FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC

TQL Stadium sets the stage for a heavyweight Major League Soccer showdown between FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC.

After a somewhat tumultuous start to their title defense, Cincinnati are back on track (W3, D3, L2), winning their last seven league matches to climb to second in the Eastern Conference. Having reduced the gap on top-placed Inter Miami to only two points, Pal Noonan’s men can return to the summit with a game in hand over Lione Messi & Co. Despite their form resurgence, goals remain at a premium for the Orange and Blue as they’ve averaged just 1.53 per game. Mediocre figures in the front third have barely influenced Cincinnati’s home results, with the hosts only losing once in seven home MLS fixtures this season (W4, D2).

Meanwhile, Nashville’s bid to go the distance, as they’ve done in all four previous MLS seasons, has been off to a whimper star. The visitors’ disappointing win ratio of only 21% across the opening 14 rounds (W3, D7, L4) is barely enough for 11th place in the east. But a playoff line is well within reach, with only two points separating them from 9th-placed DC United. Reducing that deficit hinges on Nashville finding a way out of a crisis that has seen them win just one of their last four league games (W1, D2, L1). Unfortunately for the traveling fans, Rumba Munthali’s men have fared terribly on the road this term, going winless in all five away MLS matches (D2, L3).