Exciting developments are underway in France’s premier soccer league, with the spotlight on Tanner Tessman, the Alabama-origin godfather of a well-known college football coach.
Tanner Tessman, the captain of the 2024 U.S. Olympic team and a hopeful for this summer’s World Cup roster, made his return on Saturday as Olympique Lyonnais secured a 1-0 victory over Nantes, marking their twelfth consecutive win across all competitions.
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Lyon has ascended to third place—an essential UEFA Champions League position—thanks to six straight triumphs in Ligue 1. They also advanced to the quarter-finals of the French Cup with an additional trio of victories and topped their Europa League group with three consecutive wins.
Going unbeaten for over 10 matches is impressive, but doing so without a single draw is truly remarkable. This past weekend, Lyon faced an intense challenge when a red card left them with ten players for the last 30 minutes. However, a resilient defense and a close call when Nantes hit the post allowed them to extend their winning streak, which began on December 11.
Lyon has placed sixth in Ligue 1 during the last two seasons and hasn’t reached the top three since 2019.
Tessman started on the bench for the first two games of this winning streak due to a thigh injury but has since been in the starting lineup for six of the past eight matches, with substitute appearances in the others. In total, he has participated in 19 out of 21 Ligue 1 games, ranking third on the team, with 16 starts.
American midfielder Tanner Tessman is in peak form for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
(Reuters/Reuters)
At 24, Tessman is in his second season in France after a three-year stint with Italian club Venezia. His godfather, Dabo Swinney, is the head coach of Clemson football and has been close friends with Tanner’s father, P.J., since high school. PJ operates the Swinney Charitable Foundation.
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To Tanner, Swinney is affectionately known as “Uncle Beau.”
A gifted soccer player and former kicker, Tessman had aspirations to play both sports at Clemson. However, he signed with FC Dallas before starting college.
His soccer journey has seen him compete in two of Europe’s top five leagues: Serie A in Italy for the 2021-22 season and Ligue 1 in France over the past two seasons, while also making strides in the American soccer hierarchy. He gained attention after playing every minute in four Olympic games in France under the guidance of coach Mauricio Pochettino. Last fall, he made two starts, came off the bench twice, and netted a goal in a 5-1 rout of Uruguay in Tampa.
With veteran players like Tyler Adams, Tessman’s role may expand this spring as he recovers from a knee injury. Pochettino is likely to summon him for friendly matches against Belgium and Portugal in late March in Atlanta, which is only a two-hour drive from “Uncle Beau’s” home.
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In other French league news, striker Folarin Balogun struggled in Monaco’s 0-0 stalemate against Nice, marking his seventh consecutive game without a goal.
Wingback Tim Weah had a hand in Olympic Marseille’s shocking 5-0 defeat at the hands of the new favorites, Paris Saint-Germain. Center-back Mark McKenzie made 81 appearances total in Toulouse’s 1-0 defeat against Angers, continuing his run of nine straight games played the full 90 minutes.
Italy
Midfielder Weston McKennie scored his fourth goal in Serie A, helping Juventus rally to a 2-2 draw with Lazio.
Forward Christian Pulisic and second-place AC Milan enjoyed a bye this weekend, as they gear up for their third consecutive away match against Pisa on Friday due to unavailability of their home venue for the Winter Olympics.
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Midfielder Yunus Musah will be active as Atalanta prepares to host Cremonese on Monday.
In the second division, Jonathan Klinsmann recorded a clean sheet in Cesena’s 2-0 win over Pescara, his first since November 28.
Mexico
Winger Alex Zendejas made his first start since late November, scoring a stunning goal on his 28th birthday that helped Club América secure a 1-0 victory against Monterrey. He had previously missed the first four games of Liga MX in the Clausura due to a foot injury and made a brief appearance in Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup.
England
Center-back Chris Richards contributed to Crystal Palace’s victory over Brighton, ending their 12-match winning streak across all competitions.
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Left-back Antonee Robinson sat out Fulham’s 2-1 loss to Everton, marking his first absence since returning from injury in mid-December. He is anticipated to return for Wednesday’s showdown against Manchester City.
Midfielder Brenden Aaronson played 78 minutes, helping Leeds rebound to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1, maintaining a six-point buffer from the relegation zone after a prior heavy defeat to Arsenal.
Striker Haji Wright extended his goalless streak to three games during Coventry City’s 0-0 draw with Oxford. The unsettled club, which has been near the top of the second tier this season, risks losing its lead when Middlesbrough visits Sheffield United on Monday. Meanwhile, two teams have secured promotion, leaving Coventry five points ahead of third-placed Ipswich Town.
Midfielder Aidan Morris is set to start against Middlesbrough ahead of their trip to Coventry next Monday.
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Forward Patrick Agyeman made his 21st consecutive start for Derby County, despite the team’s 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town. The Rams slipped from seventh to ninth place, now two points shy of the playoff spots.
Germany
Midfielder Malik Tillman reached his 90th appearance in the Bundesliga as Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with Mönchengladbach, helping the team stay in sixth place and close to the final Champions League spot.
Mönchengladbach midfielder Gio Reyna missed his last three matches due to a muscle injury, while Joe Scally came on as a substitute in the 79th minute.
Midfielder James Sands contributed to St. Pauli’s surprise win over Stuttgart, while defender Noah Kinsley played the first half in Augsburg’s 2-0 loss to Mainz.
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Forward Damion Downs had a productive outing in a 2-0 win for Hamburg, playing the second half after joining on loan from Southampton.
Left-back John Tolkien saw action in Holstein Kiel’s 3-1 setback against Hannover, marking their third consecutive loss as they now stand just two points above the relegation playoff spots.
Netherlands
Right-back Sergiño Dest played a full match in PSV Eindhoven’s remarkable come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Groningen, extending their unbeaten streak in the Eredivisie to 16 wins since September 13, and boasting an impressive overall record of 19 wins, one loss, and two draws.
Scotland
Center-back Auston Trusty played 120 minutes as Celtic triumphed 2-1 against Dundee in the Scottish Cup round of 16, equalizing in the dying moments of the match.
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Spain
Atlético Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso has missed two consecutive games due to a muscle injury, while wingback Alex Freeman aims for a debut with Villarreal against Espanyol on Monday.
Fan Take: This news highlights the growing influence of American players in European leagues, particularly Tanner Tessman’s success in Ligue 1. As these players excel on international stages, it underscores the upward trajectory of American soccer, potentially leading to greater interest and investment in the sport back home.
