Nashville SC will be looking to continue their fine start to the 2023 Major League Soccer season when they play host to Atlanta United on Saturday evening.
On the other hand, the away side make the trip to Geodis Park this weekend aiming to bounce back from a disappointing cup exit in midweek.
Match preview
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Nashville secured safe passage into the last 32 of the US Open Cup thanks to a 1-0 victory over lower league opposition San Antonio on Thursday.
Despite being in the ascendancy for large spells of the contest, Gary Smith's men had to wait until the 70th minute to break the deadlock through Ethan Zubak.
Prior to that, NSC played out a 1-1 stalemate against Los Angeles FC and currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference of the MLS table, just a point clear of the chasing pack in the race for the final automatic playoff spot.
Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who are without a victory in the most recent six editions of this fixture after winning the first two clashes in 2020.
Unbeaten in seven of their last eight home matches across all competitions, Saturday's hosts will back themselves to secure another positive result in front of their fans.
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Unlike Nashville, Atlanta were unable to progress to the next phase of the US Open Cup with a 2-1 defeat against Memphis at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Gonzalo Pineda's men opened the scoring courtesy of Tyler Wolff's early strike but they were pegged back in the final minute of normal time through Phillip Goodrum, after which Nighte Pickering turned the game around in extra time.
This came off the back of a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire, which left the Five Stripes third in the Eastern Conference, two points shy of division leaders New England Revolution.
Having let in nine goals across their last three matches away from home, Saturday's visitors will need to shore things up at the back to stand any chance of picking up a first victory on the road since March 11.
Team News
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Nick DePuy is currently ruled out through a long-term Achilles tendon injury, with the Nashville man still a considerable way off making his return to action.
Randall Leal is also unavailable for the home side as he continues to battle with a knee problem which has sidelined him for each of the last nine matches.
Ethan Zubak wasted no time in announcing his return to the starting XI with a lovely strike last time out, and the 25-year-old is expected to retain his place in the lineup.
Osvaldo Alonso is out of contention for Atlanta as he faces an extended spell on the treatment table due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
First-choice goalkeeper Brad Guzan is yet to recuperate from a torn medial collateral ligament, meaning that Quentin Westberg is set to feature between the sticks once again.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Panicco; Wyke, Maher, Bauer; Muyl, Haakenson, Gregus, Anunga, Washington; Zubak, Shaffelburg
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Westberg; Gutman, Sanchez, Robinson, Lennon; Sosa, Rossetto; Araujo, Almada, Etienne; Giakoumakis
We say: Nashville SC 1-0 Atlanta United
Nashville have been poor in front of goal this term, but they currently boast the best defensive record in MLS. We are backing the hosts to narrowly edge their visitors and come away with all three points at the end of the 90 minutes.
How to watch
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