MLS: Toronto FC vs. Nashville SC Preview, Odds, Prediction

Toronto FC and Nashville SC close this MLS round with a matchup at the BMO Field this Sunday night. The hosts came together following a humiliating 7-1 loss to DC United and since then posted solid results. However, they are still 12th in the Eastern conference, far away from the playoff berth. Nashville is fourth, enjoying one pretty solid run, six points clear of the eight-placed DC United, the first team outside the postseason zone. This will be a test for both sides. Toronto needs three points here, and tonight’s contest will show whether they have the quality to eventually reach the top 7. Meanwhile, Nashville goes away from home only for the second time since mid-June.

Preview

Toronto FC (+140) didn’t lose four consecutive matches, two on the road and two at home. At first, they defeated New England Revolution in Foxborough, 2-3, then played two matches without winners at home, vs Orlando City and New York Red Bulls, both ending 1-1, before beating Chicago Fire in Illinois, 1-2.

Before all these clashes, Toronto had seven contests without a triumph, six of them in a row. It seems that the turning point was a horrifying failure in DC, 7-1, and that after that, Toronto’s locker room changed its mindset.

When looking at the efficiency, the most recent five games were with both teams to score, and overall, just three of their games this year haven’t seen goals on both ends of the field.

Nashville SC (+190) has only one defeat so far during this campaign, and that was against the Red Bulls in New York, 2-1 on June 19. After that, the team from Tennessee had seven games without a loss, with four wins and three draws.

Though, we need to mention that Gary Smith‘s side left Nashville just once during that span, visiting Columbus Crew a week ago, playing without goals with the champs.

They don’t have some notable pattern when it comes to efficiency, and the only interesting data we found out is that three of Nashville’s four games away from home saw both teams not to score. Still, this is a small sample to be reliable.

Latest News

Toronto will be without Ayo Akinola for quite some time, as he tore the ACL while playing for Canada at the Gold Cup. Ifunanyachi Achara, Quentin Westberg and Auro are all out due to injuries too. Jonathan Osorio and Richie Laryea won’t be available even though Canada finished the tournament.

The same is with Nashville’s Alistair Johnson, who also played for Canada, and US’ Walker Zimmerman. Anibal Godoy is injured, Daniel Lovitz and Jack Maher are ruled out due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Head to Head

The two sides played in late June in Nashville, and the hosts won, 3-2.

Prediction

Despite Nashville being solid defensively on the road (according to the matches played way before), we believe that they aren’t going to keep a clean sheet here. The same goes for Toronto, who plays better now, but is still vulnerable in the backline. That is why our pick here is both teams to score, with the odds on that -166.

Pick: Both teams to score