Orlando City vs Nashville SC: Preview, prediction & lineups | OneFootball

Fresh from an emphatic midweek victory, Orlando City will look to turn that result into renewed belief as they prepare to host Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC. The visitors arrive in formidable form, unbeaten in their last five league matches, and B.J. Callaghan's side will be determined to extinguish any momentum the Lions have built with their new star.

Nashville SC sit comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference, holding a five-point advantage over Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. Orlando City, meanwhile, find themselves outside the playoff places after an inconsistent run of form, although their performances on home soil have offered greater encouragement.

Much of Orlando's optimism centres on new marquee signing Antoine Griezmann. The French star made an immediate impact on his debut in midweek, and the hosts will be hoping his world-class quality can inspire another standout performance and derail Nashville's impressive run of form.

How to watch

Orlando City Team News

Orlando City will be without Clovis Archange and Colin Guske, with both players away on international duty representing their nations at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

Joran Gerbet and Nolan Miller remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Martín Ojeda is also unavailable after sustaining a thigh problem. Antoine Griezmann is expected to retain his place in attack following an impressive debut in midweek and could once again be partnered by either Tiago or Justin Ellis.

Nashville SC Team News

Nashville are missing Cristian Espinoza, Warren Madrigal, Reed Baker-Whiting and  Patrick Yazbek through muscular injuries while Chris Applewhite is another at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Those players are likely to be missed, especially Espinoza as he has become the supply line from the flank, leading the team with six assists and 10 big chances created.

The league's most clinical finisher this season, Sam Surridge, is fit and ready to lead the line. The striker has scored 10 goals from just 639 minutes of action, converting only 16 shots on target and averaging a goal every 64 minutes.

Predicted Line-ups:

Orlando City: Crepeau; Dorsey, Brekalo, Jansson, Marin; Angulo, Atuesta, Ojeda, Tiago; Griezmann, Ellis

Nashville: Schwake; Lovitz, Palacios, Woledzi, Bauer; Muyl, Corcoran, Tagseth; Mukhtar, Surridge, Mohammed

Predictions:

Nashville SC arrive as deserved favourites, having won each of their last five matches and gone 10 games unbeaten, with their last defeat dating back to April. Much of their success has been driven by the outstanding form of Sam Surridge, who will be eager to continue his prolific scoring run against an Orlando side boosted by the arrival of one of France's greatest-ever players, Antoine Griezmann.

The hosts looked revitalised going forward in midweek, with Griezmann making an instant impact on his debut, and their home form suggests they are capable of causing problems. However, Nashville's consistency, defensive organisation and clinical edge in attack give them the upper hand.

Expect an entertaining, open encounter with chances at both ends, but the visitors' superior quality and confidence should ultimately prove decisive.