Gio Reyna was left on the bench for the second straight game as Borussia Dortmund narrowly defeated Wolfsburg 1-0.
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Dortmund win 1-0 courtesy of Reus goalGio Reyna left on bench once againUSMNT star yet to appear this season
Reyna was named on the bench for the second time this season, with the U.S. international also an unused sub in his side's defeat to PSG in the Champions League on September 19. There was hope that this time around we would see the attacker come off the bench and make his 2023-24 Bundesliga debut, but the wait goes on as he was unable to play a part in the 1-0 victory over Wolfsburg.
The 20-year-old has missed the start of the season, as well as the September international friendlies, after picking up a leg injury over the summer while on USMNT duty. With six days until Dortmund are back in action, there's now even more time for Reyna to prepare for what will surely be his first competitive minutes of the season.
Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
After a bleak first 45 minutes that saw the two sides go into the half-time break goalless, Dortmund legend Marco Reus came up big for the Black and Yellow with his second goal of the season. At 34 years old, the German has yet to slow down, putting up a massive midfield performance Saturday afternoon. Indeed, the strike proved to be the difference that earned his side all three points.
Wolfsburg failed to really trouble the hosts, with Dortmund super-sub Donyell Malen arriving in the 63rd minute to lift the tempo. Workhorse Julian Brandt nearly scored a second in stoppage time and although it was unconvincing, they got the job done.
The result marked their third win of the campaign and they have yet to fall in the Bundesliga this season.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Dortmund have struggled to look like the dominant side that nearly won the Bundesliga last campaign so far this season, with the Wolfsburg game adding to to the list of unconvincing performances. Regardless, the Black and Yellow took all three points and have their third win of the league season under their belt.
Gio Reyna was left as an unused substitute for the second straight match this week, with the USMNT star also on the bench against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
After falling out of the starting XI last campaign, Reyna struggled with injuries but still ended as Dortmund's fifth-highest scorer. His pending return is a massive positive for Edin Terzic's side.
GettyUSMNT IMPACT
Reyna's return to the pitch is obviously going to be a win for Gregg Berhalter and the USMNT, especially with two October friendlies against Germany and Ghana on the horizon. Considering the 20-year-old's last competitive match was way back in June, a 2-0 win over Canada, he's surely buzzing to get back out there and prove himself. It also presents an opportunity for Berhalter to rekindle his relationship with Reyna.
However, Gio needs game time before anything else at the moment. In a match where Dortmund held a narrow 1-0 lead to close out the second-half, he was disappointingly left unused on the bench.
Essentially, though, as he returns to fitness and the more minutes Reyna plays, the happier U.S. Soccer will be.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
One would hope that Reyna would now be in contention to get minutes against Hoffenheim on September 29 before the Black and Yellow have a midweek Champions League clash against AC Milan on October 4.