT needs.
Antonee Robinson, Fulham
An encouraging return for Robinson, who went straight back into Fulham's starting lineup after missing time with an ankle problem.
He played all 90 minutes in Fulham's 1-0 victory over Hull City, helping the team keep a clean sheet.
Fulham dominated possession and didn't allow Hull a shot on target, so Robinson wasn't tested extensively on the defensive end.
His return to the lineup and ability to complete a full match are the most important positives. After his recent injury issues, another uninterrupted 90 minutes is a welcome development.
Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United
Aaronson remained on the bench for the entirety of Leeds' 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
His situation is becoming increasingly concerning.
After beginning the season as a starter, Aaronson has gradually lost ground in Daniel Farke's rotation. The fact that Leeds made attacking substitutions without turning to him suggests he is no longer among the preferred options.
This isn't necessarily an assessment of his ability, but the lack of playing time is a problem. At this stage of his career, Aaronson needs consistent minutes rather than occasional opportunities to provide energy off the bench.
Zavier Gozo, Crystal Palace
Gozo did not feature in either of Palace's matches this week.
The young attacker remains in the early stages of his adjustment to Premier League soccer after moving from Real Salt Lake.
His long-term potential remains intriguing, but the immediate challenge is earning more consistent first-team opportunities.
La Liga
Alex Freeman, Villarreal
Freeman continues to make steady progress in Spain.
He entered Villarreal's Champions League match against Napoli in the 64th minute, playing an advanced role on the right side as the Spanish club protected and eventually extended its lead in an impressive 3-1 victory.
Freeman was essentially operating as a right winger at times, although his defensive responsibilities made the position more like a wingback.
He didn't produce a particularly memorable individual attacking moment, but he helped Villarreal see out a significant European victory.
Freeman followed that appearance with another 90-minute start at right back against Elche, although the result was a disappointing 0-0 draw.
His defensive performance was generally solid, but his attacking decision-making still needs improvement.
In the tenth minute, he found himself in a dangerous position inside the box but hesitated rather than getting a shot away. Late in the game, he delivered a low ball across goal that the goalkeeper intercepted.
These are the details that will determine how high his ceiling becomes.
Freeman has the athleticism to consistently reach dangerous attacking positions and the defensive tools to compete against La Liga opposition. He is increasingly demonstrating both.
The next step is becoming more decisive once he gets forward.
Nevertheless, 118 minutes across La Liga and the Champions League represents another positive week in his development.
Serie A
Christian Pulisic, AC Milan
Pulisic continued his return to regular action with two appearances this week.
He played the final 30 minutes of Milan's 4-0 Europa League victory over Salzburg, then started Sunday's 3-2 win against Atalanta.
His weekend performance featured several dangerous moments, including an apparent goal in the 12th minute.
Pulisic reacted quickly to a loose ball inside the penalty area and blasted it into the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
He continued to find dangerous positions throughout the game and forced a save early in the second half.
The performance was solid rather than spectacular, but his movement and ability to attack the penalty area remain important to Milan.
Pulisic has now established himself as a regular contributor after his cautious return from injury. The next step is turning those threatening moments into more consistent production.
Weston McKennie, Juventus
An interesting week for McKennie that demonstrated both his importance to Juventus and the difficulties the team continues to experience.
McKennie captained Juventus in Thursday's 2-1 Europa League victory against Celta Vigo, playing the entire match.
Unfortunately, the weekend was much less encouraging as Juventus was thoroughly beaten 3-0 at home by Lazio, with McKennie again completing 90 minutes.
He was used in an advanced attacking role behind Randal Kolo Muani but struggled to become influential as Juventus failed to generate consistent attacking danger.
Still, two complete matches and the captain's armband represent a much better club situation than he faced earlier in the season.
Gianluca Busio, Venezia
Busio remains sidelined by the hamstring injury he suffered in September.
He missed both of Venezia's matches this week, including the weekend game against Napoli.
There is no confirmed return date, although he has reportedly made progress in his rehabilitation.
Busio had established himself as an important part of Venezia's midfield before the injury, so his club standing is not the concern.
He simply needs to get healthy and resume playing.
Bundesliga
Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen
Tillman produced one of the better American performances in Europe this week, scoring in Leverkusen's comfortable 4-0 Europa League victory at Lech Poznań.
He started and played the full 90 minutes, scoring in the 32nd minute to double Leverkusen's lead. The goal came from close range after Leverkusen had established control over the Polish champions. Tillman was operating in an advanced midfield role and consistently involved in the team's attacking possession.
Leverkusen made several changes for Sunday's Bundesliga match against Freiburg, and Tillman entered for the final 17 minutes of a 2-1 victory. His limited weekend action shouldn't overshadow the midweek performance. He received a meaningful European starting assignment, scored and contributed to an impressive road victory.
The larger question remains whether Tillman can become an unquestioned starter for Leverkusen.
He has shown that he can perform well in European competition, but the coaching staff continues to rotate its attacking midfield options.
Another 90-minute European performance is a positive sign.
Joe Scally, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Scally played the full 90 minutes in Gladbach's 2-1 defeat against Hoffenheim.
He continued operating on the right side of Gladbach's defense, occasionally pushing higher to provide attacking width. The team remains defensively vulnerable, although there wasn't sufficient evidence to identify Scally as the primary cause of either goal.
His return to the starting lineup over the past several weeks has been encouraging after he appeared to be on his way out of the club earlier this season.
Now he needs to turn that opportunity into consistent performances.
Mathis Albert, Borussia Dortmund
A positive developmental milestone for 17-year-old Albert, who made his first Bundesliga appearance of the season in Dortmund's 0-0 draw against Union Berlin.
Albert entered in the 79th minute after Konstantinos Karetsas suffered an ankle injury.
He had limited opportunities to influence the game but nearly became involved in a late scoring chance.
There isn't much to conclude from 11 minutes, but earning Bundesliga playing time at his age is significant. The next question is whether Dortmund begins trusting him with more regular opportunities.
Cole Campbell, SV Elversberg
Campbell missed Elversberg's wild 4-3 victory against Augsburg after suffering an ankle injury in training.
It's an unfortunate interruption for a player who had established himself in the starting lineup earlier this season.
Campbell's direct attacking style and ability to beat defenders have been valuable for the newly promoted Bundesliga side.
Hopefully, the injury won't keep him sidelined for long, although no definitive return date has been established.
Lennard Maloney, Mainz
Maloney played only the final couple of minutes of Mainz's 1-0 victory against Schalke.
His playing-time situation remains one of the more disappointing stories among the established American midfielders in Europe.
Unlike some players who rotate between league and European starts, Maloney is receiving almost no significant competitive minutes.
He may need to consider a change of scenery if his opportunities do not improve.
Ligue 1
Tanner Tessmann, Lyon
Tessmann finally got an opportunity to start in Ligue 1, and he made the most of it.
After playing 13 minutes in Lyon's 3-2 Europa League victory over Crystal Palace, Tessmann was inserted into the starting lineup Sunday against Nice. He responded by scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory.
Tessmann found space inside the penalty area in the 36th minute and directed a header into the net, providing the decisive contribution in an important league win. The goal was particularly satisfying considering how little Tessmann has played in Ligue 1 this season.
He has generally been behind several midfielders in Lyon's preferred lineup, receiving more opportunities in European competition or as a substitute.
One goal doesn't necessarily change that hierarchy, especially with the club rotating players after its midweek match.
But it certainly strengthens his case for more opportunities.
Folarin Balogun, Monaco
Balogun entered in the 66th minute of Monaco's disappointing 1-0 defeat to Lorient.
He managed a shot on target but couldn't produce an equalizer as Monaco struggled to generate consistent attacking chances. After his complicated transfer situation earlier this season, Balogun is still working his way back into a significant role.
Mark McKenzie, Toulouse
A solid week for McKenzie, who played the full 90 minutes in Toulouse's comfortable 3-0 victory against Le Mans.
McKenzie helped anchor a back line that rarely allowed the opposition to generate sustained attacking pressure.
There wasn't a particular individual play that defined his performance, but another full match and clean sheet are useful contributions.
For a defender, consistent, uneventful performances are not necessarily a bad thing.
Bryan Reynolds, Rennes
Reynolds continues to earn more opportunities at Rennes after his encouraging performance last weekend. He played the final 13 minutes of Rennes' 2-1 Europa League victory over OFI Crete, then started Sunday's wild 4-3 defeat to Paris FC.
The weekend result was disappointing, with Rennes conceding four goals in a match heavily influenced by penalty decisions. Reynolds did produce one dangerous attacking moment, getting forward to meet a pass from Valentin Rongier and forcing a save from Kevin Trapp.
The larger positive is that he is receiving meaningful minutes in both domestic and European competition.
After spending much of the early season outside the preferred lineup, Reynolds now has an opportunity to make himself a regular contributor.
Eredivisie
Sergiño Dest, PSV Eindhoven
A difficult week for PSV, although Dest's individual situation remains relatively stable.
He played all 90 minutes in PSV's 1-0 Champions League defeat at RB Leipzig, then completed another full match in Sunday's surprising 2-1 loss to ADO Den Haag.
Dest was active going forward against ADO but couldn't produce the decisive attacking contribution PSV needed.
The game was complicated by a red card to teammate Sven Mijnans, which significantly altered PSV's ability to control possession and protect its defense.
Both defeats were disappointing, but there isn't enough evidence to suggest Dest was individually responsible for the results.
He continues to be one of the team's established starters, playing major minutes in both Europe and the Eredivisie.
That regular role remains an important positive for the USMNT.
Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven
Pepi missed both PSV matches as he continues recovering from injury.
His absence is becoming frustrating after he appeared positioned for another significant season in the Netherlands.
There is no confirmed return date, and he will need to rebuild his match fitness once he is cleared to play.
Video sources: US Soccer Comps — Reyna; US Soccer Comps — Cardoso; MLS — Cincinnati vs. New England; beIN SPORTS USA — Angers vs. Marseille; AC Milan — Atalanta.