Major League Soccer (MLS) returns to action on Friday as NYCFC hosts league leaders Nashville at Yankee Stadium. All 30 teams face off, with no MLS sides playing in the midweek Leagues Cup semifinals.
Nashville look to keep hot streak going
Nashville are the current runaway leaders out East but face a tough visit to New York, a place they have never won in four attempts. Despite the challenge, Nashville will hope to extend their league-best four-match win streak as they look to keep their distance from Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference standings and Vancouver in the Supporters’ Shield race.
Nashville have had a historic campaign so far, with the side currently on pace for 80 points, which would smash the MLS regular-season record of 74 points. Their 49 points through 21 games are the most by an MLS side at this stage. While NYCFC have been a challenge on the road, Nashville have performed well on the road this season, conceding just five goals in 10 matches away from home. NYCFC haven’t won their last six matches, their longest winless run this season, and will have to break this streak against the most in-form team in the league.
Can Inter Miami keep within striking distance?
While Inter Miami will be more than happy about their 7-1 win last weekend against Montreal, they will be disappointed that their recent poor form has led to them trailing conference leaders Nashville by 10 points. Once again at Nu Stadium, Inter Miami will look to continue their hot form from last week as they host Atlanta United, who have won three of their last four games.
Inter Miami are also entering a new era as this will be their first match under new manager Cristian Gonzalez. With Lionel Messi in great form, leading the MLS Golden Boot race with 18 goals and 10 assists, Inter Miami will have full confidence at home as they begin a new phase of the season under Gonzalez.
The battle out West continues
Western Conference leaders Vancouver are four points clear of 2nd place Houston at the moment with a game in hand, but face one of their biggest battles in recent weeks. St. Louis City are unbeaten in their last 13 matches and have climbed their way up to 6th in the Western Conference table. Vancouver have conceded just one goal in their last four matches, so it will be tough for St. Louis to continue their streak.
Houston, who went on a great run of form to push up to 2nd in the West, are now off the back of two straight poor results. As they look to bounce back, they head on the road to face an offensively strong Charlotte team. Led by Dean Smith, Charlotte have scored three or more goals in three of their last four league outings but now face a Houston defense that have conceded just three goals in eight matches since the conclusion of the World Cup break.
LAFC (3rd in West) head on the road to Utah to face Real Salt Lake, San Jose (4th in West) face Austin on the road, and FC Dallas (5th in West) host bottom-of-the-league Sporting Kansas City.
Full Matchday 23 schedule
Absolutely — the same style as before, with the date as a section header and Fixture | Time as the table:
Friday, September 4
| Fixture | Time |
|---|---|
| NYCFC vs. Nashville SC | 7:30 PM |
Saturday, September 5
| Fixture | Time |
|---|---|
| Charlotte FC vs. Houston | 7:30 PM |
| Columbus vs. Colorado | 7:30 PM |
| Cincinnati vs. DC United | 7:30 PM |
| Inter Miami CF vs. Atlanta United | 7:30 PM |
| Orlando vs. San Diego FC | 7:30 PM |
| Philadelphia vs. Montreal | 7:30 PM |
| Toronto vs. Chicago | 7:30 PM |
| Austin FC vs. San Jose | 8:30 PM |
| Dallas vs. Sporting KC | 8:30 PM |
| Seattle Sounders vs. NY Red Bulls | 8:30 PM |
| LA Galaxy vs. New England | 9:30 PM |
| Salt Lake vs. LAFC | 9:30 PM |
| Portland vs. Minnesota | 10:30 PM |
| Vancouver vs. St. Louis City | 10:30 PM |
All matches can be streamed live on Apple TV+.
