Philadelphia Union left back Matthew Real started off the 2021 campaign with an eventful appearance in the team’s first ever Concacaf Champions League and ended it not even being in the 18 with 11 teammates in Covid-19 protocol.
Real came off the bench in the game against Saprissa in Costa Rica in April and earned a yellow card for a flying tackle in what ended up being a tight 1-0 win for the Union. He followed that up with two appearances off the bench in the quarterfinals against Atlanta United but was shown a yellow in the second leg that earned him a suspension for the first semifinal match.