Fresh off the back of clinching the 2022 Canadian Championship title, Vancouver Whitecaps take a trip to the GEODIS Park to lock horns with Nashville SC on Sunday.
The Tennessee-based outfit, who head into the weekend winless in five of their last six home games in the MLS, will be looking to return to winning ways and strengthen their position in the playoffs places.
Match preview
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Nashville SC failed to return to winning ways in the MLS as they were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Cincinnati when the sides squared off at the TQL Stadium last Sunday.
In an end-to-end affair, Brandon Vazquez scored seven minutes into the second half to cancel out Teal Bunbury's sixth-minute opener and force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Nashville claimed a 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders on July 14 to snap their three-game winless run before suffering a 2-1 defeat away to Los Angeles FC four days later.
With 31 points from 22 games, Gary Smith's side are currently sixth in the Western Conference standings, one point above seventh-placed La Galaxy in the final playoffs spot.
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Elsewhere, Vancouver Whitecaps FC clinched their first Canadian Championship title since 2015 last time out when they saw off Toronto FC 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday.
After Brian White and Lukas MacNaughton scored for either side to force a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes, Vanni Sartini's men converted each of their five spot kicks to secure the title and an automatic place in the fifth round of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
Vancouver Whitecaps now turn their sights to the MLS where they are currently on a four-game winless run, claiming two points from a possible 12 since a 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC on July 3.
The Whitecaps have picked up seven wins, five draws and lost 10 of their 22 league games this season to collect 26 points and sit 10th in the Western Conference table, four points off the playoffs placed and six above rock-bottom Sporting Kansas City.
While Saturday's visitors will look to snap their winless run in the league, they have struggled for results away from home, claiming eight points from their 11 games so far — with only San Jose Earthquakes and Colorado Rapids picking up fewer points on the road.
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Team News
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Nashville will be without the duo of Daniel Lovitz and Alex Muyl, who will serve a one-match suspension after both crossing the yellow card threshold with bookings against Cincinnati last time out.
In their absence, Taylor Washington could be handed his fifth start of the season, coming into the centre of the park, while Eric Miller will push for the left-back role.
On the injury front, Smith will be unable to call upon the services of veteran midfielder Anibal Godoy, who is set to miss his eighth straight game through a thigh injury.
Meanwhile, the Whitecaps' injury list is heftier by comparison as Luis Martins and Cristian Gutierrez have been sidelined through calf issues, while Thomas Hasal has been out of action since May through injury.
The midfield duo of Deiber Caicedo and Sebastian Berhalter are currently recuperating from knee and ankle injuries respectively and will play no part in this weekend's encounter.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Maher, Zimmerman, Romney, Miller; Washington, McCarty, Davis, Leal; Bunbury, Sapong
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Boehmer; Nerwinski, Jungwirth, Brown; Gressel, Dajome, Cubas, Owusu, Godinho; Cavallini; Vite
We say: Nashville SC 1-2 Vancouver Whitecaps
Fresh off the back of clinching the Canadian Championship crown, Vancouver Whitecaps will head into the weekend with sky-high confidence. Nashville have suffered a slump in recent weeks and we are backing the Whitecaps to build on Wednesday's victory and come away with a slender victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
