Preview: Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati - prediction, team news, lineups

Orlando City's two clean sheets from their first two games have helped them remain unbeaten so far, picking up four points from a possible six, placing them fourth in the table.

This weekend, they welcome fellow Eastern Conference outfit FC Cincinnati to the Exploria Stadium in Florida, with the visitors going in search of their first points of the campaign.

Match preview

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Oscar Pareja's side secured a comfortable 2-0 win on the opening day, and they would have been thankful to keep another clean sheet last time out as that earned them a point away at Chicago Fire.

On Saturday, Orlando were limited to few chances and they could not manage a single shot on target, while their hosts made goalkeeper Pedro Gallese work, suggesting that it was a positive goalless draw for Orlando.

Being back on home soil this weekend, Pareja will be confident that his side can continue their unbeaten start to this season, and start to build momentum, especially with another win on their own patch.

From the current top seven in the Eastern division, Orlando's two goals is the lowest tally, suggesting that they will have to be more free flowing in the attacking third if their challenge at the top of the table is to be maintained.

In contrast, Cincinnati need to find a way to start picking up points to avoid being left behind at the bottom of the table, having lost both of their opening two matches.

Pat Noonan's side made a slight improvement last time out as they were only defeated 1-0 by DC United, which followed a 5-0 thrashing by Austin the week before.

Cincinnati would have been extremely disappointed to have come away from last weekend without a point to show for their efforts, having conceded a 98th-minute penalty against a side which had already been reduced to 10 players due to a red card in the 80th minute.

Sunday's visitors will be looking for their first goal of the campaign and they are expected to create enough chances to get on the scoresheet, Cincinnati just need to be more clinical in front of goal, after failing to score from six shots on target last time out.

Orlando are expected to put Cincinnati under pressure from the first whistle as Pareja adopts a high-pressing style with his side, but Cincinnati will also not be afraid to step up into their hosts' half to press them as well.

Team News

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Orlando centre-back Robin Jansson was replaced by Rodrigo Schlegel last time out, after the former was sent off on the opening day, but Jansson could return to the side after serving his one-match suspension for a double yellow card.

The only other change last weekend was Junior Urso coming into midfield in place of Andres Perea, but the latter is likely to return to the starting 11 on Sunday.

Alexandre Pato is expected to continue to lead the line for the hosts, with Benji Michel and Facundo Torres providing the attacking width in the 4-2-3-1 formation.

Dominique Badji made his first start of the season for Cincinnati last time out, as he came into the lineup to partner Brandon Vazquez up front, and the attacking pair are likely to start again this weekend.

There are no new injury or suspension concerns for Noonan to be concerned with, and he could name the same side which just missed out on a point against DC United, after they showed improvements from the opening day defeat.

The central midfield trio including Yuya Kubo, Junior Moreno and Luciano Acosta is likely to remain the same, while a back three could include Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron and Tyler Blackett.

Orlando City possible starting lineup:

Gallese; Moutinho, Jansson, Carlos, Ruan; Perea, Araujo; Michel, Pereira, Torres; Pato

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:

Kann; Blackett, Cameron, Hagglund; Gaddis, Moreno, Kubo, Powell; Acosta; Badji, Vazquez

We say: Orlando City 2-1 FC Cincinnati

Cincinnati showed more promise in their latest performance, meaning that they have more chance of getting on the scoresheet this weekend if they can lift themselves from the disappointment of conceding so late on last weekend.

However, Orlando have started the season strongly and are strong favourites to take three points from this encounter, and they should be able to outscore their visitors.