The New England Revolution can improve their playoff positioning when they head to Geodis Park for a matchup with Nashville SC on Saturday.
Both sides have already secured their place in the MLS Cup playoffs, with Nashville currently seventh in the Eastern Conference following a 0-0 draw with the Philadelphia Union last weekend, while the Revs fell short against Orlando City, losing 3-2 to move into fifth place.
Match preview
© Reuters
Another campaign in the Music City will continue beyond the regular season, but judging from their results, plenty of improvements still have to happen if they are to contend for a title.
Gary Smith's men have failed to find the back of the net in three successive fixtures, registering a total of two shots on target over that stretch and barring a pair of dazzling attacking displays to end the campaign, they will finish with their lowest total for goals scored in a 34-game regular season, netting 36 time domestically in 2023, 16 fewer than a year ago.
Their defensive shape has always been the staple of this group since entering MLS in 2020, and that has kept them afloat and above the playoff line throughout the 2023 campaign, with the Boys in Gold conceding the fewest goals in the league (29).
Nashville enter this contest knowing they will begin the post-season on the road for a second successive campaign, which may not be so bad given their current away form when compared to what they have done at home, as this team are unbeaten in four successive MLS road fixtures and without a win in four consecutive domestic outings at GEODIS Park.
Throughout the 2023 MLS campaign, the Boys in Gold have gone unbeaten in the Music City when scoring the opening goal, winning seven of eight contests this season when doing so.
If they can find a way to triumph in their final two encounters before the playoffs, Nashville would set a new club record for wins in a single regular season campaign, eclipsing the old mark of 13 set a year ago.
© Reuters
It seems like all of the off-field distractions in Greater Boston have affected New England on the field as this group head into the home stretch of the campaign with just one victory in their last nine MLS fixtures.
Amid the resignation of Bruce Arena last month following allegations of workplace misconduct, interim manager Clint Peay has struggled to get the players refocused in their quest for a home playoff game.
Throughout the campaign, they had been in the running for the Supporters' Shield, but that ship sailed a while ago, with New England squandering four points when leading in the second half since the end of Leagues Cup, while conceding in two matches beyond the 85th minute over that span to come away with nothing (1-0 loss to CF Montreal and 2-1 defeat versus the Columbus Crew).
If they are to make a run for the MLS Cup in the post-season, the Revs' final two regular-season encounters could be must-win games, as two more victories would guarantee they start the playoffs at home.
New England have struggled mightily away from home domestically all season, winning on only three occasions and without a victory in their last 11 domestic matches played outside of Gillette Stadium.
The Revs have conceded multiple goals in seven away contests in this competition, with all three of their road triumphs coming against Eastern Conference opponents.
Team News
© Reuters
The Boys in Gold could be without Shaq Moore, Lukas MacNaughton and Nick DePuy because of lower body injuries, Daniel Lovitz is eligible to return from his red card suspension and Anibal Godoy was named to the Panama roster at the CONCACAF Nations League.
Teal Bunbury led the team in shots and expected goals last Saturday with four and 0.15 respectively, Jack Maher had eight clearances and four aerial duels won, the most for Nashville in each category and Walker Zimmerman won nine possessions to go along with three interceptions, leading the Boys in Gold in both categories.
Joe Willis stopped the five Union efforts that he faced, collecting his second clean sheet in his last three contests, while Hany Mukhtar is in danger of losing his Golden Boot title from a year ago, without a goal in his last four league fixtures and four behind Denis Bouanga for the most in MLS this season.
Ian Harkes missed the previous Revs clash with a head injury, Damian Rivera was sidelined because of an issue in his right knee, while Brandon Bye and Dylan Borrero will miss the rest of the campaign after undergoing season-ending right ACL and left knee surgery, respectively.
Against Orlando City last week, Henry Kessler saw the field for the first time since injuring his right hamstring on April 8, replacing Nacho Gil to begin the second half, while Tomas Chancalay made his eighth successive start for the first team.
Carles Gil had the only two Revs' goals in the defeat to the Lions, setting a new career high in a single MLS campaign (11), DeJuan Jones picked up an assist for the third game running and Mark-Anthony Kaye collected his second assist in his last three contests.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Lovitz, Zimmerman, Bauer, Maher; Picault, Davis, McCarty; Leal; Mukhtar, Bunbury
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Edwards; Jones, Kessler, Romney, Polster; Kaye, McNamara; N. Gil, C. Gil, Chancalay; Wood
We say: Nashville SC 1-0 New England Revolution
The one thing Nashville have always known how to do well is defend, and for as poor as they have been in front of goal, the Boys in Gold have been airtight defensively at home.
The Revs have failed to score in three of their five encounters with Nashville, scoring only once in two previous visits to the Music City, and we expect them to have a tough time getting through the home team's backline on Saturday.
How to watch
You can watch Nashville SC vs. New England Revolution and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
