da bet7k: Gio Reyna returned to the Borussia Dortmund squad on Tuesday, but he did not return to the field as his side fell to Paris Saint-Germain.
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Dortmund fall to PSGReyna on bench
First time in squad this season
Reyna was named to the bench by Edin Terzic for Tuesday's Champions League opener, but the U.S. men's national team star did not feature as Dortmund fell 2-0 at the Parc des Princes.
The 20-year-old midfielder had missed the start of the season for Dortmund, as well as the USMNT's September friendlies, while recovering from an injury suffered in the Nations League final earlier this summer.
His inevitable return is good news for Dortmund, who benefitted from his creativity so often last season, as well as the USMNT, although everyone will have to wait to see him actually return to the field after several months of recovery.
@GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
After a tight first half, everything fell apart for Dortmund in the second, and it happened rather quickly.
Just moments into the second 45, Dortmund conceded a penalty as Nicklas Sule was called for a fairly harsh handball. Mbappe made no mistake from the spot, giving the hosts a crucial opening goal for the 1-0 lead.
That lead became 2-0 in the 58th minute thanks to a fantastic bit of individual magic from Achraf Hakimi. The PSG fullback weaved through the box before finishing at the far post, sealing all three points for PSG as they jump atop this Group of Death.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Reyna's impending return will be good news for Dortmund, who have patiently waited for the midfielder to get healthy. It doesn't seem that he's 90-minutes fit just yet, but it'll be interesting to see where he stands when he is.
Last season, Reyna fell out of the XI but was fantastic as a supersub. He was Dortmund's fifth-leading goalscorer despite playing just over 600 minutes in total. If he can replicate that over a full season, Dortmund will have a superstar on their hands.
Reyna's biggest enemy, though, is his fitness, and it has been for some time. His break out will depend on him staying healthy, which he hasn't proven he can do throughout his career. He's already missed the start of this season, but there's plenty of time for the American to get back into the XI and truly make his mark once this injury is fully behind him.
Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT
The USMNT will also be keeping a close eye on Reyna's fitness, especially with two key friendlies coming up in October.
The U.S. will face Germany and Ghana in those two matches, giving them big tests in the buildup to next summer's Copa America. After topping Uzbekistan and Oman in September, the October friendlies will be a better chance for the U.S. to get a look at high-quality opponents before their battles with South America's best next summer.
Reyna, ideally, will be a part of that Copa America squad, but there's much to figure out before that. The first priority, of course, will be rebuilding the relationship with Gregg Berhalter, with those two due for a sitdown after this past winter's mess.
The midfielder, though, will also need to prove he's physically ready to rejoin the team, which he'll have a few chances to do in the coming weeks before Berhalter names his squad.
@GettyWHAT COMES NEXT?
Dortmund will return home for their next match as they host Wolfsburg in Bundesliga play on Saturday.
Their next Champions League match will come on October 4 when Reyna and Dortmund host his USMNT teammates Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah as Milan come to Germany.