Two Americans are headed to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, both for La Liga clubs that will renew their ancient rivalry next month.
Johnny Cardoso went the distance as Atlético Madrid advanced past Tottenham Hotspur despite losing Wednesday’s second leg in London, while 19-year-old goalkeeper Diego Kochen enjoyed the view from the bench as Barcelona trashed visiting Newcastle.
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The Spanish sides will clash April 7-8 in Barcelona and a week later in the capital.
Midfielders Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen) and Yunus Musah (Atalanta) were eliminated this week, joining five other U.S. teammates bounced in earlier phases.
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Christian Pulisic remains the only USMNT member to play in — and win — a Champions League final (with Chelsea in 2020-21). Pulisic’s AC Milan did not qualify for this season’s competition.
Cardoso — a 24-year-old defensive midfielder named to the U.S. squad for this month’s training camp and friendlies — started his third consecutive Champions League match as Atleti fell at Tottenham Hotspur, 3-2, but prevailed on aggregate, 7-5.
Soccer Football – UEFA Champions League – Round 16 – Second Leg – Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico Madrid – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – March 18, 2026 Atletico Madrid’s Johnny Cardoso in action with Tottenham Hotspur’s Randal Kolo Muani Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
(Action Images via Reuters / REUTERS)
Kochen, a Miami native who will turn 20 Thursday, took his usual spot on the sideline for a wild one in Catalonia: Barcelona scored five goals in about 27 minutes to rout Newcastle, 7-2, for an 8-3 advantage over two legs.
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Kochen is Barca’s third-choice keeper behind Spain’s Joan García and Poland’s Wojciech Szczęsny and, while he’s been in uniform for 14-of-15 matches in 2026, he’s yet to play for the first team.
An academy graduate who signed a pro contract in 2022, Kochen was promoted to the first team this season after playing for the B squad in the third division last season.
Also eligible for Peru and Venezuela, he played for several U.S. junior teams and received a senior camp invitation in 2024. Pegged to start at the Under-20 World Cup last fall, Kochen was recalled at the last minute because of Barcelona’s injury issues.
Cardoso and Kochen are the last of the nine Americans who were involved in the 36-team league phase of the competition.
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Musah, who has fallen out of U.S. favor and all but out of World Cup consideration, served a yellow-card suspension for Atalanta’s almost meaningless second leg against Bayern Munich — a 4-1 away setback following a 6-1 embarrassment at home last week for a 10-2 aggregate wipeout.
On Tuesday, Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen were eliminated by Arsenal on a 3-1 aggregate following a 2-0 loss in London. With a 30-minute effort, Tillman finished his Champions League campaign with five starts, five sub appearances and a two-goal performance against Villarreal on Jan. 28. He’ll report to U.S. camp Sunday.
Previously eliminated: Weston McKennie (Juventus) and Folarin Balogun (Monaco) in the playoffs, and Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille) and Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven) in the league phase.
The other quarterfinals will pit reigning champion Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool, Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich and Sporting Lisbon vs. Arsenal.
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2 U.S. players are in European competitions Thursday
Tanner Tessmann and Lyon are home against Spain’s Celta Vigo following a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the second-tier Europa League’s round of 16. The winner will face Genk (Belgium) or Freiburg (Germany) in the quarterfinals.
The 2024 U.S. Olympic team captain is a natural defensive midfielder who, on occasion, has been deployed by Lyon to center back.
For Pochettino, Tessmann started twice, entered as a sub twice and scored a late goal against Uruguay during the October and November windows.
“He has one thing that is very important: brain. He understands soccer,” Pochettino said this week. “He understands in every single position the way he needs to perform and to behave. … He’s playing a lot in Lyon and he’s doing well.”
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Center back Chris Richards and Crystal Palace are in Cyprus to play AEK Larnaca following a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the third-tier Conference League’s round of 16. The winner will face Fiorentina (Italy) or Rakow Czestochowa (Poland) in the quarterfinals.
