Johnny Cardoso can swing Madrid derby as Malik Tillman seeks Leverkusen spark

March is a weird month in the European calendar. Momentum starts to build: January signings have, for the most part, bedded in, one round of Champions League knockouts is done, and titles and European races are beginning to take shape. Then there is an international break, which can kill momentum for some clubs.

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino has already named his March team, and his selection of Gio Reyna shows he isn't necessarily swayed by club form. It’s a nicer world when Johnny Cardoso feels a little more involved for Atletico Madrid. For a while he was a bit-part player — the one with the right physical profile but perhaps a little too technical for Diego Simeone — yet recently he has been trusted with significant minutes, anchoring the midfield.

Spain, Madrid

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