Nashville SC will head into this weekend's round of Major League Soccer games, pitted against FC Cincinnati, sitting just one point shy of the playoff spots and aiming to secure their place despite a turbulent season.
The hosts will need to be at their best to overcome their visitors, who have already secured their playoff spot and are now vying for further success.
Match preview
Nashville SC enter this match with every point crucial for their playoff bid, currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 29 matches and just one point away from a potential playoff berth, heightening the pressure.
With only a handful of games left in the regular season, Nashville must find consistency to close the gap on teams like DC United and Philadelphia Union, who sit just ahead of them in the table.
The hosts come into this fixture buoyed by a crucial 1-0 home win against Chicago Fire and a 2-0 away triumph at Atlanta United, marking their first back-to-back victories after a challenging stretch of five consecutive losses, which has reinvigorated their playoff hopes.
Key to their revival has been tightening up defensively, as they managed to keep clean sheets in both of their recent wins, something they will need to replicate against a high-scoring Cincinnati side.
Before their recent upswing, Nashville endured a challenging stretch marked by a 3-0 away loss to Orlando City, a 2-0 home defeat against Austin FC and another 3-0 loss to Philadelphia Union, which exposed their defensive frailties, but their last two victories suggest they may have turned a corner just in time.
FC Cincinnati enter this weekend's clash in second place in the Eastern Conference, with 55 points from 29 matches, including 17 wins, four draws, and eight losses and a goal difference of 50 scored and 37 conceded.
Having secured their playoff spot, Cincinnati now aim to clinch the Supporters' Shield, though they face an eight-point gap to league leaders Inter Miami.
FC Cincy's recent form has been mixed, with a 2-1 away win at Minnesota United and a 0-0 home draw with Columbus Crew, following a dominant 4-1 home victory over Montreal, but they also experienced a 2-0 loss to Inter Miami and a 3-1 defeat to New York Red Bulls.
The Orange and Blue's record against Nashville SC has been challenging, with only two MLS victories, including one away win, alongside two draws and three losses, their last triumph coming last season, which could provide a psychological boost as they seek to build on recent successes and assert dominance over a Nashville side plagued by inconsistency.
Cincinnati have won three of their last five away matches, though recent losses to New York Red Bulls and Inter Miami might raise concerns as they prepare for this fixture; securing key victories on the road will be vital for maintaining their high conference position and pushing for the Supporters' Shield.
Team News
Nashville SC will be missing Tyler Boyd, Randall Leal and Lukas MacNaughton due to knee, hip and ankle injuries, respectively.
Additionally, Sean Davis, Jacob Shaffelburg and Dru Yearwood are all listed as questionable, with knee and lower body issues potentially affecting their availability for the match.
Cincinnati will be without Nick Hagglund, Isaiah Foster, Alec Kann and Matt Miazga due to leg, knee and hip injuries.
Luciano Acosta has been FC Cincy's most influential player this season, with 11 goals and 9 assists so far. His creativity and ability to impact games make him a constant threat, and he will undoubtedly be one of the key figures to watch in this matchup.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; Godoy, Anunga; Muyi, Mukhtar, Surridge; Bunbury
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Awaziem, Robinson, Murphy; Yedlin, Nwobodo, Bucha, Orellano; Acosta, Kelsy; Kubo
We say: Nashville SC 1-3 FC Cincinnati
The match is likely to be closely contested with Cincinnati's stronger attacking form possibly giving them an edge despite their defensive issue even though the hosts are expected to put up a resolute resistance to defend their run. FC Cincy's goal threat should be more than enough to secure the win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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