Johnny Cardoso will seek his first trophy lift as an Atletico Madrid player on Saturday.
Cardoso and his Atletico Madrid teammates will take on Pellegrino Matarazzo‘s Real Sociedad squad in the Copa Del Rey Final in Seville. Atletico Madrid have hit a worrying run in La Liga play but remain alive for a first trophy since winning La Liga in 2020-21.
Cardoso has recently became available once again for Diego Simeone’s men after missing out since March 22. The American midfielder recently made a late cameo off the bench on Tuesday as Atletico Madrid edged Spanish rivals Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
Cardoso is seeking minutes before this summer’s FIFA World Cup and will need to deliver a strong run to force his way back into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. It remains to be seen whether or not Simeone will start him on Saturday, but it’s likely he will play some role in a crucial cup final.
“I’m very well, really,” Cardoso said about his fitness at Copa Del Rey Media Day on Thursday. “Those are things the coach decides, but we have a lot of confidence in all the players, because they all have a lot of quality to contribute to the team, whether as starters or from the bench. I have the mindset of being able to help the team for 90 minutes or for one minute.”
As for Matarazzo, he will aim to lift his first trophy as a manager after winning 10 of his opening 18 matches in charge of Real Sociedad. Real Sociedad last won the Copa Del Rey in 2020 and will be seeking its fourth domestic cup in club history.
Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad might be 15 points apart in the La Liga table, but there’s not tons separating them heading into a thrilling final.
In England, Haji Wright and Coventry City will seek to clinch Premier League promotion. Tyler Adams and AFC Bournemouth visit Newcastle United in Premier League play while Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Brentford.
In Italy, Weston McKennie and Juventus take on Bologna in Serie A play. Christian Pulisic and AC Milan face off with Hellas Verona.
In Germany, Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen face off with Noahkai Banks and Augsburg. Joe Scally, Gio Reyna and Borussia Moenchengladbach take on Lennard Maloney.
In France, Folarin Balogun and Monaco host Auxerre seeking a bounce-back Ligue 1 result. Tanner Tessmann and Lyon visit PSG in the match of the weekend.
Elsewhere, Auston Trusty and Celtic take on St. Mirren in the Scottish Cup Final. Donovan Pines and Grazer AK host Ried in Austrian league play. Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split take on Slaven. Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo host Genk in Belgian First Division action. Danny Leyva and Necaxa face a stern test against Tigres.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Tyler Adams and AFC Bournemouth visit Newcastle United on Saturday.
Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Brentford on Saturday.
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace host West Ham United on Monday.
Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Wolves on Saturday.
EFL Championship
Haji Wright and Coventry City visit Blackburn Rovers on Friday.
George Campbell, Daryl Dike and West Bromwich Albion visit Preston North End on Saturday.
Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough visit Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Charlie Kelman and Charlton Athletic visit Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Patrick Agyemang is OUT FOR SEASON (Achilles Injury) for Derby County.
League One
Lynden Gooch and Huddersfield Town visit Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson and Cheltenham Town host Newport County on Saturday.
WSL
The WSL is off until the weekend of April 24-26.
Spain
Copa Del Rey Final
Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid face Real Sociedad on Saturday.
La Liga
Alex Freeman and Villarreal are off until April 23.
Segunda Liga
Konrad De La Fuente and AD Ceuta visit Real Zaragoza on Saturday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen host Noahkai Banks and Augsburg on Saturday.
Joe Scally, Gio Reyna and Borussia Moenchengladbach host Lennard Maloney and Mainz on Sunday.
Kristoffer Lund and FC Koln visit St. Pauli on Friday.
Cole Campbell and Hoffenheim host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Damion Downs and Hamburg visit Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg visit Union Berlin on Saturday.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt host RB Leipzig on Saturday.
James Sands is OUT FOR SEASON for St. Pauli.
2. Bundesliga
Mael Corboz and Arminia Bielefeld host Nuremberg on Saturday.
Maxi Dietz, Julian Green and Greuther Furth host Darmstadt on Sunday.
Johan Gomez and Eintracht Braunschweig host John Brooks and Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
John Tolkin and Holstein Kiel host Kaiserslautern on Friday.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd and Waldhof Mannheim visit Wehen Wiesbaden on Sunday.
Mason Toye and Ingolstadt host Osnabruck on Saturday.
Italy
Serie A
Christian Pulisic and AC Milan visit Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Weston McKennie and Juventus host Bologna on Sunday.
Yunus Musah and Atalanta visit Roma on Saturday.
Ben Cremaschi is OUT FOR SEASON (Meniscus Injury) for Parma.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio and Venezia visit Bari on Saturday.
Jonathan Klinsmann and Cesena visit Palermo on Saturday.
Andrija Novakovich and Reggiana visit Padova on Sunday.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun and Monaco host Auxerre on Sunday.
Tim Weah and Marseille visit Lorient on Saturday.
Tanner Tessmann and Lyon visit PSG on Sunday.
Mark McKenzie and Toulouse visit Lens on Friday.
Division 1 Feminine
The Division 1 Feminine is off until April 22.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Ricardo Pepi and PSV are off until April 23.
Taylor Booth and FC Twente are off until April 25.
Sergino Dest is OUT (Injury) for PSV.
Scotland
Cup Final
Auston Trusty and Celtic face St. Mirren on Sunday.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is OUT (Achilles injury).
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Jordan Pefok and Tondela visit FC Porto on Sunday.
Belgium
First Division A
Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo host Genk on Saturday.
Marlon Fossey is OUT (Injury) for Standard Liege.
Greece
Super League
Erik Palmer-Brown is OUT (Ankle Injury) for Panathinaikos.
Denmark
Superliagen
Matthew Hoppe and Sonderjyske visit Gavin Beavers and Brondby on Friday.
Jonathan Amon and Vejle host FC Kobenhaven on Sunday.
1. Division
Neil Pierre and Lyngby host Hvidovre on Saturday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello, Sam Adineran and LASK host Sturm Graz on Sunday.
Donovan Pines and Grazer AK host Ried on Friday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas and Hajduk Split visit Slaven on Friday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Danny Leyva and Necaxa host Tigres on Friday.
Alex Zendejas and Club America host Toluca on Saturday.