Nashville SC v New England Revolution: Callaghan hoping for consistency in ´new chapter´

BJ Callaghan is hopeful that Nashville SC can find some consistency in his first full MLS season in charge, which starts against the New England Revolution on Saturday.

Callaghan took over last July before the Leagues Cup but finished 13th, four points shy of ninth-placed Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference.

Nashville won just three of their nine games under him last season, but Callaghan is confident that they will be much improved having had a full preseason together.

“We’re all excited to get going in the regular season and, myself included, with the first game especially, in terms of getting a full season in 2025,” he said.

“From the beginning, it’s a fresh start, a new chapter for us. The messages are able to be consistent and so is the voice, and we can build each day on those similar themes.

“We can start putting consistent performances together. We look at each opportunity we get to play as an opportunity to get a little bit better and learn lessons.”

Boys in G̶o̶l̶d̶ Cold pic.twitter.com/yuQqELAQ21

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) February 20, 2025

New England have undergone an overhaul in the offseason as they look to improve on their 14th-place finish from last season.

The Revs had attempted to make a late push for the playoffs but, having started the season poorly, finished second from bottom. Now, they have 15 new players, having let 16 go at the end of the last campaign.

Head coach Caleb Porter is delighted with what he has seen from his team so far though, and thinks they are a good fit for his plans.

“I would call it the end of a cycle. Every roster goes through that… and we felt the group had stagnated a bit,” Porter told GOAL.

“With this group, I’m already seeing it. It’s just more natural for them, the way I work and the things I’m looking for.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Hany Mukhtar has recorded an MLS-high 113 regular-season goal contributions (66 goals, 57 assists) since Nashville SC joined MLS in 2020.

Mukhtar’s 113 goal contributions are 76 more than any other player in Nashville’s MLS history (Randall Leal – 37).

New England Revolution – Luca Langoni

New England finished last season with two heavy defeats, though had been given hope in their final fixture (a 6-2 defeat to Inter Miami) thanks to Luca Langoni.

He scored after just two minutes against the Herons, in which they took a 2-0 lead before letting it slip, and he will be hoping to build on his three goals last term.

All in from day one. Let’s fight pic.twitter.com/yLTv6Nz0UK

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) February 21, 2025

MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE SC WIN

After losing the first match in club history to Atlanta United to open the 2020 campaign, Nashville are unbeaten in four straight season-opening matches (W2 D2), keeping clean sheets in each of the last three.

New England won both regular-season meetings with Nashville last season after managing just one league victory against them in Nashville’s first four MLS seasons (D3 L2).

However, the Revs lost a club-record 13 away matches in 2024, tied for the most in the league last season (San Jose Earthquakes). They lost their final six away matches of the 2024 regular season, being outscored 21-3 in those matches.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 46.2%

Draw – 26.6%

New England Revolution – 27.2%