There are U.S. internationals stationed all over the continent with something to fight for over these final weeks
We've reached the final month or so of the European season, and for the U.S. men's national team players abroad, there's much on the line. Titles, European spots, relegation – it's all on the table across the top leagues.
There are Americans stationed all over the continent with something to fight for over these final weeks, giving them plenty of jeopardy even ahead of this summer's Gold Cup. All eyes will be on the USMNT this summer as they look to put the CONCACAF Nations League behind them, but before that, a substantial number of players will face big tests on the club level.
From trips to Wembley and European semifinals to the ugliest of relegation battles, GOAL looks at what is still on the line for the Americans playing overseas.
Getty Images SportEngland
For the Americans in the Premier League, things are essentially settled. Tyler Adams and Bournemouth will need a literal miracle to seal a European spot due to the eight-point gap between them and sixth place with three games to play. Antonee Robinson and Fulham, meanwhile, don't have much left to play for.
That leaves Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace, who have the biggest games left of the bunch as they head into the FA Cup final. They'll face Manchester City at Wembley as they look to make history and win the first FA Cup in club history.
The Championship, meanwhile, is largely done and dusted. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds are already going up as champions, having sealed promotion back to the Premier League this past weekend. Can another American join Aaronson in making the big leap up a division?
Haji Wright and Coventry have a chance. They booked their place in the playoffs on the final day of the season and will now face Sunderland in a two-legged semifinal starting Friday, hoping to put themselves one step closer to the Premier League.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportItaly
The USMNT's Italian-based stars face all sorts of jeopardy over these next few weeks as all will have plenty to play for as they look to salvage somewhat-frustrating seasons.
Starting closer to the top of the table, Juventus sit fourth, leaving Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and the team with work to do in the final three weeks of the season. Their title hopes are long gone, but are level on points with fifth-place Roma and sixth-place Lazio, with seventh-place Bologna also just one point behind. It's a dogfight with three games remaining, and Juve will likely have to be perfect if they're going to earn a Champions League spot.
Six points behind Juve sit Milan, who will need a miracle to qualify for Europe via the league route. Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah's side has work to do as they're also six points back of sixth-place Lazio for even a Europa Conference League spot. The silver lining? Milan defeated Inter, 4-1, on aggregate to book their spot in the Coppa Italia final, and the prize for winning that tournament is a Europa League spot. That looks like their best path forward and an opportunity for this team to end the campaign with genuine hopes for next season.
Gianluca Busio and Venezia, finally, find themselves in a relegation fight. Venezia sit one point from safety with three games remaining. Their draw with 19th-place Empoli a few weeks back could end up being a huge missed opportunity if they can't collect points from the final few matches.
Down in Serie B, Kristoffer Lund and Palermo are in a fight for promotion and, as things stand, look set to play in the promotion playoffs.
Getty Images SportSpain
All eyes are on Johnny Cardoso's Real Betis, who are fighting on two fronts. The first is, of course, the Europa Conference League, with Betis up a goal heading into Thursday's semifinal second leg against Fiorentina. The winner of that will book a date with either Chelsea or Djurgarden for the finale.
Real Betis are also pushing for European places in La Liga, currently occupying sixth place, and a potential Europa League spot, on 57 points. Villarreal are just one point ahead for the fifth and final Champions League position. The good news, though, is that Betis have a significant lead on seventh-place Celta Vigo, who are 11 points behind.
Diego Kochen, meanwhile, is worth keeping an eye on with Barcelona. The young goalkeeper has been on Barcelona's bench plenty of times this season and, even with their Champions League dream dead, La Liga is still in their sights. They're up four points heading into Sunday's Clasico and, with four games remaining, a win over their rivals would keep them in the driver's seat.
Getty Images SportGermany
Both Gio Reyna and Joe Scally are with clubs scrapping for European spots, and that could come down to the final weeks of the season.
It's been a disappointing season for Dortmund, and it could end up being Reyna's final campaign with the club. Right now, they're fifth in the league, fighting for a Champions League spot. There's ground to make up, with Dortmund sitting on 51 points, fourth-place Freiburg on 52 and third-place Eintracht Frankfurt, who may welcome back Paxten Aaronson, on 56.
Don't count out Scally's Borussia Monchengladbach, though. They're five points out of a European spot with two games remaining so, techincally, they're still alive.
Down at the bottom of the league, John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel are in 17th, one point away from 16th and the playoff against the 2. Bundesliga's third-best team. That seems their only chance at survival, as they're six points out of 15th with two games to play.
