Preview: Nashville SC vs. DC United - prediction, team news, lineups

Nashville SC will conclude their two-game MLS homestand on Saturday when they play host to DC United at Geodis Park for the first time in 2025.

On Wednesday, a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls put the Boys in Gold in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, 10 points above DC, who settled for a 0-0 draw with New York City FC and are 12th.

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Match preview

It was another close one, but once again Nashville found a way, increasing their winning run to three matches across all competitions, while going unbeaten in their previous five competitive fixtures.

All three of those victories were by a single goal, and on Saturday, they have a chance to equal their longest MLS winning run from earlier this year (three games).

Their six wins at Geodis Park are more than any MLS side have had at home this season, with Nashville only suffering one defeat in the Music City in 2025 (2-1 versus FC Cincinnati).

Four times already this year, BJ Callaghan's team have conceded the opening goal and found a way to earn a result, collecting 10 points from a losing position.

The Boys in Gold have also scored multiple times in seven successive MLS affairs this year and emerged victorious on each of those occasions.

Their seven victories collected in league play to this stage of the campaign are four more than they managed after 13 matchdays in 2024.

Wednesday was another struggle for DC in the attacking third as they failed to find the back of the net for a second consecutive league contest and the fifth time in 2025.

At the very least Troy Lesesne will be relieved to know they did not give up any goals, for only the second time in MLS this year.

Defensively, they have been at their worst away from home, conceding 18 of their Eastern Conference-leading 25 goals this season as visitors.

All of those struggles have led to a lack of discipline, with DC allowing the most fouls per match so far this year (15.3), many of which have led to great scoring opportunities against them.

The Black and Red have not gone three straight matches without scoring in this competition since September 2022, but that will happen should they fail to find the back of the net this weekend.

DC have won two of their last three matches against Nashville, including their previous visit to Geodis Park a year ago, when they scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to claim a 4-3 triumph.

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Team News

In mid-week Nashville were once again missing Walker Zimmerman due to a head injury, while Taylor Washington, Maximus Ekk and Tyler Boyd were sidelined because of knee issues and Julian Gaines was unavailable with a sore thigh.

Patrick Yazbek put them in front just past the half-hour mark against the Red Bulls, though it was Hany Mukhtar who emerged as the hero, scoring the winner a few minutes beyond the hour mark.

As for DC, Gabriel Pirani sat out of their match versus NYCFC, while Joao Peglow, Lukas MacNaughton and Dominique Badji were all unavailable with thigh injuries.

Luis Barraza stopped all five of the shots that he faced against his former team, enabling the Black and Red to claim a point, as he collected his first clean sheet of the campaign.

Nashville SC possible starting lineup: Willis; Najar, Palacios, Bauer, Lovitz; Acosta, Brugman; Shaffelburg, Mukhtar, Muyl; Surridge

DC United possible starting lineup: Barraza; Tubbs, Bartlett, Rowles; Herrera, Servania, Hopkins, Schnegg; Kijima, Benteke, Murrell

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We say: Nashville SC 1-0 DC United

While the Black and Red will feel a lot better about their defensive game after Wednesday, Nashville are getting solid production from their star attackers and contributions across the board, which is why we expect them to continue their winning ways.

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