Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Major League Soccer clash between Philadelphia Union and Nashville SC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Off the back of a much-needed victory last time out, Philadelphia Union entertain the challenge of Nashville SC at Subaru Park on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the visitors head to Chesterfield seeking to end a barren run of results which has seen them lose each of their last five matches.
Match preview
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Philadelphia Union ended a run of 10 matches without a win in grand style courtesy of an emphatic 5-1 triumph against New England Revolution.
Tai Baribo was the star of the show for Jim Curtin‘s men as he grabbed a hat-trick and was joined on the score sheet by Jakob Glesnes and Quinn Sullivan.
As a result, The U have moved up to 14th place in the Eastern Conference of the MLS table and are now just three points adrift of playoff contention.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have managed just one win in the last eight editions of this fixture, losing five of the other seven encounters.
Fresh from picking up a rare home triumph, Sunday’s hosts will be looking to secure consecutive wins in front of their fans for the first time since September.
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Nashville came away empty-handed from the fifth straight game following a 3-0 thrashing against Orlando City SC at Geodis Park on Thursday.
Rumba Munthali‘s men went behind to Cesar Araujo‘s opener and had their woes compounded by Alex Muyl‘s own goal before Ramiro Enrique sealed the deal nine minutes from time.
With 26 points on the board from 24 matches so far, The Boys in Gold sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, one point outside the last playoff spot.
Having lost each of their last three outings on the road by a combined score of 8-2, it is safe to safe to say that Sunday’s visitors have work to do at both ends of the pitch if they are to avoid yet another away defeat this weekend.
Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:
Nashville SC Major League Soccer form:
Team News
Long-term absentee Isaiah LeFlore is still a considerable way off making his return to action for Philadelphia Union.
Tai Baribo has found the back of the net four times in three matches since returning from a brief injury layoff, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Julian Gaines misses out for Nashville due to an ankle problem while Anibal Godoy continues to nurse a niggling muscle injury.
The away side will also be without Randall Leal and Lukas MacNaughton who is still recuperating having recently undergone surgery.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; Martinez, Bedoya, Flach; Gazdag, Uhre, Baribo
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Bauer, Maher, Lovitz; Anunga, Davis; Muyl, Mukhtar, Shaffelburg; Bunbury
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-2 Nashville SC
Only Inter Miami have seen their matches produce more goals than Philadelphia Union this term and we could be in for another goalfest this weekend. That said, we can also see the teams cancelling each other out to settle for a point apiece in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.