Gianluca Busio and Venezia moved one step closer to sealing a return to Serie A next season.
Busio started and played 90 minutes on Saturday as Giovanni Stroppa’s side downed Empoli 2-0, staying three points clear atop the league table. The American midfielder has continued to rack up the minutes for Venezia this spring, delivering his latest impressive shift on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Andrea Adorante and Issa Doumbia propelled the hosts to their 23rd league victory of the campaign.
Busio completed 93% of his passes (92/99) while also winning four duels and making two tackles. The 23-year-old has now made 36 appearances for Venezia this season, remaining as one of the more consistent midfielders in the league.
Automatic promotion could be sealed for Venezia as soon as Friday when they travel to last-place Spezia in their penultimate match of the season. Venezia are three points clear of second-place Monza and third-place Frosinone, with only the top-two earning automatic spots into Italy’s top-flight.
Should Venezia not get the job done next week, they will return home for a season finale showdown against Palermo on May 8.
In England, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace suffered a road loss to Liverpool. George Campbell and West Bromwich Albion clinched league safety on Saturday after a goal-less draw with Ipswich Town. Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Manchester United earned a road point at Tottenham.
In Germany, Joe Scally made his 150th Bundesliga appearance for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a goalless draw with Wolfsburg. Malik Tillman came off the bench in Bayer Leverkusen’s road win over FC Koln. Mathis Albert made his first-team debut for Borussia Dortmund, becoming the youngest American player to debut in the Bundesliga.
In Spain, Alex Freeman made his first start for Villarreal. Johnny Cardoso featured off the bench in Atletico Madrid’s victory over Athletic Bilbao.
In France, Mark McKenzie returned to action for Toulouse in a goal-less draw with Folarin Balogun and Monaco. Tanner Tessmann featured off the bench in Lyon’s home win over Auxerre.
Elsewhere, Alex Zendejas started in Club America’s loss to Atlas. Bryan Reynolds played 90 minutes in Westerlo’s loss to Standard Liege. Marlon Fossey returned for Standard Liege in Belgian league play. Neil Pierre scored once in Lyngby’s league victory. Donovan Pines played in Grazer’s road loss to Wolfsberger. George Bello returned to LASK’s starting lineup in a lopsided road win over Hartberg. Matthew Hoppe scored his ninth goal of the season in Sonderjyske’s shutout victory over Brondby.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
Europe
UEFA Women’s Champions League
Emily Fox started and played 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 2-1 first leg win over Lyon on Sunday.
Lindsey Heaps, Korbin Shrader both started and played 90 minutes for Lyon.
Lily Yohannes started, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 66 minutes for Lyon.
England
Premier League
Chris Richards started and played 90 minutes in Crystal Palace’s 3-1 loss to Liverpool on Saturday.
Antonee Robinson came off the bench and played nine minutes in Fulham’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
FA Cup Semifinals
Brenden Aaronson started and played 86 minutes in Leeds United’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Sunday.
EFL Championship
George Campbell started and played 90 minutes in West Bromwich Albion’s 0-0 draw with Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Daryl Dike started and played 71 minutes for West Brom.
Aidan Morris started and played 90 minutes in Middlesbrough’s 5-1 win over Watford on Saturday.
Charlie Kelman started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 83 minutes in Charlton Athletic’s 2-1 win over Hull City on Saturday.
Haji Wright started and played 71 minutes in Coventry City’s 3-1 win over Wrexham on Sunday.
Patrick Agyemang is OUT FOR SEASON (Achilles Injury) for Derby County.
League One
Lynden Gooch did not dress in Huddersfield Town’s 4-1 loss to Mansfield Town on Saturday.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson started and played 90 minutes in Cheltenham Town’s 4-0 loss to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
WSL
Phallon Tullis-Joyce started, made FIVE SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Tottenham on Sunday.
Alyssa Thompson started, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 61 minutes in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Everton on Sunday.
Naomi Girma did not dress for Chelsea.
Sam Coffey did not dress in Manchester City’s 3-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Johnny Cardoso came off the bench and played 32 minutes in Atletico Madrid’s 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Alex Freeman started and played 90 minutes in Villarreal’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo‘s Real Sociedad drew Rayo Vallecano 3-3 on Sunday.
Segunda Liga
Konrad De La Fuente came off the bench and played 45 minutes in AD Ceuta’s 0-0 draw with Racing Santander on Sunday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Joe Scally started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach’s 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg on Saturday.
Gio Reyna came off the bench and played 13 minutes for Gladbach.
Kevin Paredes came off the bench and played seven minutes for Wolfsburg.
Malik Tillman came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 win over FC Koln on Saturday.
Kristoffer Lund started and played 72 minutes for FC Koln.
Noahkai Banks did not dress in Augsburg’s 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Timmy Chandler did not dress for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Lennard Maloney came off the bench and played 11 minutes in Mainz’s 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Cole Campbell came off the bench and played four minutes in Hoffenheim’s 2-1 win over Hamburg on Saturday.
Damion Downs came off the bench and played two minutes for Hamburg.
Mathis Albert came off the bench and played three minutes in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-0 win over Freiburg on Sunday.
James Sands is OUT FOR SEASON for St. Pauli.
2. Bundesliga
Mael Corboz started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Arminia Bielefeld’s 3-2 win over Preussen Munster on Saturday.
Maxi Dietz started and played 57 minutes in Greuther Furth’s 2-1 loss to Bochum on Sunday.
Julian Green came off the bench and played 33 minutes for Greuther Furth.
Johan Gomez started and played 77 minutes in Eintracht Braunschweig’s 2-0 win over Kaiserslautern on Friday.
John Brooks did not dress in Hertha Berlin’s 1-0 loss to Holstein Kiel on Saturday.
John Tolkin is OUT (Injury) for Holstein Kiel.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd started and played 90 minutes in Waldhof Mannheim’s 2-2 draw with FC Schweinfurt on Saturday.
Mason Toye did not dress in Ingolstadt’s 3-0 win over Hoffenheim II on Saturday.
Italy
Serie A
Weston McKennie started and played 90 minutes in Juventus’ 0-0 draw with AC Milan on Sunday.
Christian Pulisic started and played 62 minutes for AC Milan.
Yunus Musah dressed but did not play in Atalanta’s 3-2 loss to Cagliari on Monday.
Ben Cremaschi is OUT FOR SEASON (Meniscus Injury) for Parma.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio started and played 90 minutes in Venezia’s 2-0 win over Empoli on Saturday.
Andrija Novakovich dressed but did not play in Reggiana’s 1-1 draw with Palermo on Saturday.
Jonathan Klinsmann is OUT FOR SEASON (Neck Injury) for Cesena.
France
Ligue 1
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Toulouse’s 2-2 draw with Monaco on Saturday.
Folarin Balogun started and played 84 minutes for Monaco.
Tim Weah started and played 90 minutes in Marseille’s 1-1 draw with Nice on Sunday.
Tanner Tessmann came off the bench and played 56 minutes in Lyon’s 3-2 win over Auxerre on Saturday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Taylor Booth dressed but did not play in FC Twente’s 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen on Saturday.
Ricardo Pepi and PSV are off until May 2
Sergino Dest is OUT (Injury) for PSV.
Scotland
Premiership
Auston Trusty started and played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 3-1 win over Falkirk on Saturday.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is OUT (Achilles injury).
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Jordan Pefok dressed but did not play in Tondela’s 2-0 loss to Nacional on Saturday.
Belgium
First Division A
Bryan Reynolds started and played 90 minutes in Westerlo’s 4-2 loss to Royal Antwerp on Saturday.
Marlon Fossey started and played 45 minutes in Standard Liege’s 1-1 draw with Genk on Saturday.
Greece
Super League
Erik Palmer-Brown is OUT (Ankle Injury) for Panathinaikos.
Denmark
Superliagen
Matthew Hoppe started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 70 minutes in Sonderjyske’s 3-0 win over Brondby on Sunday.
Gavin Beavers dressed but did not play for Brondby.
Jonathan Amon dressed but did not play in Vejle’s 3-0 loss to FC København on Monday.
1. Division
Neil Pierre started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 64 minutes in Lyngby’s 5-0 win over Esbjerg on Friday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello started and played 87 minutes in LASK’s 5-1 win over Hartberg on Sunday.
Sam Adineran did not dress (Suspension) for LASK.
Donovan Pines started and played 90 minutes in Grazer AK’s 1-0 loss to Wolfsberger on Saturday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas started and played 90 minutes in Hajduk Split’s 0-0 draw with Rijeka on Sunday.
Mexico
Liga MX
Danny Leyva started and played 90 minutes in Necaxa’s 4-1 loss to Cruz Azul on Sunday.
Alex Zendejas started and played 72 minutes in Club America’s 1-0 loss to Atlas on Saturday.
JR,
” I hope Reynolds is ahead of those two at this point. ”
That’s not saying much. James Sands can play right back. If you are talking about today, I would have rather capped Richie Ledezma except Richie jumped ship.
Whatever Bryan is, he’s not in the USMNT sensor array. I know this because as generous as Pochettino has been about handing out caps, Reynolds has been shut out.
He is in the middle of getting settled and comfortable with Westerlo and still has a lot to learn. I see no reason to question his exclusion.
As he develops and gets closer to his potential hopefully, he moves on to a better, more competitive situation and at that point the USMNT can look at him
In the American’s not abroad category.
-Turner is regaining his shot stopping form. 2nd in league in saves, first by over 2g in goals prevented.
-Arfsten still hot, 5 goal contributions in 5 matches 3g 2a
-Miles Robinson missed both games last week but is back doing individual work.
-Tim Ream also out.
-Luna was just ok, looked like 3 games in 8 days might be weighing on him.
-Roldan is in concussion protocol
-Berhalter was solid connecting from deep midfield, created a couple chances and forced a save from Steffen
*Not a great week for the MLS contingent
-Youth to watch 17 yr Left footed CB Andrew Chirila received rave reviews for his 90 minutes against Red Bulls. His older brother Stefan represented Romania’s U19s so maybe Andrew will also go that direction. Both were originally with Philadelphia.
-Cavan Sullivan got a rare start against Columbus. Crew had most of the ball in the first half and Arfsten was easily getting behind the LB so Cavan had no support in build up. Union, Cavan included, never really troubled Schulte beyond two shots from distance. You couldn’t say Sullivan was a bright spot but he wasn’t nearly as dim as some of the other attackers. He’s played out of position as a LM. Continue be confused how Brad is still in charge other than the roster is lacking.
Dest has been out and Robinson has not seen large minutes as of late and when he has started looked only mediocre at best. Not to mention the GK situation, this team better be ready to score some goals in the WC because I could see them giving up quite a few. Good thing Pulisic is on fire, oh wait he has not scored yet in 2026.
Think of Dest. Jedi and Pulisic as being rested for the World Cup.
I happened to seed the Vallecano–Sociedad game and it was a wild one. I think it was Vallecano up 2-1 when it looked like Sociedad scored the tying goal, but after a long video review, they took it away, even though on multiples replay reviews on TV it looked good to me. It was a Spanish language broadcast, so I don’t know what happened, but right after that video review they came back to Vallecano having a penalty kick, so over a couple of minutes it went from 2-2 to 3-1. Sociedad came back, first fairly early in the 2nd half and then with only a couple of minutes left. The Juventus–Milan game was interesting for a couple of reasons. Although goalless, it was full of action. Milan’s defensive approach seemed to be knock Juventus players over whenever given the chance. Early on Wes McKennie was running into the Milan third, passed the ball off and was then hit with a full on body block. It was worrisome because he was down for several minutes, but he was able to return and play the rest of the game. Later on Modric for Milan and a Juve player I couldn’t see who, went up for a header and both missed the ball, but not the other’s head. Ir was one of the worst collisions I have ever seen. Modric had to leave the game and immediately put an ice pack on the side of his forehead. He was clearly suffering. Both were down for at least 5 minutes, but the Juve player was finally able to return. Oh, and Juve did score in the first half, but it was taken away for offsides after VAR.
Thuram was way offside not sure how the AR didn’t have his flag up right away.
Hoppe has quietly had a nice season in Denmark.
Didn’t see it coming to be honest.
Hoppe was decent for San Jose when on loan (beat out Cowell for starting spot). However, 4 of his 10 goals came against lower division opponents in Cup play.
Have no idea with Dest being out, why we didn’t give Reynolds another look?
Striker 91
“why we didn’t give Reynolds another look?”
Why would you? Everything about him says mediocre.
He’s a poor man’s Joe Sally and Scally probably does not make the World Cup. That said if Dest, Scally, Alex Freeman, Weah, and Weston all of whom can play right back come up hurt, I’m sure Bryan is on the 35 man provisional list and will get called up but maybe not before DeJuan Jones, Tolkin, or Marlon Fossey.
Bryan is a solid, primarily defensive right back for a mid table team in a league that is inferior to the Eredivisie.
Westerlo is clearly inferior to PSV, to Gladbach in the Bundesliga and Villareal in La Liga
Considering Tolkin is out with an MCL (optimistically back by June) and Jones is out with an Achilles until 2027, I hope Reynolds is ahead of those two at this point. Fossey has also been out with a hamstring injury since Feb. after missing Nov, Dec, Jan with a muscle tear. So despite not having a cap since 2023 GC, Reynolds might be closer than we think. Of course even without Dest there is still four you named ahead of him and Poch even used MRob out there once (of course he’s hurt too). Poch would probably bring back Musah at RB before Reynolds.
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I might have misunderstood your comment, but Bryan’s best attribute is getting forward not being defensive in my opinion anyway.