ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spans the world for Individuals Overseas and provides up his ideas on the highest tales, together with the large return of Ricardo Pepi, the large week for Folarin Balogun, and Tyler Adams making his first begin since December
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
February 24, 2026
6:55 PM
SHARE THIS STORY
Let’s get proper into it.
Pepi scores in huge return
Ricardo Pepi’s return from a damaged arm couldn’t have gone any higher when he got here off the bench within the seventy fifth minute and scored the ultimate purpose in a 3-1 win over Heerenveen. Primarily, he picked proper up the place he left off – scoring virtually at will within the Eredivisie the place he has 9 targets in 731 minutes (he additionally has three extra targets within the Champions League).
That is seemingly going to be the previous couple of months for Pepi at PSV because it appears seemingly {that a} take care of Fulham or one other crew is ultimately reached. The nice new for Pepi is that the remaining video games are prone to be free from stress. The membership is out of the Champions League and has a 14-point lead within the Eredivisie desk.
As for the nationwide crew, the striker competitors is tight with Folarin Balogun additionally scoring at a powerful fee for Monaco (in opposition to nice competitors), Patrick Agyemang is having a terrific season within the Championship.
Pepi nonetheless has a terrific probability of enjoying actual minutes on the World Cup. Every of these strikers have totally different skillsets. Balogun could make runs behind defensive traces. Agyemang dominates within the air and in a bodily recreation. Pepi, is much extra of a hybrid possibility with extra methods he can rating.
Even past the World Cup, Pepi must discover a strategy to keep wholesome for a complete season. That has in all probability harm his worth just a little bit.
Cardoso’s huge Atletico second
Since transferring to Atletico Madrid from Actual Betis, Johnny Cardoso has handled accidents and drifted out and in of the beginning lineup with irregular minutes. He had but to have a defining second for the membership.
That each one modified in a significant approach on Tuesday when Cardoso scored the purpose that put Atletico Madrid forward of Membership Brugge for good within the second leg of its Champions League Spherical of 32 matchup. Atletico ended up profitable 7-4.
It looks like we’ve been ready for Johnny Cardoso to have his first huge second for Atletico
Nicely, this qualifies. It places Atletico up on Brugge within the Champions League pic.twitter.com/dNEyvCDFmH
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 24, 2026
At this level, it appears seemingly that Cardoso will get a March call-up to the U.S. nationwide crew camp in Atalanta. Then will probably be as much as him to show his worth. No matter his membership play, he wants to show in an enormous efficiency with the U.S. crew to get a spot on the World Cup crew.
Richards begins in cleansheet win
Issues haven’t been going effectively for Crystal Palace for a lot of the previous three months. Getting into the weekend, Palace had only one win of their final 15 video games courting again to the center of December. To make issues worse, head coach Oliver Glasner is virtually begging to get fired with repeated outbursts as a result of membership promoting off his greatest gamers and shopping for underwhelming replacements.
On Sunday, Palace defeated last-place Wolves 1-0 with a last-minute purpose solely after Wolves have been decreased to 10 males. It wasn’t an nice recreation from Palace.
In the meantime, Richards performed comparatively effectively (though he wasn’t examined as a lot as traditional in opposition to a nasty Wolves crew).
As if we could not love this man anymore ???????? pic.twitter.com/ydq1tjvP3R
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) February 22, 2026
Richards must be thought of a lock starter for the USMNT on the World Cup however don’t be shocked if he’s seeking to discover a extra practical membership this summer time afterward.
Balogun scores in Monaco win
In a single week, Folarin Balogun has scored three targets in two video games in opposition to France’s two greatest groups this season. Midweek, the USMNT ahead sored twice in a 3-2 loss to Paris St. Germain within the first leg of a Champions League knockout. Then on Sunday, Balogun scored in an enormous 3-2 win at Lens, in a recreation the place Lens led 2-0. That outcome noticed PSG leapfrog Lens for the highest of the desk.
Balogun now has 5 targets in Ligue 1, 5 targets within the Champions League, and one purpose within the Coupe de France.
He may not be the right match for the U.S. nationwide crew in each recreation. He may get pissed off in opposition to a low-block protection. However when he has house to run behind opposing backlines, he’s a terrific possibility for Mauricio Pochettino.
Agyemang will get reward
Derby County supervisor John Eustace lately was stuffed with reward for American ahead Patrick Argyemang. It spoke very effectively of his growth.
“He understands this is a very physical league and he’s one of the top performers in the division. I don’t think he gets protected as much as he should from the referees for sure because of his size and the way he plays. I think defenders are getting away with fouling him.”
“There’s so much more hard work and more development to come, which is the most exciting thing for me. We’ve got a huge asset at the football club, and he’s got to continue progressing and developing in the way he has done.”
Sadly for Eustace and Agyemang, Derby fell to Watford on Saturday 2-0.
Tillman injured
Malik Tillman picked up an ankle damage on Saturday in Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 loss to Union Berlin. Because of this, it doesn’t look promising that he’ll play in opposition to Olympiacos this week within the Champions League.
????????Malik Tillman suffered a studs-up sort out to his ankle on Saturday:Bayer Leverkusen coach Kaspar Hjulmand stated forward Tuesday’s UCL 2nd leg recreation vs. Olympiacos:
“It is going to be troublesome with Malik. It hasn’t been absolutely determined but, however it doesn’t look superb.”…
— Mike Woitalla (@MikeWoitalla) February 24, 2026
It’s too early to take a position how a lot time, if any, he’ll miss.
Adams begins in Bournemouth draw
Tyler Adams performed 66 minutes for AFC Bournemouth on Saturday in a 0-0 draw with West Ham United. It was his first begin since December 2 when he suffered a knee damage.
As for his efficiency, it was stable in some features and restricted in others. He was very defensive and efficient in tackling and breaking performs up. His passing was very conservative as he didn’t present a lot a hyperlink between protection and offense.
It was nice for the USMNT to see him again on the sphere and he’ll lose the rust as he will get again right into a rhythm.
Greater than something, he simply wants to remain heathy. He’s vital to Bournemouth because the membership sits eighth within the Premier League. However for the World Cup, he’s essential.
Yanks within the Bundesliga
Noahkai Banks continues to impress for Augsburg this season and on Saturday he helped the membership to a 3-2 win over Wolfsburg that moved the membership into tenth place. With 4 wins in its final 5 video games, Augsburg is not in a relegation battle.
For Banks, 19, he’s enjoying effectively and has an opportunity to make a case to be a part of the World Cup crew. He’s but to be capped, however March may see him make his debut.
For Wolfsburg, Kevin Paredes performed the ultimate 23 minutes and didn’t do something vital to notice. However the membership is now out of the underside three solely on purpose differential. It’s away from the automated relegation place by one level.
James Sands solely got here off the bench for St. Pauli in a vital 2-1 win over Werder Bremen. The outcome despatched Werder into the relegation gap and moved St. Pauli into the relegation playoff place. Nonetheless, not good for Sands to come back off the bench as he’s in an push to assist St. Pauli keep away from relegation and persuade the membership to train its buy possibility on the mortgage from NYCFC. Sands has been a daily starter all season.
Kristoffer Lund can be in a push to persuade his present membership, FC Koln, to train its possibility to purchase from his mortgage from Palermo, and he put forth a pleasant outing going all 90 minutes at his traditional left again in a 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim. At 23 years previous, Lund may not be in Pochettino’s plans however he’s younger sufficient to possibly profit from a brand new supervisor with a recent method after the World Cup.
Joe Scally struggled for Borussia Monchengladbach in a 2-1 loss to Freiburg. M’Gladbach is now solely two factors away from the underside three. In the meantime, Scally appears unlikely to go to the World Cup at this level.
Yanks within the 2.Bundesliga
Santiago Castaneda, 21, went 68 minutes for Paderborn in a 5-2 win over Hertha. Castaneda performed effectively in defensive midfield and Paderborn remained in fourth place. Castaneda is one other participant who’s setting himself up for an enormous summer time both in getting promoted or getting bought. He’s additionally one other participant who may characteristic subsequent cycle for the USMNT.
John Tolkin virtually wants a rescue at this level as his Holstein Kiel misplaced for the fourth time in a row after a 3-1 defeat to Karlsruher. That despatched Holstein Kiel to only a level above the underside three.
Greuther Furth remained in final place however nonetheless helped their trigger with a 2-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld final Friday. Max Dietz performed the second half for Furth whereas Mael Corboz began and performed 60 minutes for Eleventh-place Bielefeld.
Lastly, Johan Gomez assisted on Eintracht Braunschweig’s solely purpose of a 3-1 loss to Elversberg. Gomez performed 90 minutes.
Yanks in Serie A
General, it was a horrible weekend for Yanks in Serie A.
Christian Pulisic returned to the beginning XI for AC Milan however his crew was upset at house in a 1-0 loss to Parma with Pulisic enjoying 62 minutes. Pulisic pressured a save within the thirty sixth minute and narrowly missed the goal with one other shot simply earlier than halftime. Whereas he didn’t play poorly, Pulisic hasn’t been a difference-maker for Milan since December – coping with accidents and uneven kind since then.
In the meantime, Benja Cremashci’s dangerous mortgage continues as he watched from the bench for Parma. The perfect factor can be for him to return to Miami, play a number of video games to regroup, after which possibly make one other transfer.
Weston Mckennie had certainly one of his worst video games of the season when he went 90 minutes for Juventus in a 2-0 loss at house to Como. It was the third loss in a row in all competitions for Juventus has fallen to fifth place and out of the Champions League positions.
Yunus Musah is one other American on a nasty mortgage this season and he watched as his Atalanta crew defeated Napoli 2-1. It appears as if he’s taking a look at a return to AC Milan, who may not need him again both. Large choices await for Musah and his World Cup hopes appear dim.
Yanks in Serie B
Gianluca Busio went 90 minutes for Venezia in a 3-2 win over Pescara to stay two factors clear atop the desk, and three factors away from the promotion line. Busio, as soon as once more, was superb in central midfield and this has been his greatest season in Europe. Not like earlier seasons, Busio is now a frontrunner and a key participant.
Jonathan Klinsann allowed three targets previous him as Cesena misplaced for the third straight recreation to fall to eighth place, the ultimate playoff place.
Andrija Novakovich went 90 minutes for Reggiana in a 1-1 draw with Avallino. Reggiano has fallen right into a relegation battle and is just away from the relegation playoffs on purpose differential.
Yanks in Ligue 1
Tim Weah performed 90 minutes as slumping Marseille dropped a 2-0 choice at house to Brest. Weah created essentially the most possibilities within the recreation for Marseille enjoying proper again however Marseille remained in forth place with the loss and is just three factors from falling out of Champions League spots.
Lyon dropped 3-1 loss to Strasbourg and it was the primary time the membership didn’t win a recreation since December 7, a span of 13 video games. Tanner Tessmann performed 58 video games and had a uncommon dangerous recreation. He’s been so remarkably constantly good all season that this efficiency gained’t change his standing.
Yanks within the Premier League
Except for Adams and Richards (mentioned above), the one different American to play within the Premier League was Brenden Aaronson who went 73 minutes for Leeds United in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. He left with Leeds up 1-0 however solely had 33 touches and 9 accomplished passes. He nonetheless labored very laborious on the left facet of the sphere defensively and coated a variety of floor. Leeds United maintained a six level hole over the relegation zone.
In the meantime, Antonee Robinson didn’t journey for Fulham in its 3-1 win over Sunderland to maneuver into tenth place. Robinson was out with what’s listed as an ankle damage that didn’t appear severe. This season continues to be a rocky highway for Robinson.
Yanks within the Championship
The Championship was busy over the weekend and once more in the course of this week.
George Campbell scored for West Bromwich Albion in an in any other case disappointing 1-1 draw at house with Charlton Athletic. West Brom is just a degree north of the relegation zone. In the meantime, Charlie Kelman didn’t get off the bench for Charlton and Daryl Dike didn’t play for West Brom.
A DESERVED LEAD! ????
Campbell rises highest to satisfy Mowatt’s nook and finds the again of the online! ????????
???????? 1-0 ???? | (45+3′) https://t.co/cvN5s3T4Nq pic.twitter.com/TPu4waBZzF
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) February 24, 2026
Middlesbrough is struggling a bit with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Leicester on Tuesday. Aidan Morris performed effectively over 90 minutes regardless of the draw and Boro has a 5 level cushion on promotion. However Boro solely has two factors from the final three video games.
Regardless of the reward on Patrick Agyemang, he hasn’t scored within the final two video games for Derby County, each of which have been losses. On Tuesday, it was a 4-2 loss to Hull. That loss has despatched Derby County to Eleventh place.
On Wednesday, Haji Wright and leaders Coventry go to Sheffield United.
Yanks Elsewhere
Auston Trusty was despatched off within the 74th minute for Celtic on Sunday in a 2-1 loss to Hibernian at house. Celtic now sits third in Scotland and Hearts continues to be the shock leaders.
In Belgium, Marlon Fossey assisted on the opening purpose as his ninth-place Customary Liege defeated eighth-place Genk 3-0. Fossey performed his traditional proper wingback and was subbed out within the 89th minute.
