Juventus Players Shine Amidst Mixed Results in Recent Matches

omidbasir- Juventus faced frustration at halftime, trailing 1-0 at home after conceding a last-minute goal to Lecce. However, Weston McKennie quickly turned the tide for the team, scoring just four minutes into the second half and securing a come-from-behind 1-1 draw.

This goal marked McKennie’s third of the season across all competitions, and notably his first in Serie A, following earlier strikes against Pafos and Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. Starting in midfield, McKennie has made a significant impact, contributing to five goals in his last nine appearances, a sharp contrast to his single assist in the previous 31 matches. As the 2026 season begins, he is becoming an essential figure in Juventus’ plans, particularly with his contract nearing its conclusion.

Leeds United’s performance against Manchester United was lackluster on Sunday afternoon, with both teams lacking energy and quality. In this context, Brenden Aaronson stood out, delivering a moment of brilliance by evading center back Ayden Heaven and finishing neatly to give Leeds a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, his effort was not enough, as Matheus Cunha equalized late for Manchester United, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Despite the outcome, Aaronson’s performance was commendable; he was a constant pressing threat and created opportunities, marking one of his most complete displays this season. With two goal contributions in his last three matches, he is making a strong case for inclusion in Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT squad. Consistency will be key for Aaronson, who has received praise from his manager for his work rate but needs to refine his finishing.

Folarin Balogun had an unconventional assist on Saturday, aiding Tanner Tessmann and Lyon in their matchup. Just before halftime, Balogun, while pushing for a one-on-one opportunity, was fouled, leading to Mamadou Coulibaly scoring an equalizer. Unfortunately for Monaco, the match took a turn for the worse after Coulibaly received a red card, resulting in a 3-1 loss against Lyon.

Balogun played the full 90 minutes in the defeat, while Tessmann came on as a substitute in the 66th minute, with Lyon’s victory lifting them to fifth place. Meanwhile, Monaco slipped to ninth after suffering three consecutive losses.

Antonee Robinson reminded fans of his elite left-back capabilities during Fulham’s match against Liverpool. After recovering from knee surgery, he has steadily improved and was instrumental in securing a 2-2 draw. Playing as a left wing-back, he won over half of his tackles and effectively contributed to both defense and attack, creating chances and delivering consistent crosses into the box. The USMNT hopes he maintains his health in the coming months.

In other news, Christian Pulisic made a brief 11-minute appearance in AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Cagliari, while Mark McKenzie faced disappointment as Toulouse lost 3-0 to Lens after an early red card. Benjamin Cremaschi did not feature in Parma’s 1-1 draw with Sassuolo. Tim Weah played the full match but could not prevent Marseille’s 2-0 loss against Nantes. Yunus Musah had a productive second-half stint in Atalanta’s 1-0 win over Roma, completing 12 of 14 passes. Haji Wright played 30 minutes in Coventry’s 3-2 defeat to Birmingham, while Patrick Agyemang struggled to make an impact in his 60 minutes on the pitch during Derby’s loss to Wrexham. Josh Sargent had a minimal influence in Norwich’s 2-0 defeat to Stoke, while Aidan Morris excelled, completing more passes than anyone else in Middlesbrough’s 3-0 victory.