Charlotte FC and New England Revolution get their new Major League Soccer campaign underway when they go head to head at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides, who finished level on 42 points last season, missed out on the playoffs and will be looking to begin their quest for post-season football on the front foot.
Match preview
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Having become the 28th franchise to compete in the MLS, Charlotte FC will take all the positives that they can from last year's debut campaign as they finished ninth in the Eastern Conference.
They picked up 13 wins, three draws and lost 18 of their 34 matches to collect 42 points, just above New England Revolution on goal difference and missing out on the playoffs by just six points.
Charlotte will also take pride in their performance at the Bank of America Stadium, where they picked up 10 wins and one draw in 17 matches, which was the the fourth-best record in the East.
Christian Lattanzio's side enjoyed an impressive run to the round of 16 of the US Open Cup, seeing off Greenville Triumph and Richmond Kickers before a 3-1 defeat against eventual runners-up New York Red Bulls on May 25.
Charlotte FC head into Saturday's league opener unbeaten in each of their five warm-up friendlies since the turn of the year, picking up two draws and three wins, including last weekend's 3-2 victory over Birmingham Legion.
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Off the back of failing to feature in the post-season for the first time since 2018, the goal for head coach Bruce Arena will be to help New England Revolution secure an immediate return to the playoffs.
The 71-year-old has proven that he is more than capable of executing the task at hand, having guided the Boston outfit to the Supporters' Shield crown and the Eastern Conference title in 2021.
New England Revolution, who racked up an impressive 73 points en route to their 2021 triumph, managed just 10 wins last season — with only Toronto FC and DC United picking up fewer.
The Revs' under-performance was largely down to their struggles away from home, where they picked up just three wins and 15 points in 14 matches, while conceding an average of two goals per game.
While New England Revolution will be looking to kick off the regular season on a high, they have been unconvincing in their five outings, scoring five goals and shipping nine since the turn of the year.
However Arena's men did comeback from behind to record a 2-1 victory over Orlando City in their final warm-up friendly on February 19, with Albanian forward Giacomo Vrioni netting a second-half brace at the Exploria Stadium.
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Team News
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Charlotte's biggest acquisition of the off-season was 27-year-old Enzo Copetti, who moved to the Bank of America Stadium alongside the midfield duo of Nikola Petkovic and former Burnley man Ashley Westwood.
Copetti, who registered 21 goals and six assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for Racing Club last term, will be tasked with providing the goals, alongside Karol Swiderski, who netted 10 goals for Charlotte last term.
Meanwhile, Lattanzio will be unable to call upon the services of Guzman Corujo and Adam Armour, who have been sidelined through ACL and meniscus injuries respectively.
Meanwhile, New England Revolution completed the signing of midfielder Latif Blessing and defender Dave Romney, with the likes of Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, Clement Diop and Edward Kizza departing the club.
Off the back of an inspiring display against Orlando, Vrioni could be handed a starting role on Saturday, teaming up with the experienced Gustavo Bou, who led the Revs with nine goals last season.
Despite their struggles, Carles Gil was a standout performer for Arena's side last season and the former Aston Villa man, who finished with 16 goal involvements, should start alongside Tommy McNamara in the centre of the park.
On the injury front, Jacob Jackson and Lucas Maciel are out of contention for New England Revolution as they are currently recuperating from anterior cruciate ligament and Achilles tendon injuries respectively.
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Bryne, Malanda, Tuiloma, Mora; Vargas, Bronico, Westwood, Jozwiak; Copetti, Swiderski
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Bye, Farrell, Kessler, Jones; Blessing, McNamara, C Gil; N Gil, Bou, Vrioni
We say: Charlotte FC 2-1 New England Revolution
Charlotte FC have brought quality and experience into their squad as they begin their quest for a first playoff appearance. The results were split down the middle last season, with Charlotte and the Revs claiming wins on their home ground, and while we do not expect another classic on Saturday, we are backing Lattanzio's side to come out victorious.
How to watch
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Joshua Ojele
