Eastern Conference Leaders Nashville Host Reeling LAFC | OneFootball

Nashville SC and LAFC have been two of the league’s best teams this season and come into this fixture in similar positions but on different runs. Both clubs were knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the semifinals, falling to Tigres and Toluca respectively. Since then, they’ve had contrasting results within MLS.

Nashville Look To Regain Early Season Form

For Nashville, the main focus is continuing their hot start in league season play. They currently sit top of the Eastern Conference with eight wins, three draws, and one loss. On Wednesday, they defeated the second place New England Revolution 3-0 on the road. That statement victory should give them confidence that they can beat anyone in this league, which they’ll need against a LAFC side desperate to get a win.

The “middle body” injury to Sam Surridge in late April saw Nashville’s attack go cold at the worst possible time. They were shut out in both legs against Tigres and in their match with bottom-of-the-league Philadelphia Union.

However, even though Hany Mukhtar has gone 5 matches without a goal contribution, they’re finding other ways to score. 21 year old Costa Rican Warren Madrigal is really coming into his own, scoring 3 goals in the last 2 games. He arrived over the winter from Deportivo Saprissa and has adjusted well to MLS.

LAFC Try To Shake Off Rough Patch

LAFC are in free fall. After a second half collapse against Toluca where they allowed 4 goals in the closing 45 minutes, they’ve lost 2 games in a row to mediocre (at best) MLS teams.

The first was a 4-1 home loss to Houston Dynamo. USMNT midfielder Jack McGlynn had the impact I predicted he would and then some, scoring a brace. That was followed by a 2-1 loss to St. Louis City midweek, a team that are 2nd bottom of the West. Hugo Lloris had a big (but bad) hand in those losses, committing an error leading to goal against St. Louis and “preventing” -1.46 goals against Dynamo.

The big name duo of Denis Bouanga and Heung-Min Son have been disappointing for LAFC. Bouanga started the season strong but has now only scored once in the last 6 games. That goal came in a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC where the Gabon international was also directly at fault for a SDFC goal.

Meanwhile, Sonny is still yet to score in MLS this season despite netting 12 times in 13 matches last year. He does lead the league in assists, but only has 1 of those in his last 5 MLS games. The poor form of LAFC’s stars isn’t exactly a recipe for success against a Nashville defense that has only allowed 8 goals in 12 MLS games.

Match Prediction

Although LAFC are probably the more talented team on paper, this is the worst possible opponent they could face to try and turn their luck around. Now that Nashville have adapted to the injury of their star striker, they should make routine work of a LAFC side that is in their worst form in over a year. Son and Bouanga’s struggles will continue as Brian Schwake collects another clean sheet.

Prediction: Nashville SC 2-0 LAFC