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

Orlando City could leapfrog Thursday's opponents Nashville SC with a win at the Nissan Stadium, and remain with one game in hand on their hosts.

Both sides currently make up the top four of the Eastern Conference of the MLS, and Nashville have only lost two games so far this season.

Match preview

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Nashville have the best home record in the Eastern Conference this year, remaining undefeated after 12 games on home turf, and that was continued last time out against DC United.

It was an eventful first half in Tennessee and the two sides went into half time with the scoreline at 3-2, but the home side would go on to seal the win in the final 10 minutes when substitute Alex Muyl scored twice.

A 5-2 win was the perfect way for Gary Smith's side to bounce back from only their second defeat of the season, which came just over a week ago against Inter Miami.

Nashville may have only lost twice this season, but they are the team that have drawn the most games in the Eastern Conference, 10 in total, and Smith will feel that his side could be closer to league leaders New England Revolution if they could have turned some of those draws into three points.

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Oscar Pareja's side were knocked out of the Leagues Cup in their last outing, when they hosted Mexican outfit Santos, who came away as 1-0 winners at the quarter-final stage.

Orlando's last league meeting was against a struggling Cincinnati side, but the fourth-placed team could only manage one point away from home after Nani equalised for Orlando in the second half.

That 1-1 result followed another 1-1 draw against Inter Miami, meaning that Orlando missed two opportunities to jump up to second place in the Eastern Conference, but they have another chance to go up into third this Thursday.

Former Manchester United winger Nani is the key player for Orlando, scoring nine goals and providing six assists so far this campaign, the most of any other Orlando player, and he has been involved in at least one goal in each of his last five appearances.

Nashville may have the best home record in the Eastern MLS, but Orlando have the second-best away record, and that should lead to a tight game between these two sides this week.

These teams were evenly matched last season, when they both won one and played out a draw in the three fixtures, and with their league positions close together entering this game, the result on Thursday could go either way.

Team News

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Both Nashville strikers Hany Mukhtar and Charles Sapong enjoyed their last outing by scoring three goals and providing one assist between them, and they will be looking to continue that form this Thursday.

Smith opts to play a 3-5-2 formation, and he is likely to name the same starting lineup that put five past DC United, with Randall Leal and David Romney expected to keep their place after providing an assist each in that game.

Orlando attacker Alexandre Pato has not featured for the side since April, and he will continue to be absent against Nashville as he recovers from a knee injury.

Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese kept four clean sheets in 10 games before being forced into the physio room with an abdominal injury, and Mason Stajduhar will continue between the posts for the away side.

Central midfielder Junior Urso picked up two yellow cards in Orlando's defeat to Santos, and he will serve his one-match suspension against Nashville on Thursday.

Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Romney, Anibaba, Maher; Lovitz, McCarty, Godoy, Leal, Johnston; Sapong, Mukhtar

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Stajduhar; Mas, Jansson, Schlegel, Smith; Rosell, Dezart; Michel, Pereira, Mueller; Akindele

We say: Nashville SC 1-1 Orlando City

Nashville have proven to be a tough outfit to face at the Nissan Stadium, and it is likely that Orlando will not be able to do what no other team have yet managed, which is to win away from home against the hosts.

However, that does not mean it is a given that Smith's side will win on Thursday, as they are the draw specialists in the Eastern Conference, and Orlando could capitalise upon that and take a point back home with them.