Two U.S. men’s national team stars, Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic, returned to Serie A action with their respective clubs on Monday, but their performances were a tale of two very different fortunes. While McKennie starred in Juventus’ win, Pulisic continued his scoring drought in AC Milan’s defeat.
McKennie Leads Juventus to Victory with Early Goal
Weston McKennie was in fine form for Juventus as they secured a 2-0 victory over Genoa on Monday. The U.S. midfielder scored just 17 minutes into the match, doubling Juventus' lead after a fourth-minute opener by Brazilian defender Bremer. McKennie’s goal was crucial in helping Juventus close the gap to one point behind fourth-placed Como, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Udinese.
Despite missing a couple of chances to add to his tally, including one opportunity where the woodwork came to Genoa’s rescue, McKennie’s performance earned him man-of-the-match honors. Juventus were dominant throughout the match, and McKennie’s contribution solidified his growing influence in the team.
Pulisic Struggles as AC Milan Falls to Napoli
While McKennie was making headlines for his goal, his U.S. teammate Christian Pulisic endured another frustrating outing as AC Milan suffered a 1-0 loss to Napoli. Pulisic, who has struggled with scoring form recently, came on as a substitute in the 74th minute but couldn’t find the back of the net. His last goal for Milan came in December 2025, and he also failed to score during the recent international friendlies for the USA against Belgium and Portugal.
Napoli, starting the night in third place, capitalized on a late goal by Matteo Politano in the 79th minute. Politano fired a low shot into the net after Milan’s defense failed to clear a cross, giving Napoli a crucial victory. AC Milan pushed forward in the final minutes, but they couldn’t break through, and the defeat saw them drop to third place in Serie A standings.
Serie A Title Race Tightens After Milan’s Defeat
The loss was particularly significant for AC Milan, as it allowed Napoli to close the gap on them in the Serie A standings. Both teams were aiming for a victory to keep their title hopes alive, but Milan’s inability to convert their chances cost them dearly. Meanwhile, Inter Milan, who remain 10 points ahead, will be watching closely as the race for the Scudetto tightens.
As the Serie A season enters the final stretch, both McKennie and Pulisic will need to find consistency for their respective teams. Juventus’ victory and Milan’s defeat highlight the contrasting fortunes of these two U.S. stars in Italy’s top league.
