MLS Regular Season | Match #4
New England Revolution at Nashville SC
Saturday, May 8 | 1:30 p.m. ET
Nissan Stadium | Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: TV38, myRITV (Rhode Island)
Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 (English), WBIX 1260 Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
Revolution Pregame Live (12:45 p.m. ET)
- Facebook, YouTube, revolutionsoccer.net
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
1st in Eastern Conference (2-0-1, 7 pts.)
Last Result | 2-1 win vs. Atlanta United FC
The Revs are off to their best start since 2009 as last weekend’s win over Atlanta gives them seven points from three games, and they’ll enter Week 4 of MLS action alone atop the Eastern Conference standings. Three more points on Saturday in Nashville would match the best four-game start in club history (3-0-1), a mark set in 2005.
Carles Gil’s masterclass stole the headlines against Atlanta as he set up Brandon Bye’s opener before notching the game winner himself from the penalty spot. New England’s defense has also been vital, though, as they’ve conceded just once in the last 259 minutes dating back to the 11th minute of the season opener.
Nashville SC
T-7th in Eastern Conference (0-0-3, 3 pts.)
Last Result | 0-0 draw vs. Inter Miami CF
Nashville will open the season with a fourth straight home game on Saturday, but they remain in search of their first win after playing to a trio of draws at Nissan Stadium. Twice they erased 2-0 deficits against FC Cincinnati and CF Montréal to capture 2-2 draws, while they battled Inter Miami CF to a 0-0 result last Sunday.
Gary Smith’s side established itself as one of the league’s best defensive teams in the 2020 expansion season, but this year they’ve also been dangerous going forward, leading MLS with 7.36 expected goals. Now in their second season, Nashville are looking to build upon last year’s run to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they pushed the eventual MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew SC to extra time.
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution defender Henry Kessler
New England’s center back pairing of Andrew Farrell and Henry Kessler has been key to the Revolution’s recent defensive stinginess, and they’ll need to be at the top of their game once again on Saturday afternoon against a Nashville side that is consistently dangerous from dead-ball situations.
Kessler – the Revolution’s tallest player at 6-foot-4 – plays a particularly important role on defensive set pieces, while he has also shown a similar ability in the attacking end, nearly scoring last weekend against Atlanta when his header from Carles Gil’s free kick crashed off the post.
Nashville SC midfielder Randall Leal
Left back Daniel Lovitz is far and away the MLS leader in key passes (14) and the American defender will likely be heavily involved in Nashville’s attack once again on Saturday, but it’s Costa Rican midfielder Randall Leal who serves as the club’s primary playmaker.
Leal has registered seven key passes himself – tied for ninth league-wide – and he’s been involved in three of Nashville’s four goals with one goal and two assists. The 24-year-old also leads MLS in big chances created (5) and chances created from open play (9), according to Opta.
STATUS REPORT
Revolution
Gustavo Bou missed out on last weekend’s win over Atlanta with what head coach Bruce Arena called “a minor muscle injury,” but La Pantera returned to full training earlier this week and looks to be fully recovered.
Collin Verfurth and Luis Caicedo are both listed as out on the Revs’ official availability report, while Christian Mafla and Emmanuel Boateng are questionable, all four with lower body injuries.
Wilfrid Kaptoum, meanwhile, played 75 minutes with Revolution II in a friendly against Hartford Athletic on Tuesday night, and Arena said the central midfielder is progressing well after missing the majority of preseason through injury.
“He’s making progress,” Arena said. “He played 75 minutes for Revolution II the other night. We’re trying to build up his fitness, and he’s moved along pretty well over the last three weeks. We think he’s obviously going to play a role over these next three games.”
Nashville
Daniel Ríos was Nashville’s joint leading scorer last year with four goals in 18 appearances, but the Mexican forward has yet to feature this season as he is currently sidelined by a right foot injury. Ríos is joined on Nashville’s availability report by Abu Danladi (hamstring) and Brian Anunga (quad/knee), both listed as out for Saturday’s meeting with the Revs.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena
“They’re known as a very good team defensively. Their goalkeeper has played well, their center backs are a very good pairing. Walker Zimmerman is the league Defender of the Year last year, so they have an excellent defense. I think they’ve improved the attacking end of the field. Their new striker [Jhonder] Cádiz is doing well, [Hany] Mukhtar and [Randall] Leal are very good players, and certainly the pairing in the defensive midfield positions with [Dax] McCarty and [Aníbal] Godoy are very good. They have a good team. They’re going to be a little bit angry not getting a three-point result in their first three games at home, so we think it’s going to be a real difficult match.”
New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner
“I just think it’s the consistency that blows me away. I think (Carles Gil) is a guy that goes out there every single week, his approach is the same every day in training, every single game day, and then it shows in his performances on the field. He’s super consistent. He’s a really important player for our club, and like I said, we’re lucky to have him, and happy to be his teammate and not playing against him.”
Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith
“I do think having watched New England’s opening games that they are the most well balanced and competitive group that we’re going to run into at this point. That’s not any discredit to the teams that we have played because they do have certain qualities within their group, but this New England team throughout their group from the backline to the top. Let’s start with the goalkeeper (Matt Turner) who was magnificent last year and has carried on that form. Their backline is competitive and resilient and has plenty of athleticism. The two guys in midfield, I think any group would want in terms of their industry and general team play. As you look at the attacking group that they have available to them, I would again think most teams, look at it in all really is what they have available. They are one of the most complete groups I believe in the Eastern Conference, capable of not conceding, capable of competing, difficult at both ends of the field from set pieces and also incredibly talented and creating their own opportunity. It is going to be a really tough game. We know from last year that they’ll come, they’ll want to go and force the issue. They’ll want to get on the front foot, and I would expect nothing less than might be the most difficult encounter that we’ve run into."
Nashville SC midfielder Dax McCarty
"Well, you have to be honest with yourself every time you're analyzing your performances, whether you win, whether you lose, whether you tie. In our case, which we have three times in a row. So you always want to analyze the good and the bad. I think that there has been far more positive and good from our play than bad. But ultimately, the bad and the places that we need to improve, how should I put this, I guess more apparent when you don't win the game. So we're continuing to watch video every day, we're continuing to look at how we can better ourselves. I think we're trying to evolve as a team and with evolution I think comes a little bit of a challenge and a little bit of frustration. I said it on social media because I believe it, we aren't happy with three points from three home games. I don't think it's up to our standards that we've set for ourselves as a club.”
