Both aiming to continue impressive starts to the Major League Soccer 2025 season, Charlotte FC and San Diego will do battle at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts sit second in the Eastern Conference after eight outings on the back of consecutive victories, while their visitors occupy third spot in the Western Conference in their maiden campaign.
Match preview
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Charlotte FC return to the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday in search of a third straight victory to strengthen their standing at the top end of the MLS Eastern Conference, having made a fast start to their fourth-ever season.
Following an 11th-placed finish and first-round playoff exit last time around, the Crown currently find themselves second having earned 16 points from their first eight outings, winning five and only losing two of those.
That solitary defeat came away at Colorado Rapids in late March after consecutive victories, and Dean Smith's side have since bounced back with another pair of back-to-back wins, firstly making an instant return to winning ways at home to Nashville SC, having trailed 1-0 heading into the final five minutes before Wilfried Zaha levelled from the penalty spot and Idan Gorno netted a 90th-minute winner.
A trip to CF Montreal then followed last weekend, and the North Carolina outfit again took all three points as Pep Biel netted the only goal of the game inside the opening 20 minutes.
Having quickly built confidence in the new term, Charlotte FC will aim to further establish their position in the Eastern Conference's leading pack with a third consecutive win and a sixth league victory of the campaign on Saturday while maintaining a perfect home record, having come out on top in each of their four outings at the Bank of America Stadium thus far.
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They face a tough test, though, with the visitors travelling on the back of a similarly impressive start in the Western Conference in their debut MLS campaign.
Following their 2023 foundation, San Diego kicked off life in Major League Soccer in February and have enjoyed a pleasing opening run, sitting third in their Conference with 14 points on the board from eight outings.
Both of their defeats thus far have come in the last four games, though, as Mikey Varas's side fell short away at Austin FC, only to bounce back with consecutive 3-2 and 3-0 home wins over Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders respectively.
Aiming to build on those results with a third-ever competitive away win, SDFC visited Colorado Rapids last weekend and fell just short in a high-scoring encounter, as Luca de la Torre drew them level early in the second half and Tomas Angel was only able to reduce the deficit to 3-2 in the 89th minute after Darren Yapi and Rafa Navarro gave the hosts a two-goal lead.
Still with plenty of positives to take from their start to their first MLS season, but having now lost their last two away games, San Diego will bid to bounce back to winning ways on Saturday with the chance to move back to second spot in their Conference standings.
Team News
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Charlotte FC are set to remain without key winger Wilfried Zaha, who missed last weekend's win over CF Montreal through injury, while Jahlane Forbes, Brandon Cambridge and Nimfasha Berchimas are also confined to the treatment room.
Dean Smith may field an unchanged starting XI from that victory, with Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett bound to continue their partnership at the heart of a back four.
Pep Biel will continue to play a key role in midfield having contributed three goals and five assists in eight MLS appearances this season, while Kerwin Vargas should again join Patrick Agyemang and Liel Abada in a front three in Zaha's expected absence.
San Diego are contending with several injury issues of their own ahead of Saturday's trip, with Emmanuel Boateng, Luca Bombino and Marcus Ingvartsen set to miss out again.
Tomas Angel will hope to come into the attack from the outset, having netted his first goal of the season off the bench last time out, while Alex Mighten will also hope to return on the wing from the outset.
Former Napoli and PSV Eindhoven man Hirving Lozano will continue in a front three, having managed one goal and four assists in his first five appearances for the club, while Celta Vigo loanee Luca de la Torre is a key man in the middle of their 4-3-3 setup alongside Jeppe Tverskov and veteran Anibal Godoy.
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Ream; Westwood, Biel, Bronico; Vargas, Agyemang, Abada
San Diego possible starting lineup:
Dos Santos; Loffelsend, McNair, McVey, Negri; Godoy, Tverskov, De La Torre; Angel, Valakari, Lozano
We say: Charlotte FC 2-1 San Diego
In what promises to be a tight encounter between two sides enjoying strong runs to open their MLS campaigns, we give a slight edge to Charlotte FC, given the quality in their squad and their perfect home record thus far.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
