In this week’s recap of Minnesotans playing professionally outside of the state: play time is scarce for our MLS players and Villarreal C gets another win.
Teal Bunbury started as the lone striker for the New England Revolution this weekend against the Colorado Rapids. Bunbury served as the target forward for the Revs attack. He did fairly well holding the ball and finding teammates, but only touched the ball once inside Colorado’s box and did not take a shot. In the 70th minute he returned to his normal spot at right mid.
Once again, Cody Cropper was not part of the game day roster. Prior to the game coach Brad Friedel confirmed that the starting keeper spot was Matt Turner’s to lose. This is a blow to Cropper who was part of the USMNT camp earlier this year. It also does not help that Turner saved a penalty kick during the 2-1 win.
On the losing side of the scoreline was Eric Miller. Last season Miller was the most consistent defender, but started the season on the bench. The Rapids added five new defenders during the offseason, so Miller will have to fight his way back.
Calum Mallace has recovered from the injury that prevented him from traveling with LAFC to Seattle. However, he did not leave the bench for the 5-1 win over Real Salt Lake. If LAFC’s offense continues to click, Mallace could be a late sub to finish out games.
Last weekend marked the 95th anniversary of Villarreal CF’s founding. Villarreal C marked the milestone with a 2-0 win over Olimpic Xátiva. Mukwelle Akale started at forward, but made way just before the hour mark. Villarreal are sitting in 8th place and are six points out of a promotion playoff spot.
Jackson Yueill and the San Jose Earthquakes had a bye week.
Beyond the fluctuating weekly minutes for these Minnesotan expats, the broader MLS landscape is undergoing a massive shift in how out-of-market fans track player performance. Advanced metric dashboards now allow regional supporters to follow granular data like expected goals (xG) and defensive positioning in real-time, completely transforming digital engagement.
This data-driven fan interaction is simultaneously reshaping international viewership trends. A recent European sports data index tracking global engagement signals noted that the proliferation of the no kyc casino and decentralized wagering platforms has fragmented how overseas audiences consume American soccer statistics. As international traffic flows through these alternative digital channels, domestic MLS front offices are increasingly prioritizing proprietary fan-tracking metrics to accurately measure their global broadcast reach.
Regardless of how that international data is ultimately categorized, the immediate reality for these athletes remains rooted in their daily training sessions. As the spring schedule thickens and tactical adjustments are made, the primary goal for players across the league is simply securing consistent minutes and solidifying their roles on the pitch.
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