Julen Lopetegui has his first win in charge of West Ham as a resounding second-half performance earned a 2-0 victory away to Crystal Palace.

Having made a slow start, West Ham were able to ride out the pressure and claim the points thanks to goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.

Eberechi Eze had chances to open the scoring for Palace in the first half but struggled to hit the target before Soucek drilled his opener through a crowded box in the 67th minute.

Bowen then punished the hosts by rounding off another quick counter-attack with a fine finish five minutes later to rule out Palace's hopes of a first win this season.

West Ham are off the mark, with their three points moving them up to seventh, while Palace are down in 18th without a point so far.

Data Debrief: Lopetegui off the mark

After a disappointing start to life with the Hammers in the Premier League, Lopetegui made sure he got his first three points on the board sooner rather than later.

This is the first clean sheet that West Ham have kept in the competition since a 0-0 draw with Brighton in January, ending a 19-game run without a shutout in the top-flight.

Meanwhile, since the start of last season, Eze has recorded at least three shots and created three chances in eight Premier League games (five shots, four chances created on Saturday). Indeed, he has only netted one goal in those matches. 

Manchester United must become "more clinical in both boxes", said a frustrated Erik ten Hag after Saturday's last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Brighton.

Joao Pedro headed in a stoppage-time winner for Brighton at the Amex Stadium, condemning United to their first Premier League loss of the season.

Amad Diallo had earlier cancelled out Danny Welbeck's opener, which was the Brighton forward's 100th club goal, and his sixth against his old side United.

United had a would-be equaliser disallowed when the offside Joshua Zirzkee got a knee to Alejandro Garnacho's strike on the line, and ultimately contrived to lose when some slack defending allowed Pedro to pounce at the back post.

Yet Ten Hag refused to pin the blame on Zirkzee's mistake, and instead reiterated the need for cutting edge at both ends of the field.

He told BBC Sport: "Absolutely [tough to take]. We should at least have taken a draw. And we could have won with the Garnacho [disallowed] goal.

"We created many other chances to score a second goal. We showed resilience after conceding an unnecessary goal but we fought back, and we had our opportunities to score more goals. Of course, it's disappointing when you go on to lose.

"[We conceded] two soft goals. We have to be more clinical in both boxes, we have to look and act better there as a team.

"I've seen some good spells. We took control of the game, we created good chances, it's a pity that we are without any points here, but that is top-level football.

"You have to take it, show resilience, gather and go for the next big game."

The match facts do not entirely support Ten Hag's view, however. United edged the possession, with 52.3%, but Brighton had more shots (14 to 11) and mustered more expected goals (2.12 to 1.41).

Late capitulations are also nothing new for Ten Hag.

Since the start of 2022-23, United have lost more Premier League games thanks to goals scored in the 90th minute (+ stoppage time) than any other side (six); they had only lost two such games in the first 30 campaigns in the competition combined.

Fabian Hurzeler hailed "special" Joao Pedro after the forward scored a late winner for Brighton and Hove Albion against Manchester United.

Joao Pedro converted Simon Adingra's back-post cross in the 95th minute to earn Brighton a 2-1 victory in Saturday's Premier League contest.

The Brazil international's goal came after Alejandro Garnacho had an effort ruled out by VAR at 1-1 as Albion went on to make it two wins from two this season.

Danny Welbeck had earlier opened the scoring for Brighton with 32 minutes played, before Amad Diallo's leveller on the hour mark.

Asked about Joao Pedro's last-gasp winner, Hurzeler told BBC Sport: "I think Joao is a player who can decide the game with one action. 

"For me, it was impressive today how he worked against the ball. He had the belief he would score and that's something that makes him special." 

No player on the Amex Stadium pitch managed more than Joao Pedro's two shots on target - level with team-mate Welbeck.

He accumulated an expected goals (xG) value of 0.52, with this his third goal in four league meetings with Manchester United.

Brighton have now won back-to-back games to begin the Premier League campaign, having eased to a 3-0 win at Everton last weekend.

Hurzeler has therefore started his tenure with successive victories and felt his side were good value for their latest win over Man United.

"It was a very emotional [win]," he said. "Always when you get the win in the last minute it is. I think we deserved to win.

"We had a good game, not a perfect game. There were also situations where United had the chance to win the game.

"After their offside goal, I think we started to control the game again. In the end, I think we deserved to win."

Only Manchester City (eight) have won more Premier League games against Man United than Brighton (seven) since the start of 2017-18.

Hurzeler added: "I'm very proud of the team. They showed the value of never giving up and that's very important to me."

Vincent Kompany wants open and honest communication in his dealings with players at Bayern Munich.

Kompany, who will take charge of his first Bundesliga game when Bayern take on Wolfsburg on Sunday, succeeded Thomas Tuchel after a disappointing third-place finish last season.

The former Burnley boss has already been praised by several squad members, including experienced goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, for his communication skills.

"To state your opinion clearly doesn't mean that you say it in a personal way," Kompany told reporters.

"I think it's important to adapt how you communicate to the player that you're facing; everyone's different.

"You have different generations, different coaches, different ages, everything comes into play but in the end I think players appreciate if they get the message that you have in mind."

Leon Goretzka is one player who has been told that he faces a lot of competition in midfield this season, but he seems determined to stick around and fight for his place, and Kompany said such directness must be the club's policy.

"We as a club have the role to be honest with the players because then we're going to earn respect, even though sometimes it might not be positive news," Kompany said.

"All I can say is that I haven't had one single player who was not showing complete intensity, and they were all trying to really reach the maximum, and Leon was one of those players."

One player who has left the club is Matthijs de Ligt, who joined Manchester United, and Kompany was quick to deny media reports that he had told the player that he was his number one defender.

"I didn't say that because that would be completely stupid for me to say something like this," he said.

"It also wouldn't fit into what we are planning as a club with the squad, to have two players for every position and to have competition for places."

Diego Simeone is counting on Atletico Madrid's passionate fans to spur them on in their first LaLiga home match of the season against last year's surprise package Girona on Sunday.

Atletico made a disappointing start to the season with a 2-2 draw at Villarreal on Monday as they failed to find a winner in the second half after twice coming from behind to level.

With Girona once again looking to challenge for a top-four place this season, Simeone is ready to use every advantage his team can get.

"I played my time as a footballer in front of this crowd, and it was above everything else," Simeone said in a press conference.

"It always pushes those who have to play and, hopefully, we can release the energy of the stadium onto the pitch."

Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher and Spain Euro 2024 champion Robin Le Normand were introduced to a crowd of over 30,000 at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday, with Simeone admitting he felt emotional when he saw the reception given to the new signings. 

"The other day at the unveilings, when I saw the recognition given to the new boys and how so many people came to see those players, I was thrilled," Simeone added.

"Today we have the chance, with a lot of hard work, to put together an interesting and competitive squad and we have to be aware of the place we are in and the responsibility that this entails.

"We live it with a lot of passion, I don't forget where we come from. Sure, it will depend on a number of factors, but on Wednesday I got emotional. This is a consequence of what past generations have left behind."

Atletico have already spent more than €200million to reinforce their squad after a disappointing season in which they finished fourth in LaLiga.

However, the 54-year-old said he expects to add two more players to his squad before the transfer window closes next week. 

"We are fulfilling everything we talked about at the beginning of the summer, the path is going the way we wanted, we are on the way to closing it; we are still missing two players who should arrive soon, in a few hours they will be with us," Simeone said.

One of those players should be French defender Clement Lenglet, who, according to media reports, is expected to arrive from Barcelona on a season-long loan, with the Catalan giants desperately trying to reduce their first-team wage bill so they can comply with LaLiga's financial controls. 

Plymouth Argyle battled back from conceding an early goal to claim a 1-1 draw away to QPR in the Championship, despite finishing the game with just nine players.

They endured a dismal start after forward Michael Frey headed past goalkeeper Conor Hazard from a corner to put the home side a goal ahead after just three minutes.

But Wayne Rooney's side rallied and equalised in the 28th minute through a magnificent long-range strike from Morgan Whittaker, which was their only shot on target.

The Plymouth attacker had originally played a misplaced pass, which ricocheted off a QPR defender and landed straight back at his feet. The 23-year-old hit the ball first time with his left foot and it rocketed into the top right corner of the goal.

But things got worse for Argyle just a minute later as Adam Forshaw was sent off for a second booking following a late challenge on Jimmy Dunne.

Five minutes into the second half, Sam Field hit the far post with a header and a QPR onslaught followed for the remainder of the match. 

Yet Plymouth stood firm to clinch their second point of the season. Goalkeeper Conor Hazard made nine saves, and despite Freddie Issaka's late red card further diminishing Argyle's numbers, QPR could not find a way through.

Elsewhere, Bristol City drew 1-1 at home to Coventry City.

Liam Manning's side took the lead in first-half stoppage time through a stunning George Tanner volley from a corner.

But they were unable to keep the lead despite controlling large parts of the match, with Kasey Palmer equalising for Coventry in the 76th minute.

Hull City, meanwhile, drew their third league game out of three this season, playing out a goalless stalemate at home to Millwall.

It took 34 minutes for the Tigers to have their first shot on target, although Millwall had the first big chance of the game through George Savile.

Hull could not convert possession into clear-cut chances - Chris Bedia came closest in the 77th minute, but was denied by an acrobatic Lukas Jensen save to keep it goalless. Both sides remain winless.

Joao Pedro scored a stoppage-time winner to snatch a 2-1 win for Brighton over Manchester United at the Amex Stadium.

It looked like the points were set to be shared after Joshua Zirkzee was denied a winner, but Fabian Hurzeler's men dug deep to continue their winning start to the Premier League.

Amad Diallo had restored parity after Danny Welbeck's first-half strike, with Marcus Rashford and Zirkzee both having goals ruled out for offside.

But it was Joao Pedro who proved the difference in the end as he snuck in behind United's defence to head past Andre Onana in the 95th minute.

Brighton remain top of the early standings after two wins on six points, while United are in eighth, with rivals Liverpool next on the horizon for them.

Data Debrief: Welbeck haunts former club

While it was Joao Pedro who ultimately sealed the win for Brighton, Welbeck certainly made his mark against his former employers.

His first-half strike was the 100th goal of his club career in all competitions, while he's only scored more against West Ham (seven) than he has against United (six).

As for the Red Devils, they have lost more Premier League games thanks to goals in the 90th minute (plus stoppage time) than any other side (six) since 2022-23 - they had only lost two such games in the first 30 campaigns in the competitions combined. 

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe claims this year’s summer transfer window is the toughest he has been through. 

The Magpies have attempted to be active in the market but, despite the wealth at their disposal, have so far been unable to make the major moves they would have liked. 

Their situation was complicated by a need to sell players in order to comply with the Premier League’s financial rules, with youngsters Yanukba Minteh and Elliot Anderson leaving in big-money switches to Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively. 

Newcastle have signed Lloyd Kelly, Odysseas Vlachodimos and William Osula, though have so far been frustrated in their attempts to sign England international Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, while they reportedly remain in the market for a winger. 

“It’s been the most difficult window I’ve experienced,” said Howe ahead of Sunday’s match against his former club Bournemouth. 

“The June part of the window was incredibly difficult and now this part hasn’t been exactly easy either. It’s always going to be difficult because you’re competing for a very small pool of players and the competition is high from other clubs.” 

When asked directly about the chances of signing Guehi, Howe replied: “There’s no news. I’m a step removed, but I’m aware there’s still work going on behind the scenes.” 

Kieran Trippier, meanwhile, has been linked with a move away from St James’ Park and, while Howe would like to keep the right-back, he conceded there are no guarantees. 

“My wish is Kieran stays here and continues to play for us,” he added. “But I can never answer with absolute certainty because it’s football and the window is always unpredictable. We take every case individually and try to make the right decision for the player and the club. 

“Tripps is a really valuable member of the squad. His professionalism has been first class. Since coming here, he’s played a huge role in changing the narrative around the team. He galvanised the squad from the first day.” 

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo 

Semenyo has scored six goals in his last 13 Premier League starts for Bournemouth. His goal against Nottingham Forest last week was his 10th in the competition overall and he is the seventh Ghanaian to score 10+ goals. The only African countries with more players on 10 goals are Nigeria (17), Senegal (14) and Ivory Coast (10). 

Newcastle United – Alexander Isak 

Newcastle were starved of possession after going down to 10 men against Southampton last week and, even though they won, chances were at a premium for star striker Isak.  

However, against a Bournemouth team that like to get on the front foot, the Sweden forward will be hoping for more of a look in. 

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW 

Howe has never beaten former club Bournemouth in the Premier League in four attempts (D3 L1). The Cherries are one of only three sides Howe has faced but failed to defeat, along with Luton (D1 L1) and Man City (D1 L15). 

Bournemouth, however, have won none of their last eight Premier League games in August (D3 L5) since a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in 2022. In those eight winless games, the Cherries have scored three times while shipping 23. 

Newcastle’s away Premier League matches last season saw 76 goals scored (36 for, 40 against), the most by a team in a season since Chelsea in 2019-20 (77 – 39 for, 38 against). Eight of their 10 away games in 2024 have seen at least four goals scored with an overall average of 4.4 goals per game. 

The visitors are looking to win their opening two Premier League matches in a season for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign under Kenny Dalglish. 

Having kept a clean sheet in their first Premier League meeting with Bournemouth (1-0 in November 2015), Newcastle have conceded at least once in each of their last 11 against the Cherries, who have won just one of their last nine Premier League games against the Magpies. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Bournemouth – 32.6% 

Newcastle – 42.6% 

Draw – 24.8% 

Gary O’Neil has said Pedro Neto could have sealed an even bigger move away from Wolves, if not for his injury record. 

Neto left Wolves for Chelsea earlier in August, signing for the Blues in a £45million move. 

The Portugal international is set for a swift reunion with his former club, though, with Wolves welcoming Chelsea to Molineux on Sunday. 

Ahead of that contest, Wolves boss O’Neil believes Neto could have moved on for an even larger fee – and to an even bigger side – had he stayed fit over the course of recent seasons, with the winger having missed close to four months due to injuries last term. 

"The important thing for him now is being able to play week in, week out," O’Neil said of Neto. 

"I always felt he was unfortunate with injuries, he never struck me as injury prone. That will be a question mark around him at the moment. 

"It's not one I'd be concerned about, which is why I was desperate to keep him and play him every week, but you can understand that may have had an impact in the summer. 

"But he can definitely play at any club in world football. His talent, work ethic and physical attributes allow him to play at whatever level he wants." 

O’Neil also stressed Chelsea have signed, in his view, an outstanding talent. 

"He is one of the best out-and-out wide players in world football. What he can do one-v-one, his explosive pace, what he can do when he arrives there, it allows him to do things not many players can do," he added.  

"It was an emotional goodbye He loved it here, his time before I was here and how well it went for him last season on the pitch." 

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Wolves – Hwang Hee-chan 

With Neto gone, there is even more onus on Hwang Hee-chan, who was one of Wolves’ most impressive players last season. He created one chance in the defeat at Arsenal last week, though failed to get a shot off, so O’Neil will want to see a greater attacking impact this time out. 

Chelsea – Pedro Neto 

Going up against his old team means Neto will be eager to impress in what could be his full debut, having come on from the bench against Manchester City last time out. The 24-year-old has been in the headlines this week too, after he took the number seven shirt previously occupied by Raheem Sterling, who is now out in the cold at Chelsea. 

MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN 

Despite losing to Man City in their opener, Enzo Maresca’s team are predicted to get the job done at Molineux by Opta’s supercomputer. 

The Blues have not lost their opening two league games in a season since 1973-74, while the last Chelsea manager to lose his first two matches in charge was Gianluca Vialli in February 1998. 

Wolves have lost their last four Premier League matches. They have not lost more consecutively since a six-game run between May and August 2021 (three games under Nuno Espirito Santo, three under Bruno Lage), while the last Wolves manager to lose five in a row was Terry Connor between March and April 2012 (seven). 

They have lost six of their nine Premier League home games so far in 2024 (W3), with no side losing more. They had only lost four of their 20 league games at Molineux in the whole of 2023. 

That being said, Chelsea are winless in four away league games against Wolves (D1 L3), since a 5-2 victory in September 2019 under Frank Lampard.  

Chelsea have also conceded at least once in each of their last 16 Premier League away games, their longest run without a clean sheet on the road since a run of 24 between January 1993 and February 1994. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Wolves – 24.1% 

Chelsea – 51.4% 

Draw – 24.5% 

Arne Slot is not feeling the pressure ahead of his first Premier League match in charge of Liverpool at Anfield.

Liverpool beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road in Slot's first competitive game last week.

Now attention turns to Anfield, with the Reds hosting Brentford on Sunday.

Slot is aiming to become the first Liverpool boss since Graeme Souness in April 1991 to win his opening two league matches, but the Dutchman is not nervous ahead of his competitive Anfield bow.

He said: "I'm hoping the fans can be twice as loud then as the Ipswich fans.

"I am not nervous at all, certainly not at this moment because I'm in the middle of preparation, prepare the team for Sunday and no nerves.

"It wouldn't be a good thing if you have nerves. I trust what me and my staff do to prepare the team in the best possible way."

Slot also says he is constantly learning about Liverpool's squad.

"I'm learning every day about the players as individuals and how they play together," Slot said.

"I learned last weekend how the players that didn't play on Saturday trained well on Sunday. They brought in a good training session.

"That will help them and us. I am still learning new things with the players. It is normal, I have only worked with them for three weeks."

Brentford beat Crystal Palace in their opening game, with the Bees winning 2-1 despite the absence of Ivan Toney, who was left out due to uncertainty over his immediate future.

Thomas Frank suggested the striker could be involved at Anfield, though acknowledged the situation over whether he stays or is sold is still unclear.

"Ivan trained the whole week, trained with a good attitude in every aspect. He could be involved, he could not be involved," Frank said.

"He could be here after the 30th [August] and he could not be here. Basically, everything is up in the air.

"I've said the whole time that if he's here I'm very happy, if he's not here then I'm happy on his behalf."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool - Mohamed Salah

Salah scored and assisted in Liverpool’s 2-0 Premier League win over Ipswich on MD1, the 32nd time he has done so in a game in the competition, level with Thierry Henry.

Only Wayne Rooney has both scored and assisted in more games in the history of the competition (36 games).

Brentford - Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo could make his 100th Premier League appearance in this game, becoming the fourth Brentford player to hit that mark.

The forward averages a goal or assist every 108 minutes in games he plays without Toney (14 goals, eight assists), compared to a goal involvement every 250 minutes in matches that feature him (nine goals, 13 assists).

MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN

Brentford’s last away Premier League match of 2023-24 was a 2-1 win at Bournemouth - the Bees have not won consecutive away games since winning their final away game of 2022-23 (3-1 vs Tottenham) and first away game of 2023-24 (3-0 vs Fulham).

Liverpool are looking to start their Premier League season with two consecutive wins for the first time since 2021-22, a season in which they started with an away win at a newly promoted East Anglian team (3-0 vs Norwich City).

The Reds have lost just two of their last 61 Premier League home games (W46 D13), while they have not lost at Anfield in the opening month of the season since 2015 (0-3 v West Ham).

In a run stretching back to 1939, Liverpool have won each of their last five home games against Brentford, keeping a clean sheet each time so it is no surprise to see Slot's team are the overwhelming favourites.

Brentford have won just one of their six Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D1 L4). At least one team has scored 3+ goals in five of those six games, with the exception being a 1-0 win for the Reds in May 2023.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Liverpool - 71.2%

Brentford - 12.6%

Draw - 16.2%

Erik ten Hag thinks Alejandro Garnacho has the X factor to become a world-class player at Manchester United, but claims the winger "has a long way to go."

The 20-year-old has quickly become a favourite of Manchester United fans, having enjoyed an impressive 2023-24 campaign.

Garnacho scored 10 goals in all competitions, including seven in the Premier League and also supplied four assists in 30 starts.

He has continued that form into this season, scoring against Manchester City in the Community Shield and coming off the bench to assist Joshua Zirkzee’s winner against Fulham in United's Premier League opener.

Despite this, Garnacho was again named on the bench for Manchester United’s trip to Brighton on Saturday and his manager insists there is plenty to do to elevate his game.

Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham has spoken of his frustration at a muscle injury he sustained in training via his account on social media website X.

According to reports, it is expected to keep the 21-year-old out of action until at least the end of September.

That means he will miss his club's next three matches along with Lee Carsley’s opening two fixtures as England’s interim manager.

In an official statement, Real Madrid said, “Following tests carried out today [Friday] on Jude Bellingham by Real Madrid’s medical team, the player has been diagnosed with an injury to the plantaris muscle in his right leg. His progress will be monitored.”

On his enforced time off, Bellingham tried to find the positives despite admitting his frustration, as he suggested last season's exploits have perhaps taken a toll on his fitness.

“Nothing I hate more than missing games but trying to see the positive side and maybe my body is telling me it needs a bit more rest,” he wrote on X.

“I’m very frustrated but I’ll be supporting the lads like a fan until I can rejoin them again in my best and strongest form.”

Xabi Alonso asked for more character and aggression from his Bayer Leverkusen side after their last-gasp 3-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga opener.

Leverkusen were awarded a penalty deep into added time on Friday, with Florian Wirtz converting on the rebound to earn the visitors the three points.

Granit Xhaka lashed Leverkusen into the lead with a stunning strike in the 12th minute.

Wirtz extended Leverkusen's lead but Gladbach hit back through Nico Elvedi and Tim Kleindienst before the late drama.

"It was an intense first Bundesliga game for us. A lot of things happened in the second half, it was full of emotion right to the end. We did well in many phases," Alonso said.

"But we weren't always so compact today, we were also a bit passive in some phases. We have to do that better. We have to be more aggressive.

"It's difficult to explain why we always score late goals. We can't train that and I can't influence it. It's the mentality of the team."

Champions Leverkusen, who set a European record of 51 consecutive games without loss across all competitions last season, kept their unbeaten streak intact with a number of late equalisers.

"We said at half-time that we must not let up and not think that the game is over," said Xhaka.

"At the end of the first half, we started not being consistent enough in our passing game and losing easy balls. Here at home, Gladbach never die, you could see that in the goals at 1-2 and 2-2."

Wirtz became the fifth Leverkusen player to score in successive opening games of a Bundesliga season.

He added: "I had the feeling that we made it unnecessarily difficult for ourselves.

"We were asleep when it came to conceding goals. We let it slip away ourselves, even though we were actually in control, although we didn't have the ball the whole time.

"I just wanted to decide the game. I know that in the end it will be a lucky win. (But) we are happy that we won and that I was able to score the follow-up shot."

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%