Gregg Berhalter has pledged to make the Chicago Fire's supporters proud ahead of taking the reins for the 2025 season, with Frank Klopas taking to the dugout for the last time against Nashville SC this weekend. 

Neither Chicago nor Nashville can make the playoffs on Decision Day, sitting 15th and 13th in the Eastern Conference standings respectively.

Chicago are propping up the table with just 30 points, and they have reacted to their dismal campaign by appointing former United States national team coach Berhalter.

Ahead of assuming a watching brief for the Fire's final game under interim boss Klopas, he wrote in an open letter to supporters: "As we turn the page to this new chapter, I want to make one thing clear: we are setting our sights on sustained success.

"We will create an identity on and off the field that you will be proud of and ensure that the Fire are competitive year in and year out.

"My vision is simple: Build one of the top clubs in North America. We will focus on building a squad that not only competes at a high level but plays in a way that makes you proud to see them wear our famous red."

Nashville are also set to enter their first offseason under new boss B.J. Callaghan, but he is confident his team will not take their eye off the ball.

"Preparations for us have gone as normal, how we always prepare for an opponent," Callaghan said.

"There's also a stage of an evaluation period, we're not competing for the playoffs anymore so that's clear but at the same time it's still a competitive environment.

"We're doing nothing short of still trying to go and win the game, that's the intention, to go to Chicago and get three points."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Chicago Fire – Chris Brady

The four goals Chicago conceded in their defeat at Charlotte FC last time out took them to 59 goals allowed this season, second-most in a single season in club history. The Fire allowed a club-record 61 goals during the 2018 campaign.

If they are to avoid an unwanted piece of history, they may need a big display from goalkeeper Brady.

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar has been involved in six goals in his last six regular-season matches (three goals, three assists). He had recorded just 11 goal contributions in his first 25 league appearances in 2024.

MATCH PREDICTION – CHICAGO FIRE WIN

The Fire enter their final match of the season on 30 points (seven wins, nine draws, 17 losses). 

Chicago must earn at least one point to avoid equalling their lowest points tally across a full season (excluding the shortened 2020 season) in club history (30 in 2015).

They should avoid that unwanted slice of club history, though. Nashville have lost 11 of their last 14 regular-season matches, including the last three in a row. They also have a minus-19 goal difference after recording a positive goal difference in their first four MLS seasons.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chicago Fire – 41.8%

Nashville SC – 31.5%

Draw – 26.7%

Nick Cushing has insisted New York City FC's focus must be on rounding off the regular-season strongly as he eyes a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

His side sit fifth, two points behind current fourth-placed Orlando City after a 3-2 home victory over third-placed FC Cincinnati.

They have two games remaining before the postseason, which they have already secured their place in, but they also have the chance to reach 50 points for the first time since 2022.

With Orlando facing a tough opponent in Cincinnati this weekend, Cushing remains determined to direct his team's focus on their upcoming match.

"The whole aim of not having a mental slip up [against Nashville] is to focus on fourth place," he told the press.

"Fourth place is everything to us. We could be playing top of the league. We could be playing the team bottom of the league.

"Our mentality, our focus, has to be on performing, and on getting intensity into the game and doing the things that have helped us win football games lately because if we continue to win and somebody around us slips up, that fourth place is open for us."

Their visiting opponents, Nashville SC, find themselves in a different predicament as they sit outside of the playoff spots in 13th place.

"I think Nashville are a really difficult team to play against. I think under their previous coach [they were] direct, and incredible on set plays,” added Cushing.

"Hany Muktar is very dangerous. Sam Surridge is a top player. They’ve got good players, and you have to see past results because, with the new coach, they now play a little bit more."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New York City – Alonso Martinez

Martinez is the joint-ninth top scorer in the MLS this season with a club-leading 15 goals in 24 appearances so far.

NYCFC have not failed to score in their last five matches, and Martinez will be key to them keeping this streak in the hope of a win against Nashville.

Nashville – Hany Mukhtar

Mukhtar had a goal and an assist in Nashville's loss to D.C. United on Wednesday, his 30th career MLS match with multiple goal contributions.

Only Luciano Acosta and Daniel Gazdag have 20 such matches since Mukhtar debuted in MLS in 2020.

MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK CITY WIN

The hosts are in hot form. They have won consecutive matches after recording just one win in their previous 14 in all competitions (D9 L4).

NYCFC have scored eight times in the two matches, the first time the club has scored eight goals in a two-match span since April-May 2022.

Nashville, on the other hand, have lost six of their last seven regular-season away matches dating back to the beginning of July. They have scored just four goals over those seven matches and have only scored 10 times on the road in 2024, the fewest in MLS this season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New York City – 55.6%

Draw – 22.9%

Nashville – 21.5%

Troy Lesesne believes D.C. United's ruthlessness could be what gets them over the line as they battle for an MLS Cup playoff spot, ahead of Wednesday's huge clash with Nashville SC.

D.C. sit 12th in the Eastern Conference standings with three games to play, one point and one place above Nashville and just three adrift of the final wild-card spot.

After watching his team fight back to earn a 2-2 draw against the MLS Cup holders, the Columbus Crew, last time out, Lesesne said their spirit could take them far.

"This group does not stop, that's a value we have throughout the club at the moment," Lesense said. 

"I think that value of being relentless, that mindset that we're always going to keep going, that's what is going to carry us down to the wire with these three matches that are left.

"It's human nature when things are difficult to go into survival mode, or to make excuses or blame others. As a manager, you have to combat that.

"I just give our players and staff a tremendous amount of credit for not succumbing to that." 

Nashville, meanwhile, found form at the right time under new boss B.J. Callaghan, taking seven points from three games before going down 1-0 to the New England Revolution on Saturday.

Callaghan remained upbeat as he looked ahead to Wednesday's match, saying: "The approach of the week is the same as usual.

"It's a good opportunity for us, we have plenty of positives that we can build on.

"D.C. have a really clear style of play, a clear way of doing things, and they're a team where we're going to have to be really sharp to get the result we want."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Nashville SC – Sam Surridge 

Surridge leads all Nashville players for goals in MLS this term, netting 11 times in the competition – five more than his closest team-mate Hany Mukhtar (six). He has also scored three goals in their last two home games.

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

Benteke's two goals on Saturday took him to 21 for the season, the second-most by a D.C. United player in a single MLS campaign (after Raul Diaz Arce – 23 in 1996). 

It was Benteke's eighth multi-goal game since the start of last season, only Denis Bouanga (10) has more in that time.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC WIN

D.C. claimed their first-ever victory over Nashville when the sides last met on July 13, winning 2-1 on home soil. 

Nashville have, however, won all three of their home games against D.C. by an aggregate score of 8-2.

D.C. were thrashed 4-0 by the Philadelphia Union in their last road game on September 22, halting a four-match unbeaten run on their travels. With Nashville taking seven points from their last four games, another defeat could await them here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 47.9%

D.C. United – 26.1%

Draw – 26%

FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan expressed the importance of defensive resiliency for their upcoming playoff campaign after battling to a 2-1 win over Minnesota United last time out.

The Orange and Blue are on the road again this weekend as they travel to face Nashville SC, a side they were beaten by earlier in the season to halt a seven-match winning streak.

Having already secured their spot in the playoffs, Noonan placed emphasis on being solid at the back for the remainder of the season, especially in their fixtures away from home.

“Credit to Minnesota, they put a lot of pressure on us, and we relied on the back line to make a lot of individual plays, to defend the box well,” Noonan said.

“That's going to be a recipe for success down the stretch if we want to win on the road in tough games. It's not always going to be with us in control. So (FCC) went about that game in a really good way.

“After a lot of the emotional and physical or emotional highs, and then you know the physical demands and emotional demands of our previous game, to be able to turn it around the way they did, I was really impressed with that.”

Nashville, meanwhile, made it two wins from two after beating Chicago Fire in midweek, with head coach BJ Callaghan earning his first home victory in charge of the Coyotes.

Callaghan’s side currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference table but are just a point behind Philadelphia Union, who occupy the final playoff position.

The Nashville head coach lauded his players for their recent displays in the MLS and was confident his team are making the right strides in becoming a competitive outfit in the division.

“The players have been tremendous,” Callaghan started. “They have taken information in, and they look to apply it in training – they are working hard every single day.

“We look at it through all the phases of play. We are trying to give them clear roles and put them in the best position possible and I think you are seeing, little by little, improvement from them all.

“They are now making good decisions on the pitch. I am very happy with the progression of the team as we make incremental steps of getting better each week.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar assisted the only goal of the match in Nashville’s triumph over Chicago on Wednesday.

Since 2021, when the German plays and records a goal contribution, Nashville has averaged 1.99 points per match compared to 0.75 points per match when he plays but isn’t involved in a goal.

FC Cincinnati – Yuya Kubo

Kubo recorded a goal and an assist in Cincinnati’s win at Minnesota on Wednesday.

It was the 32nd time a Cincinnati player recorded a goal and an assist in a regular season match since the start of the 2022 season, tied for the most such individual performances in the league in that time (Portland Timbers).

MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN

Cincinnati’s victory against Minnesota was the club’s 27th regular-season win by a one-goal margin since the start of last season. No other MLS team has more than 16 one-goal wins in that time.

However, Nashville defeated this weekend’s opponents in the first encounter between the sides this season after Cincinnati had gone unbeaten in the previous four meetings in all competitions (W2 D2).

As mentioned, the Coyotes have recorded consecutive shutout wins after losing their previous eight regular season matches, allowing multiple goals in all of those. Nashville have not kept three straight clean sheets in a single regular season since doing so in four straight in May 2021.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 31%

Draw – 25.1%

FC Cincinnati – 43.9%

B.J. Callaghan is desperate for Nashville SC to build on his first win at the helm when they host the Chicago Fire in MLS on Wednesday.

Nashville lost nine of 10 games – going down in a penalty shoot-out after drawing the other – either side of Callaghan's appointment, but they finally turned the corner on Saturday.

Goals from Alexandre Muyl and Hany Mukhtar fired them to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United, and Callaghan sees Wednesday's clash with Chicago – who are level with

Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings – as an opportunity to build some momentum.

"We were pleased with the performance we had, we've talked about having consistent performances and stacking them up," Callaghan said.

"It's a quick turnaround, so everything we've been doing leading into Chicago has been about focusing on ourselves and making sure the guys recover.

"Then we'll just focus on the things we're good at, try to get better at those things, and we'll apply some of those ideas to the challenge that Chicago will bring. 

"They're probably looking at us the same way as we're looking at them, as a game where they want to earn three points."

Chicago also halted a miserable run of six games without a win (one draw, five defats) by beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 last time out, moving within four points of the wild-card places.

"It's about time! It feels great, because I think we faced some adversity," Klopas said. 

"People faced adversity and stepped up, so huge credit to the team as a whole. It's important that we're still in this thing, now we have to go on the road and keep fighting."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar has scored two hat-tricks against the Fire in his MLS career, one of seven players to record multiple hat-tricks against a single opponent. 

No player in MLS history has recorded three hat-tricks against a single opponent.

Chicago Fire – Georgios Koutsias 

Koutsias has scored on each of his last two appearances. Two Fire players (Maren Haile-Selassie and Hugo Cuypers) have already scored in at least three straight games this year. 

The only previous seasons in which three different Fire players had streaks of three or more games with a goal were 2018 and 1998.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC

The Fire's 1-0 home win over Nashville on July 8 was their first win in the teams' head-to-head series, after Nashville had gone unbeaten through the first four encounters (two wins, two draws).

Nashville ended an eight-match losing streak in MLS action on Saturday, beating Atlanta United 2-0 to also end a run of allowing multiple goals in eight successive games.

They might be confident of repeating the trick, with Chicago only winning three of their last 21 road games in all competitions (six draws, 12 defeats).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 46.3%

Chicago Fire – 27.1%

Draw – 26.6%

Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino has backed Alexey Miranchuk to aid the Five Stripes’ push for the playoffs after his impressive showing against Charlotte FC.

Miranchuk, signed from Atalanta in July, showcased his individual qualities last time out, playing more passes into the final third (29) than any on the pitch at the Bank of America Stadium.

Atlanta currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference table, a point behind D.C. United with a game in hand, with Valentino confident the Russian can propel his side into the playoff positions.

"It was fantastic, it was good to get him integrated into the team as quickly as possible," said Valentino. "He’s going to help us a lot down the stretch.

“His teammates getting used to him, him getting used to his teammates, he pushes himself to a whole different level.”

Their success against Charlotte was also their first win in five away games, something goalkeeper Brad Guzan emphasised the importance of for the remaining league fixtures.

“It was a good result, I’m sure, as Rob probably said, there are times when in the game we had to suffer, we had to defend, we had to do a lot of dirty work tonight and that’s part of going on the road and finding a way to get a result," Guzan said.

For Nashville, however, their woeful run of results continued, with their 3-0 defeat to Orlando City last time out their eighth consecutive loss in the MLS.

Their recent form saw BJ Callaghan replace Gary Smith as the Coyotes' new head coach in July, but those losses have resulted in Nashville dropping to the foot of the Eastern Conference table.

But a 2-0 win against their reserve team, Huntsville City FC, last week, featuring a number of upcoming young talent, handed Callaghan an insight into the future of the club.

“A lot of times we can get focused on our week-to-week, our Saturday to Saturday. And we know that the most important thing in the first team is those Saturday performances,” Callaghan said.

“But tonight is the night that you get to step back. And we talked about celebrating the club and showcasing that young talent and understanding that we have a week-to-week responsibility.

“But the club also has a long-term vision and a long-term responsibility to the city of Nashville and the city of Huntsville, two cities that we’ve invested heavily in.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze

Lobjanidze has recorded at least one assist in each of his last three regular season home appearances, including recording two against Columbus Crew in July. 

Nine of Georgian’s 12 goal contributions this season have also come at home, including all six assists.

Nashville – Sam Surridge

With Nashville scoring just three goals in their last eight MLS fixtures, they will need top scorer Surridge fit and firing for their trip to Atlanta. 

The Englishman has 11 goals from 25 appearances in all competitions this season but faces an opponent he is yet to win or find the net against this weekend.

MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN

Atlanta won their first two meetings with Nashville in 2020, but since, the Coyotes have lost only on of their last nine matches with the Five Stripes in all competitions (W4 D4).

The hosts, however, have only won two of their last 10 regular season home matches (D3 L5) dating back to April. But they have gone four games unbeaten in four consecutive games on home soil since (W2 D2).

Nashville come into the encounter in a wretched run of form having lost a club record eight matches in a row, failing to score in their last four. The only longer losing streak in MLS since the start of the 2019 season was FC Cincinnati’s league-record 14 straight defeats from September 2021 to March 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 50.4%

Draw – 25.1%

Nashville – 24.5%

Oscar Pareja is keen to ensure Orlando City's positive momentum does not dissipate after one poor result, as they look to return to winning ways against Nashville SC.

Orlando occupy the final automatic playoff place in the Eastern Conference, but their five-match unbeaten run in MLS play was halted by a 3-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City last week.

With struggling Nashville the visitors to Inter&Co Stadium this week, Pareja is not worried about that defeat being a turning point.

"We recognise that we didn't have our best game in Kansas," Pareja said. 

"We tried to get our energy back during this week, understanding that we have had a good time with good results and good football. 

"We want to continue with that momentum, we feel it. We are just ready to play the next games here.

"We agreed with the players that we lost energy at Kansas, but it's not something that is common for our team."

Nashville, meanwhile, sit 14th in the standings, eight points adrift of Orlando, after losing seven straight regular-season games.

The last of those was their first MLS outing under B.J. Callaghan as they went down 2-0 to Austin FC, but the new head coach saw positive signs in their performance. 

"I think we played a game where the performance was good enough to win," he said. "We had a few moments that we lapsed. 

"That's unacceptable, we have to learn from it, we have to improve it. You have to give credit to Austin, they were able to capitalise on those moments.

"We just need to continue to sort of pound repetitions to get the timing right, get the technique right, get the service right."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Orlando City – Nicolas Lodeiro 

Six different Orlando City players have recorded at least four assists this season, led by Lodeiro's eight. 

Only Inter Miami (seven) have more players with at least four assists this MLS season, but Lodeiro is certainly the creative fulcrum for the hosts.

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Mukhtar has scored six goals against Orlando City in MLS play (including playoffs), tied for his most against any opponent (also six versus Atlanta and Chicago), though he has not scored in any of his last four meetings with the Lions.

MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN

Orlando have won four straight matches against Nashville, including in last season's playoffs, keeping clean sheets in all four matches.

The Lions saw their five-match regular-season unbeaten run (four wins, one draw) halted by a 3-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City last time out, conceding as many goals in that defeat as in their previous five outings combined.

However, they should bounce back here. Nashville's club-record regular-season losing streak extended to seven matches with a 2-0 loss at Austin last Saturday, and they have lost their last four on the road in MLS.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 58.7%

Nashville SC – 19.8%

Draw – 21.5%

BJ Callaghan insists foundations are still being built in Nashville as he takes charge of his first MLS fixture with his new side against Austin FC this weekend.

Callaghan replaced Gary Smith and was in the dugout for their Leagues Cup campaign but failed to reach the knockout stages after losing 5-4 on penalties to New England Revolution.

But attention now swiftly returns to league action, with the Coyotes sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, but just two points behind Atlanta United, who are ninth.

And Callaghan acknowledged his side had only been together for a matter of weeks, and explained their Leagues Cup exit offered them time to focus on themselves.

"We came into the Leagues Cup with the objective of making progress and starting to build," Callaghan said.

"We've been together for not even two weeks as a group. We wanted to play as many games as possible because we know that's a good way to continue to challenge ourselves and learn.

“That's not happening. Now we have just over two weeks to really focus on ourselves."

Austin, meanwhile, have enjoyed a month-long break from competitive action, but entered their time away from the pitch by going three games without a victory (D1 L2).

The Verde and Black sit 10th in the Western Conference table, a point behind Minnesota United, having distanced themselves from the sides below them.

And head coach Josh Wolff believes the squad's period away from the MLS has been spent productively but insisted that his side must be more clinical in front of goal.

“The guys are in a very good place. The last five or six games have been indicative of what we are and what we can be,” Wolff said.

“We have played well over the last six or seven games but getting different results. The Leagues Cup competition was good for us as a collective.

“Ultimately the spirit of the group right now is in a good spot. We have to go there ready to compete. We know what our road form is like and we have to do the business in front of goal.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville – Hany Mukhtar

Hany Mukhtar’s last three regular-season goals have all been scored from the penalty spot, with the last time he found the back of the net not from 12 yards coming in late April.

However, he has assisted on five of the 13 non-penalty goals Nashville have scored since he last struck from the spot. The German also has three goals in his three games against Austin.

Austin – Jader Obrian

After joining from FC Dallas at the end of last year, Jader Obrian has enjoyed a successful debut campaign for Austin.

Having not scored since their 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC in June, the Colombian ended his scoring drought in the Leagues Cup against Monterrey, and he will be hopeful of reigniting that form upon his return to MLS action.

MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE WIN

Nashville are unbeaten in three all-time meetings with Austin FC (W2 D1), including a pair of shutout wins in the two meetings between the sides on home turf.

But they have lost six straight regular-season matches, last earning a point in MLS play with a 1-0 win over New York City FC in June. The Coyotes had never lost more than four consecutive league matches before this run.

However, they face a side on a poor run of their own. Austin have managed just two wins in its last 11 league matches (D3 L6). Their 31 points through 25 games are the fewest at this stage of a season since its inaugural 2021 campaign (19).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville – 43.8%

Draw – 26.8%

Austin – 29.4%

Jim Curtin hailed Cavan Sullivan after he became the youngest player in MLS history this week, with more minutes potentially on the horizon when the Philadelphia Union face Nashville SC.

Sullivan replaced Tai Baribo, who scored a hat-trick, for the final five minutes as the Union ended a near-four-month wait for a home win by thrashing the New England Revolution 5-1.

At just 14 years of age, Sullivan has surpassed Freddy Adu as the youngest ever MLS player, also becoming the youngest debutant among the top North American professional sports leagues and the big five European leagues, UEFA Champions League and Europa League, dating back to 1988.

"It was a special, special night," Union head coach Curtin said afterwards. "The place had a buzz. This is just the first chapter in Cavan's career. 

"For those that don't know, we do have a plan for him. It's not just minute by minute or day by day; there is a plan in place. 

"You guys don't get to see him every day in training, but the staff does, and the time was right to give him an opportunity.

"The reality is, guys, he's not a normal kid. We've known that from the start. Because he's different, he has a different plan and a different trajectory to other players in our group."

Sullivan's second senior outing could come against a Nashville team sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points above Philadelphia, but looking over their shoulders after five straight defeats.

The latest of those losses – a comprehensive 3-0 reverse against Orlando City – led forward Jacob Shaffelburg to demand better.

"We haven't been playing well for the fans" Shaffelburg said. 

"They should know that we're trying our hardest, we're working hard, but they do deserve better. We got to give them better."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Tai Baribo

On Wednesday, Baribo became the first Israeli player in MLS history to score a hat-trick. 

Israel is the 50th different nation to produce a player that scored at least three goals in an MLS match.

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Nashville attempted eight shots in their defeat to Orlando on Wednesday, the 12th time this season they have been held to fewer than 10 shots in an MLS match. 

Mukhtar (41) has created more than twice as many chances as his next closest team-mate this year, with Sam Surridge teeing up 17 attempts. His creativity could be key.

MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

Nashville have lost five straight matches for the first time in club history with three of those defeats coming on the road. 

They have managed only two wins in their last 12 away from home across all competitions (three draws, seven defeats), so approach this one as clear outsiders.

The Union, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Nashville, winning three and drawing three, including a 2-1 road victory in early April.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Philadelphia Union – 45.1%

Nashville SC – 28%

Draw – 26.9%

D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne insisted his players must be "ready to fight" to halt their winless streak ahead of their meeting with Nashville SC this weekend.

The Black-and-Red were beaten 5-0 by Orlando City last time out, extending their losing run to 11 MLS matches, which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.

D.C.’s last triumph came back in May against Atlanta United courtesy of Christian Benteke’s hat-trick.

Lesesne said his players will regroup once again, going on to explain that no one will feel sorry for his side during their baron spell of results.

“We’re in a tough spot right now, there is no doubt about it,” Lesesne said. “I think the last eight matches, there’s got to be more from us to get us out of this spot and be able to get us into a winning position.

“We have a lot of work to do and there are many things that we have to address.

“Nashville are a team that are going to be another challenge and we have to, right now, regroup in a big way.

“We have to understand that no one is going to feel sorry for us and we have got to get ready to fight.”

Nashville also find themselves enduring a losing streak of their own.

The Coyotes are without a win in their last three MLS fixtures as they were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Portland Timbers in their most recent league encounter.

The Timbers found themselves four goals to the good in just 29 minutes at Providence Park, marking the fifth time that they had conceded four goals in a match this season.

Nashville’s defeat leaves them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. In a battle between two of the division’s out of form sides, a win for either will be crucial to get their respective campaigns back on track.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

With D.C. experiencing a difficult spell, the goals and experience of Christian Benteke will be pivotal in achieving a long-awaited victory.

Benteke is the Black-and-Reds’ top scorer with 14 goals in 19 appearances this season, equalling his best tally for the club (14 goals in 2023) in 22 fewer outings.

Nashville are one of only eight teams the Belgian is yet to score against since his move to the MLS in 2022, and he will be keen to add to his tally this weekend.

Nashville SC – Sam Surridge

Sam Surridge scored Nashville’s only goal against Portland Timbers last time out, ending a run of two games without a goal following his brace against Toronto FC.

Surridge is the club’s top scorer this season with 10 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions, and without the attacking threat of Jacob Shaffelburg, he will be key in the attacking areas for Nashville.

MATCH PREDICITION: NASHVILLE WIN

Nashville come into the contest with D.C. United unbeaten in their previous six encounters (W4 D2). But they will be hopeful of ending their winless run at Audi Field, with both of those draws coming at the home of the Black-and-Red.

The Coyotes, however, are enduring a winless streak of their own. They have lost three consecutive league matches, allowing eight goals in those games. Nashville had lost only two of its previous 11 league games (W5 D4), conceding just seven total times in that span.

D.C. United’s winless run reached 11 matches (D3 L8) following their defeat at Orlando City on Saturday. This is the longest winless run in MLS this season and D.C.’s third-longest in a single regular season (12 and straight, both in 2013).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 32.7%

Draw – 25.5%

Nashville SC – 41.8%

Nashville SC interim head coach Rumba Munthali says his main aim is to get the club into a "positive spot" as they look to get back to winning ways against Columbus Crew.

Inter Miami ended Nashville's three-match MLS unbeaten streak on Saturday, with the Coyotes unable to mount a second-half comeback.

It leaves them seventh in the Eastern Conference, with the teams below them starting to close in on the last final series spot.

However, Munthali was optimistic following the defeat, explaining his focus is on the players' continued improvement.

"Against Miami, I thought we should have done better with defending set pieces and the scoring chances we had in the first half," Munthali said. "In the second half, we showed some fight, some resolve, and I commend the guys for that.

"My job at the club is to help players get better. It's just working in a different capacity [as head coach].

"I like helping players and I think they know that. My mindset hasn't changed. We're really looking towards the next game to make sure our club is in a good positive spot."

Meanwhile, Columbus sit three points above them in the table on 33 points.

The Crew have won their last two matches by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1, with Cucho Hernandez scoring four of those goals, with head coach Wilfried Nancy full of praise for his star man.

"Cucho scores goals, but he also makes chances," Nancy said. "He was sad because he was on the side with some back pain, and he wanted to come back and help the team. Now he is, it's good for the team and good for him."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

Hernandez has been the star man for Columbus this season, and not just in the last two games when he has stepped up his goalscoring.

He has scored 10 goals so far this season – the most of any player for the Crew – with half of those coming in his last three outings for the club.

Nashville SC – Tyler Boyd

Tyler Boyd scored his first goal of the season during Nashville's most recent win, netting the winner against New York City FC.

While he could not follow that up against Miami at the weekend, he had the second-most shots for the team, though he did not test the goalkeeper.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus have won three of their previous eight meetings with Nashville in MLS, winning their last such home match against the Coyotes in June 2023 (2-0).

Having gone on a seven-match winless streak from late March to early May, Columbus have since lost just one of their last seven in MLS (winning the other six).

Nashville are unbeaten in their previous four road matches, conceding just once in that run (during a 2-1 win over Toronto FC). They will be hoping to extend that run by getting their first win at Columbus since April 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 58.2%

Draw – 27.18%

Nashville SC – 20%

Jordi Alba filled in for his absent Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as the Herons made it three MLS wins on the spin with a 2-1 victory over Nashville SC.

With his former Barcelona team-mates Messi and Suarez away at the Copa America, Alba provided the stardust as he volleyed home in the 44th minute on Saturday to put the away team 2-0 up.

The Spaniard's sensational strike, which came with an expected goals (xG) value of just 0.01, arrived four minutes after Ian Fray had headed home from Julian Gressel's corner to nose Miami ahead.

Yannick Bright's clumsy challenge on Tyler Boyd provided Hany Mukhtar the chance to drag Nashville back into the contest in the second half - an opportunity the German duly took from the penalty spot.

Forster Ajago almost completed the comeback, but Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender made a fine save to deny the hosts a late equaliser.

Miami remain top of the Eastern Conference, two points clear of FC Cincinnati.

Data Debrief: Gressel the creator

Gressel provided an assist to Fray for Miami's opener against Columbus Crew on June 19, and that duo teamed up again this time out.

Since he joined MLS in 2017, Gressel has provided 62 assists, with only Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta (65) setting up more goals.

Gerardo Martino is "the perfect fit" for Inter Miami, so says Julian Gressel.

Miami are top of MLS ahead of playing Nashville SC this weekend, having taken 41 points from 20 matches.

It has been an epic turnaround in fortunes for the Herons, who have been MLS' form team since the arrivals of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba last year.

This season, that trio have been formed by their former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, who like Messi, has netted 12 goals in the league so far in 2024.

Yet with both Messi and Suarez absent due to the ongoing Copa America, Miami's form has not dropped off.

And Gressel, who supplied an assist in Miami's 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew last time out, says Martino deserves all the credit.

"Tata is the perfect fit for this team," he told the Miami Herald. "He has the intensity to push younger guys but also the experience and knowledge of how to manage a really successful team with stars.

"He knows MLS. He knows Leo Messi and Busquets and Jordi and Suarez. He can combine all that knowledge he gained over those years and really bring out the best in us.

"When Miami made that hire, I wasn't with the club yet, but I remember thinking: 'This is absolutely a no-brainer.'

"You don't really coach Leo Messi anymore, or Luis Suarez; Those guys are so beyond that, so it's about managing them and managing the team around them.

"He has a really good feel for that."

Former Barca boss Martino credited his work in charge of national teams as the ideal preparation for this job.

"Of course, it is rare for four stars to show up together, especially in MLS, but dealing with young players and stars is not new to me," Martino said.

"As a national team coach, you often have world-class players with a lot of experience, and you collaborate with the young players who are developing.

"As a coach, your job is not restricted to training during the week and playing games on weekends. You are also expected to develop and integrate young players while coexisting with the big-name players."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC - Sam Surridge

Hany Mukhtar has not quite scaled the same heights as in seasons gone by in 2024, but striker Surridge has provided the goals. He leads the way for Nashville, with seven strikes in MLS.

Inter Miami - Julian Gressel

Gressel’s assist for Ian Fray to score Miami’s opening goal against Columbus was his 61st MLS assist.

Since he joined MLS in 2017, only Luciano Acosta (65) has recorded more assists than Gressel.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Nashville limited New York City FC to no shots on target in their 1-0 win on Saturday. It marked the sixth time since the start of the 2021 season that Nashville have not allowed a shot on target in a match, the most such games in the league in that time.

Miami are now on 41 points. Of the 11 previous teams that averaged more than 2.0 points per match through 20 games of the season, 10 went on to win the Supporters' Shield, with the exception being Toronto FC in the shortened 2020 season.

The Herons are unbeaten in six straight meetings with Nashville SC in all competitions (W3 D3) including winning the last two.

Prior to the last two games, Miami had won only two of their first 11 matches against Nashville in all competitions (D5 L4).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC - 37.8%

Inter Miami - 35.7%

Draw - 26.4%

New York Red Bulls captain Sean Nealis has vowed the team will learn from last week's defeat to the New England Revolution, when they were hamstrung by several absences.

The Red Bulls were beaten 1-0 in Foxborough following a run of four wins in five matches, with Lewis Morgan and Emil Forsberg among the big names missing due to international duty.

The result left them fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, six points adrift of Supporters' Shield frontrunners Inter Miami.

"We separated ourselves from the bottom half of the group and now we're kind of just lying there in the middle," centre-back Nealis said as he reflected on New York's last result.

"We'll learn from this. We'll get better from it. This is a young group out there. 

"A lot got their first minutes of the season and I think we'll all learn how to get better and how to understand these environments and then get over the hump."

Nashville, meanwhile, sit ninth in the East, 10 points adrift of the Red Bulls. 

They have taken four points from four games (one win, two draws, one defeat) since Rumba Munthali took over as interim head coach following the firing of Gary Smith.

They were also beaten by the Revs on their last MLS outing before the international break, and Munthali believes keeping players fresh will be key if they are to improve.   

"It's a quick turnaround, and we have a lot of confidence in the group," Munthali said. 

"We try to balance that, and we want to make sure guys are available for the whole season, not just game to game.

"It's about managing and making sure we're not straining guys and breaking them."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New York Red Bulls – Elias Manoel

Having seen the likes of Morgan and Forsberg go on international duty, the Red Bulls could be left to rely on Manoel.

He has three goals and three assists in MLS play this term, despite only making eight starts. Only Morgan (nine) and Forsberg (six) have outscored him for New York.

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar scored Nashville's only goal in their defeat to New England on June 1 from the penalty spot. 

He has been directly involved in each of Nashville's last four MLS goals (two goals, two assists, with the last Nashville goal without a Mukhtar involvement coming on May 15.

MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN

Nashville ended a seven-game run without an away victory by beating FC Cincinnati 2-0 on May 29, just their second win in their last 16 away league matches. 

However, they may struggle on Saturday against a team unbeaten in 10 straight home games (seven wins, three draws), dating back to last year's playoffs.

The Red Bulls are also unbeaten in their last five meetings with Nashville, winning two and drawing three while only conceding once in that sequence. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New York Red Bulls – 52%

Nashville SC – 23.5%

Draw – 24.5% 

Pat Noonan believes being able to win in different ways has been the key to FC Cincinnati's fine run of form, as the Orange and Blue look to make it eight straight victories against Nashville SC on Wednesday.

Cincinnati have won their last seven league games to surge up the Eastern Conference standings, and they currently sit just one point adrift of leaders Inter Miami with a game in hand.

They overcame fellow high-fliers Toronto FC by a 4-3 scoreline in a thriller last time out, and Noonan has praised his players for being adaptable in the face of different challenges. 

"It's hard to win in this league and it's hard to win consecutively like we've done," Noonan said. 

"I think what we're able to do is adapt in games and win in different ways. When we need to have the quality with the ball and score goals, we were able to do that. 

"We've seen the one-goal wins, and finally being able to win a game by two goals last week against St. Louis City. So we can win in different ways, which is important."

Nashville, meanwhile, are still awaiting their first win under interim coach Rumba Munthali, having played out back-to-back draws with Atlanta United (1-1) and CF Montreal (0-0) since they fired Gary Smith.

"It's been good, it's been positive," Munthali said of the team's work on the training ground. 

"The guys have done the work that was asked of them and have been really positive and receptive, especially at a tough time in this transition."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

FC Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta

Acosta assisted Cincinnati's winner last Saturday, his ninth straight regular-season match with a goal contribution, equalling the longest run in MLS since the start of the 2023 season. 

Since 2000, only six players have recorded a double-digit streak of regular-season games with a goal contribution.

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

Mukhtar created five chances for team-mates in Nashville's draw with Montreal last time out, his most in a match this season. 

Nine of the 19 chances Mukhtar has created this year have come in two games against Montreal, with just 10 in his other 10 matches. Will that performance be a turning point? 

MATCH PREDICTION – FC CINCINNATI WIN

Nashville have only won only one of their last 16 MLS away matches (six draws, nine defeats including playoffs), including going winless in their last eight (four draws, four losses). 

Nashville's last road win over an Eastern Conference foe came over a year ago, a 2-1 victory at Charlotte FC on May 20, 2023.

Cincinnati's 4-3 win at Toronto last time out was their 31st victory in their last 50 regular-season matches dating back to October 2022, the most wins in a span of 50 regular-season matches in MLS in the post-shootout era (since 2000).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Cincinnati – 56.5%

Nashville SC – 21.6%

Draw – 21.9%