Preview of LAFC vs Nashville SC – Major League Soccer Match: Where to Watch, Team Updates, Expected Lineups, and Match Forecast

LAFC and Nashville SC square off in MLS matchday five action this Saturday at BMO Stadium.

The 2023 MLS Cup runners-up opened the new season with a 2-1 triumph over Western Conference rivals Seattle Sounders but have failed to collect three points in their last three games played. Steve Cherundolo’s side have dropped two games against Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United while earning a point vs Sporting Kansas City as they sit in 10th place in the West with four points.

The visiting Coyotes have encountered the same problems as LAFC, having won just one of their first four games of the 2024 campaign. Nashville began their season with three straight draws – in the order of 0-0, 1-1 and 2-2 – before finally claiming victory last weekend at home against Charlotte FC 2-1 to seat themselves in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with six points.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the Black and Gold vs the Coyotes.

Cherundolo will be without two players due to MLS not pausing fixtures during the March international break. Nathan Ordaz joins up with the El Salvador national team, while new signing Omar Campos links up with the U-23 Mexico national team.

New signing Tomas Angel is dealing with a groin injury and is expected to miss the clash with a return date targeted for the middle of next month. Lorenzo Dellavalle, who was signed this offseason from LAFC 2, will also be sidelined until mid-April due to a knee injury.

LAFC predicted lineup vs Nashville SC (4-3-3): Lloris; Hollingshead, Murillo, Long, Palencia; Atuesta, Sanchez, Tillman; Olivera, Bogusz, Bouanga.

Like their opponents, the Coyotes will also be without two players due to the international break. Anibal Godoy received a call-up to the Panamanian national team to compete in Concacaf Nations League action where his country fell against Mexico, while Jacob Shaffelburg is set to suit up for Canada this weekend against Trinidad and Tobago.

Fan favorite Walker Zimmerman is not expected to take part in the contest due to a knee problem but is on track to return to the mix by the middle of next month. Randall Leal is a doubt for the game as he’s still recovering from a hip injury but should be good to go in the next couple of weeks.

Nashville SC predicted lineup vs LAFC (4-4-2): Willis; Moore, MacNaughton, Maher, Washington; Muyl, Yearwood, Anunga, Boyd; Mukhtar, Surridge.

The Black and Gold have struggled to look like the team that’s dominated MLS in recent seasons with just one win so far in 2024. Nashville SC haven’t looked that much better, but they can still cling on to the fact that they’ve remained unbeaten up until this point.

The hosts will more than likely dominate possession but will fail to cut out any clear-cut chances against Gary Smith’s low block that excels at frustrating opponents. Hany Mukhtar will open his 2024 account late on to seal the narrow triumph for the visitors in southern California.

Prediction: LAFC 0-1 Nashville SC