Two teams that are in the top half of the MLS Eastern Conference will do battle at GEODIS Park this weekend, as Nashville SC faces Charlotte FC.
Sitting sixth in the table with 17 points, two adrift of the visitors, the hosts will be looking to overtake Sunday's opponents, while the North Carolina-based outfit will be aiming to avoid losing three straight games in the league.
Match preview
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After back-to-back losses in their first two fixtures of the 2025 MLS season, Nashville SC found some form, claiming successive victories over Portland Timbers (2-0), Philadelphia Union (3-1) and Montreal (3-0).
However, four defeats in 11 matches have slowed their progress, causing them to remain outside the top five in the Eastern Conference standings.
Nevertheless, since their gameweek nine 3-0 defeat at the hands of Seattle Sounders, the Boys in Gold have gone unbeaten in three matches across all competitions - a run which includes two wins and a draw.
Having earned a narrow 1-0 win over Chattanooga Red Wolves in the US Open Cup to reach the last 16 of the tournament in their last outing, the home side are in fine fettle to extend their unbeaten run to four games for the first time since May 2024.
Entering this contest, BJ Callaghan's team will be banking on their impressive home form, which has seen them emerge victorious in four of their last five matches in front of their fans, with 15 goals scored and five conceded in that period.
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Charlotte, in fifth position, could rise as high as third in the Eastern Conference, provided other results go their way this weekend, with CLTFC five points adrift of leaders Columbus Crew and three behind Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati and two behind fourth-placed Inter Miami.
Although Dean Smith's team ended on the winning side in the North Carolina US Open Cup derby to get past North Carolina FC 4-1 after extra time on Thursday, the visitors come into this match with back-to-back losses in the league.
However, hopes of halting their two-game losing run are undermined by their unimpressive form away from home, having lost four of their five fixtures on the road this term.
The struggles in foreign territories this season come as no surprise for the Crown, which ended the 2024 season with two wins from their final 10 games away from home.
Aiming to avoid three consecutive defeats in the competition for the first time since September 2024, Smith's team will be banking on their offensive prowess, which has seen them notch 18 goals - a record which is joint-third best in the East.
Team News
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The situation regarding injuries is looking good for Nashville, as only a handful of players are ruled out of this fixture.
Taylor Washington is sure not to be in Smith's plans for this weekend, as he is sidelined with a knee injury, as is Maximus Ekk.
This contest will come too soon for Julian Gaines, who is still recovering from a thigh problem he suffered in late March.
Meanwhile, Charlotte has a long list of injured players, leaving Smith with a thin squad entering the contest at the weekend.
Souleymane Doumbia, Jahlane Forbes, Pep Biel and Brandon Cambridge will all sit out this match, as they are still nursing hamstring injuries.
The visitors will also have to cope with the absence of Nathan Byrne and Nimfasha Berchimas, who are being treated for neck and foot injuries respectively.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Palacios, Najar, Maher, Lovitz; Schaffelburg, Yazbeck, Tagseth, Muyl; Mukhtar, Surridge
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Malanda, Privett, Scardina, Ream; Bronicko, Westwood, Diani; Abada, Agyemang, Zaha
We say: Nashville SC 2-1 Charlotte FC
Nashville seem to have found their rhythm after a troubling spell, now unbeaten in three games, and up against a Charlotte side struggling away from home, we can only back the home team to claim a 2-1 win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
