Nashville SC v FC Cincinnati: Noonan aiming to find missing piece

Pat Noonan hopes that FC Cincinnati will show their competitiveness as soon as extra as gamers proceed to return, with a visit to Nashville SC up subsequent in MLS.

Cincinnati have gained simply two of their league matches this season, however have misplaced each of their video games away from dwelling.

They sit tenth within the Japanese Convention, having misplaced one and drawn one among their final two outings, however Noonan is satisfied they’ll present a menace on Saturday.

Cincinnati are boosted by the returns of Kevin Denkey and Stefan Chirila from worldwide responsibility, in addition to Gilberto Flores from suspension and Miles Robinson after sickness.

“We’re at all times type of one piece lacking from week to week, however that’s a part of it. We have to be aggressive,” Noonan mentioned.

“The important thing for me goes daily, week to week, with extra consistency inside the group.

Day on the workplace. pic.twitter.com/J1XLu9cWcY

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) March 27, 2025

We at all times knew publish the eight video games that we had in that 24-25-day interval, then with the worldwide break, it wasn’t going to be this manner till now, and so hopefully, we are able to keep wholesome and proceed to work in a great way with the identical guys.”

Nashville, in the meantime, have made their greatest begin to an MLS season after 5 video games, shedding simply one among their outings up to now (W3 D1) and sit fourth within the desk.

They’ve gained their final three matches on the bounce, however head coach BJ Callaghan stays cautious of the menace that Cincinnati pose, regardless of their document this season.

“It’s a Cincinnati workforce that at all times performs with a great depth and vitality,” he mentioned.

“They’re effectively coached, and the gamers have been enjoying collectively for some time. It’s an formidable membership that’s made actually good additions as they regularly attempt to enhance.

“We’re anticipating an thrilling match. They current challenges on the sector that we’ve to be prepared for.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Cincinnati are one among three groups Hany Mukhtar has confronted within the common season however by no means scored towards.

Mukhtar has registered eight assists towards Cincinnati, as solely Cristian Espinoza versus Los Angeles FC (12) has extra towards a single membership for the reason that midfielder joined MLS in 2020.

Music Metropolis, the DAWGS are out pic.twitter.com/JbRrygDWHv

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) March 28, 2025

FC Cincinnati – Evander

Evander scored each objectives in Cincinnati’s draw with Atlanta United on Saturday.

It was his eleventh regular-season match with a number of objective contributions for the reason that begin of final season, tied for the second most in MLS in that point behind solely Lionel Messi (12).

MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE SC WIN

With 10 factors (W3 D1 L1), Nashville are off to one of the best five-match begin in membership historical past. They gained their final three matches – it’s their first three-match successful streak in regular-season play since Could-June 2023 (4 straight).

Cincinnati have misplaced solely one among their 4 all-time visits to Nashville (W1 D2), with that defeat coming in July 2021. Cincinnati have recorded a win and a draw of their final two matches at Nashville.

Nonetheless, after a seven-match highway successful streak in league play final April-June, Cincinnati have gained solely two of their final eight highway league video games (D1 L5), together with shedding two in a row on the highway to begin this season with defeats at Philadelphia Union and Charlotte FC.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 40.3%

Draw – 26.6%

FC Cincinnati – 33%