Nashville SC and Atlanta United square off in MLS on Saturday with both teams looking to make moves up the Eastern Conference standings.
The two sides currently occupy 10th and 12th place respectively, leaving them at risk of being cut adrift of the top seven.
Match preview
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Having started the season with just one win in nine matches, supporters of Nashville could be forgiven for becoming increasingly pessimistic about their campaign.
Since then, though, two victories have been posted in three outings to catapult them into 10th spot, only out of the Final Series playoff spots on goal difference.
Gary Smith will feel encouraged with triumphs that have been recorded against Montreal and Toronto, with six goals being scored in the process.
Each of Nashville's three successes in MLS this campaign have come from home fixtures, with just one defeat being posted in eight outings.
However, no team in the Eastern Conference has played more home matches than Nashville, with a total of just four away encounters being played thus far where they have accumulated just the one point.
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In sharp contrast to their upcoming opponents, Atlanta United started the campaign in positive fashion, picking up three wins from five games.
From April 7 onwards, though, Gonzalo Pineda's side have failed to emerge victorious in MLS, a run that has now reached seven outings.
The last three games have ended in defeat, although losing 1-0 to a Cincinnati FC side that were recording their fifth victory in succession was hardly a bad effort.
Atlanta's away record also leaves a lot to be desired, with only two points and one goal coming from their five such fixtures in 2024.
Team News
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Smith appears likely to make several changes to his Nashville side with three of his substitutes delivering a goal or assist against Toronto.
Shaq Moore, Tyler Boyd and Teal Bunbury could all be rewarded with starting roles, with Alex Muyl and Dru Yearwood, who is suspended, among those who may drop out.
With Thiago Almada having suffered a calf injury last time out, Xande Silva looks likely to be handed a start in the final third.
Bartosz Slisz and Giorgos Giakoumakis are also serving a suspension, with Tristan Muyumba and Jamal Thiare in line to come into the team.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Bauer, Zimmermann, Maher; Moore, Boyd, Godoy, Davis, Shaffelburg; Mukhtar, Surridge
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Cobb, Abram, Wiley; Muyumba, McCarty, Fortune; Lobjanidze, Thiare, Silva
We say: Nashville SC 3-1 Atlanta United
Despite the close proximity in the table, these two teams have been in contrasting form of late. With Nashville on an upward curve and with home advantage, we are backing them to come through this contest in relatively convincing fashion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
