Major League Soccer returns with a fresh of fixtures as Nashville SC and Columbus Crew go head to head at Geodis Park on Saturday evening
Having suffered their first league defeat of the season last time out, both sides will head into the weekend looking to bounce back and return to winning ways.
Match preview
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Nashville were sent crashing back down to earth last Sunday as they suffered a 5-0 thrashing against Los Angeles FC when the sides squared off at the BMO Stadium.
In a game where Joel Willis received his marching orders, goals from Timothy Tillman, Cristian Olivera and a brace from Denis Bouanga inspired the hosts to their biggest win since beating Juarez 7-1 in the Leagues Cup back in August.
Prior to that, Gary Smith's side kicked off the new MLS campaign with three stalemates in their opening three matches before scraping a 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC at Geodis Park on March 17.
With last Sunday's defeat, Nashville have now failed to win all but one of their last seven away matches across all competitions, losing three and claiming three draws since September.
The Boys in Gold will be happy to return home as they are unbeaten in each of their five matches at Geodis Park this season, picking two wins and three draws while scoring 10 goals and keeping two clean sheets so far.
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Like the hosts, Columbus Crew were condemned to their first defeat of the season last time out when they were beaten 2-0 by Charlotte at the Bank of America Stadium.
Derrick Jones picked up a 26th-minute red card to give Charlotte a numerical advantage before Ashley Westwood and Patrick Agyemang scored late goals to hand the Crown their second home win of the season.
Wilfried Nancy's men were previously unbeaten in 10 back-to-back matches across all competitions — picking up eight wins and two draws — a run which has seen them reach the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup.
Despite last week's defeat, the Crew will feel satisfied with their start to the campaign as they sit fourth in the Eastern Conference table with 10 points from five matches, one point off top spot and four points above Saturday's hosts.
Columbus Crew now journey to Geodis Park, where they have failed to win any of their previous two visits, playing out a 1-1 draw with Nashville in October 2021, before losing 3-1 to the Boys in Gold in May 2023.
Team News
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Nashville will take to the pitch without veteran goalkeeper Willis, who is currently suspended, meaning that 27-year-old Elliot Panicco will start between the sticks this weekend.
On the injury front, Smith will be unable to call upon the midfield duo of Randall Leal and Lukas MacNaughton, who have both been sidelined through hip injuries.
Experienced defender Walker Zimmerman has been out of action since coming off with a knee injury against Inter Miami on March 8 and will also play no part in Sunday's game.
As for Columbus Crew, Jones is out of contention for this weekend's matchup due to suspension after receiving his marching orders against Charlotte last time out.
The Crew will also have to cope without the services of Romanian forward Alexandru Matan, who is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game since picking up a thigh injury against Houston Dynamo on March 7.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Panicco; Moore, Kallman, Maher, Lovitz; Yearwood, Anunga; Boyd, Mukhtar, Shaffelburg; Surridge
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Zawadski, Amundsen; Farsi, Morris, Nagbe, Yeboah; Russell-Rowe, Rossi, Hernandez
We say: Nashville SC 1-1 Columbus Crew
Both licking their wounds from last week's defeat, Nashville and Columbus Crew will head into Saturday's clash in search of a morale-boosting result. That said, we predict that both sides will cancel out each other's efforts and settle for a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
