Charlotte FC will be looking to maintain their 100% home record in the new MLS campaign as they go head to head with New England Revolution on Saturday night.
The Revs, meanwhile, journey to the Bank of America Stadium seeking to secure a third win on the spin for the first time since June 2024, having edged out Atlanta United and New York City FC in their previous two outings.
Match preview
© Imago
Charlotte FC maintained their fine early-season form in the new MLS campaign as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over San Diego FC at the Bank of America Stadium last weekend.
Andres Reyes's first-half red card gave the hosts a numerical upper hand as Liel Abada, Patrick Agyemang and 24-year-old Andrew Privett all found the back of the net to fire them to a comfortable home victory.
Charlotte have now picked up three wins on the bounce, scoring six goals and keeping two clean sheets, and have won all but one of their last six outings — with a 2-0 defeat against Colorado Rapids on March 23 being the exception.
Having crashed out of the playoffs in the first round last season, Dean Smith's men have flown out of the blocks this term, picking up 19 points from their nine matches to sit top of the Eastern Conference table, level on points with second-placed FC Cincinnati.
Charlotte will be backing themselves to keep the ball rolling this weekend as they return home, where they have won each of their last nine matches, scoring 23 goals and keeping six clean sheets since a 1-0 loss against Atlanta on September 1.
© Imago
On the other hand, New England Revolution made light work of New York City FC last weekend as they picked up a 2-0 victory when the two sides met at the Gillette Stadium to secure consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Ecuador international Leonardo Campana broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time to hand the hosts a first-half lead before Ignatius Ganago struck shortly after the break to make sure of the result.
Having scraped a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United on April 12, New England Revolution have now picked up three wins from their most recent four matches — having failed to win any of their first four games to start the season.
Caleb Porter's men, who have a game in hand, have picked up 10 points from eight matches to occupy 11th place in the East but could move level with sixth-placed Nashville with a win at the Bank of America Stadium this weekend.
While the Revs will look to continue from where they left off against New York City last time out, they have struggled to grind out results on the road, where they are on a run of one win from their last 10 MLS games since the start of September.
Team News
© Imago
Charlotte will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Jahlane Forbes and Englishman Nathan Byrne, who are currently recuperating from hamstring and neck injuries respectively.
They are joined on the club's injury table by American midfielder Brandon Cambridge, who sustained a thigh injury against Los Angeles Galaxy on February 9.
Teenage striker Nimfasha Berchimas continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a severe foot injury back in October and will play no part in Sunday's clash.
Meanwhile, New England Revolution will have to cope without the services of veteran defender Andrew Farrell, who is yet to feature this season as he continues his lengthy recovery from injury.
Other than that, the Revs head into the weekend with a clean bill of health and we expect Porter to name an unchanged back three of Brayan Ceballo, Mamadou Fofana and Tanner Beason off the back of keeping a second consecutive clean sheet last time out.
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Scardina, Malanda, Privett, Ream; Westwood, Bronico; Vargas, Biel, Abada; Agyemang
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Ivacic; Ceballos, Fofana, Beason; Feingold, Yusuf, Gil, Polster, Miller; Campana, Ganago
We say: Charlotte FC 2-0 New England Revolution
After stumbling into the season, New England Revolution appear to have hit their stride and will be looking to maintain their new-found form. However, Charlotte have made the Bank of America Stadium a tough ground for any visiting side and we fancy them to make it 10 consecutive league wins in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
