In search of a first victory in five outings, Colorado Rapids visit the Geodis Park on Thursday to square up to the challenge of Nashville SC.

The home side, on the other hand, are looking to pick up a third consecutive Major League Soccer victory and continue their recent upturn in form.

Match preview

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Nashville SC secured a win on enemy territory since June as they emphatically defeated Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 at the BC Place on Sunday.

Gary Smith's men raced to a commanding two-goal lead thanks to quickfire strikes from Randall Leal and Jack Maher before Maher grabbed his second of the game to seal the deal.

Consequently, the Tennessee-based side have moved up to fifth in the Western Conference standings albeit with still only a three-point buffer over the teams outside the playoff places.

Coming up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have lost both of the previous two meetings between the teams by a combined score of 5-1.

Having recently ended a four-game winless streak on their own patch, Thursday's hosts now set out to record back to back home victories for the first time since May.

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Colorado Rapids were left red-faced in their encounter against Philadelphia Union on Sunday, which ended in a 6-0 demolition at the Subaru Park.

Daniel Gazdag was the star of the show as he grabbed a superb hat-trick, while Julian Carranza, Cory Burke and Matthew Real also got in on the act to put Robin Fraser's men to the sword.

The Rapids remain 12th in the Western Conference table, but they have now fallen five points adrift of the last playoff place albeit having played one game more than Los Angeles Galaxy.

Currently with the worst defensive record on the road this term, Thursday's visitors will need to be wary of being on the receiving end of another thrashing away from home.

Team News

Colorado Rapids' Gustavo Vallecilla received his marching orders in the defeat to Philadelphia Union, and he is ineligible to take part on Thursday.

However, 28-year-old Bryan Acosta is available for the visitors once again having served a one-match suspension in the aforementioned game.

Aboubacar Keita and Oliver Larraz remain without an appearance this term due to knee injuries, while Dantouma Toure continues to nurse a muscle problem.

Teal Bunbury is set to sit out a fourth Nashville involvement on the bounce as the Canadian is yet to fully recuperate from a hamstring injury.

Ake Loba has not featured in over a month through injury, but the forward is drawing increasingly closer to making his return to action.

Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Romney, Maher, Miller; Washington, Davis, Godoy, Muyl; Mukhtar, Zubak, Leal

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Wilson, Esteves; Acosta, Warner; Lewis, Gutierrez, Barrios; Zardes

We say: Nashville SC 2-1 Colorado Rapids

Nashville have turned a corner of late, and they will be looking to pick up where they left off last time out, while Colorado Rapids come into this one in need of a lift following a humiliating defeat. We are backing the home side to come out on top at the end of the 90 minutes.

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