Nashville SC will be seeking to guarantee their spot in the playoffs when they go head to head with Seattle Sounders at Geodis Park on Saturday night.
Having lost both home and away meetings between the sides last year, the Sounders will look to get one over the hosts and pick up successive away wins for the first time since April.
Match preview
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Nashville were denied back-to-back league wins for the first time since winning four straight between May and June as they were held to a 1-1 draw by San Jose Earthquakes last Sunday.
In an action-packed contest at PayPal Park, 33-year-old striker Teal Bunbury broke the deadlock in five minutes after the half-time break to put the visitors in front before Matthew Hoppe netted in the 74th minute to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Gary Smith's men snapped their run of six straight league matches without a win on September 21, when they thrashed Sporting Kansas City 3-0 courtesy of goals from Fafa Picault, Hany Mukhtar and Jack Maher.
Nashville have picked up 12 wins, eight draws and lost nine of their 29 MLS matches to collect 44 points and sit seventh in the Eastern Conference table, eight points above 10th-placed DC United just outside the playoff qualification places.
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Seattle Sounders, on the other hand, kept their dreams of clinching the Western Conference crown alive as they picked up a 2-1 victory over Colorado Rapids when the sides met last Wednesday.
Leo Chu and Albert Rusnak scored either side of half time to put the visitors in a commanding lead at Dick's Sporting Goods Park before Cole Bassett pulled one back in the 80th minute.
With last week's victory, Seattle Sounders now boast the best away record in the Western Conference, having picked up 22 points from their 15 games so far.
Brian Schmetzer's men have also gone five consecutive games without defeat, picking up two wins and three draws since a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Atlanta United on August 21.
With 45 points from 30 matches, Seattle Sounders are currently third in the Western Conference table, level on points with second-placed Los Angeles FC and eight behind first-placed St Louis City, albeit with one game in hand.
Next up for the Sounders is an opposing side who won both home and away meetings between the teams last year, winning 1-0 at Lumen Field on February 28, five months before claiming a similar 1-0 victory on home turf.
Team News
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Nashville remain without the services of experienced defender Nick DePuy, who is yet to feature this year as he continues his spell on the sidelines through an Achilles tendon injury.
With 15 league goals under his belt this season, Mukhtar is currently the MLS's joint top-scorer and we expect the German forward to spearhead the visitors' attack, alongside veteran striker Bunbury.
Meanwhile, Seattle Sounders will have to cope without experienced midfielder Kelyn Rowe, who sustained a muscle injury in July's 1-0 victory against Houston Dynamo.
On the injury front, Schmetzer will be unable to call upon teenage defender Cody Baker, who has been out of action since August as he follows the concussion protocol.
Raul Ruidiaz, who has five goals in 18 league appearances this season, missed last week's trip to Colorado through injury and is also a doubt for the Sounders.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; Muyl, Davis, McCarty, Godoy; Banbury, Mukhtar
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Cissoko; Paulo, Atencio; Roldan, Rusnak, Chu; Morris
We say: Nashville SC 1-1 Seattle Sounders
Nashville have struggled for consistency in recent weeks and will need to show their mettle against a well-drilled Seattle Sounders side who are unbeaten in their last five matches. The Sounders have been solid on the road this season and we see them holding out for a share of the spoils in this one.
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