Preview: Nashville SC vs. Toronto - prediction, team news, lineups

Nashville SC play host to Toronto at the Nissan Stadium on Thursday looking to record a third home victory on the bounce.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be keen to arrest their current slump in form, which has seen them fail to win any of their last four matches.

Match preview

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Nashville SC fell to a 2-0 defeat versus New York Red Bulls when the sides faced off at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday.

Goals in either half from Fabio and Kyle Duncan brought an end to the seven-game unbeaten streak Gary Smith's men were on.

However, Thursday's hosts picked up only 11 points from a possible 21 in the course of that run and are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference of the MLS.

Nine of those 11 points have come in home matches, so they will fancy themselves to pick up another positive result against a Toronto side who they got the better of in the sides' only previous meeting back in November.

It finished 1-0 on that occasion, with Nashville advancing into the second round of the playoffs, where they crashed out against Columbus Crew.

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Toronto were left empty-handed for the third consecutive match following a 3-2 loss at the hands of Orlando City SC on Sunday.

Chris Armas's men showed great resolve in the first half to claw their way back into the contest after going two goals down, but they were unable to find a response to Junior Urso's 84th-minute winner.

The Reds remain 12th in the Eastern Conference, one point away from the bottom of the table having played a game more.

If results are to improve, fixing a defensive unit that has conceded the second-most goals in the division so far would be a step in the right direction.

Team News

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Nashville's Brian Anunga has made only one appearance this term and is set to miss a seventh straight game due to a knee problem.

He is joined on the sidelines by Jhonder Cadiz, who recently tested positive for COVID-19 while on duty with the Venezuela national team at the ongoing Copa America.

Ifunanyachi Achara is unavailable for the away side as the 23-year-old forward continues to nurse a long-term knee injury.

The duo of Erickson Gallardo and Yeferson Soteldo are both ruled out for Toronto through groin and thigh injuries respectively.

Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Lovitz, Romney, Zimmerman, Johnston; Muyl, LaGrassa, McCarty, Leal; Sapong, Mukhtar

Toronto possible starting lineup:
Westberg; Lawrence, Mavinga, Gonzalez, Auro; Bradley, Delgado, Pozuelo; Laryea, Osorio, Akinola

We say: Nashville SC 2-1 Toronto

The home side have a chance to heap more misery on their struggling visitors, who will be keen to avoid another defeat. We are anticipating a close contest with the hosts coming out victorious by a narrow margin.