The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 field is set with four U.S. men’s national team players remaining in the competition.
Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tillman, and Gio Reyna will all prepare for Round of 16 involvement next February after advancing with their respective clubs. Dest, Pepi and Tillman played a vital role as PSV finished second in Group B on Tuesday while Reyna and Borussia Dortmund topped Group F on Wednesday.
U.S. youth national team goalkeeper Diego Kochen is also part of Barcelona’s Champions League roster, but has yet to earn his senior debut for the Spanish club.
Dest started and logged 90 minutes in five of PSV’s six group stage matches this fall. The U.S. men’s national team full back did not start in Tuesday’s group stage finale vs. Arsenal, but played 16 minutes off the bench.
Tillman started in three of PSV’s matches, registering two assists over that span. Both of his assists came in group stage draws, a 2-2 result vs. Sevilla and a 1-1 tie with Lens.
Pepi’s lone group stage start came on Tuesday, with the American forward assisting once in a 1-1 draw with Gunners. The 20-year-old also came off the bench to score the winning goal in a 3-2 Matchday 5 triumph over Sevilla.
Reyna only logged 20 combined minutes in two substitute group stage appearances. The 21-year-old recently came off the bench in Dortmund’s 1-1 draw with PSG on Wednesday.
All four players will learn their Round of 16 opponents on Monday’s Round of 16 draw in Switzerland.
The Round of 16 first legs will take place on February 13-14 and 20-21. The second legs will occur on March 5-6 and 12-13.
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