Nashville SC v Orlando City: Lions confidence rising ahead of road trip

Oscar Pareja says the confidence of his Orlando City side is on the rise ahead of their MLS trip to Nashville SC at Geodis Park.

The Lions have triumphed in their last three league matches, overcoming New England Revolution 3-1 in their most recent outing.

Orlando are seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, and head coach Pareja believes improvements are clear to see as encouragement grows within the camp.

“Very excited with the three points, very proud of the character of the team and the players that brought us back after an irregular first half,” Pareja said, referring to the Revs victory.

“It seems like our confidence keeps rising, and finding the net is helping us to believe that this is the team who can keep that rhythm and get into the playoffs.

“A team with more chemistry, but at the same time, with more passion and more energy that allowed us to dominate the game and score our goals.

“This is the first time that the team won in New England and that means a lot of respect for the players to that achieve that.”

Final prep for Nashville pic.twitter.com/g3s8VAxBSc

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 16, 2024

Nashville are ninth in the same East table, though only sit ahead of CF Montreal on goal difference.

They have lost their last four matches against Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, Portland Timbers and D.C. United, however, and must improve at home if they are to end that run here.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Hany Mukhtar has nine goal contributions (four goals, five assists) in eight regular-season matches against Orlando.

The Nashville forward has only recorded more goal contributions against one opponent in his MLS career – 12 versus Atlanta United.

Orlando City – Facundo Torres

Facundo Torres has recorded two goal contributions in each of his last two matches, including scoring a brace against New England on Saturday.

This is the fourth time Torres has registered multiple goal contributions in consecutive league matches, something no other Orlando player has managed more than once.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

The Opta supercomputer predicted a Nashville victory as the most likely result, however a draw appears more probable in this clash.

Nashville had suffered just five defeats in their first 19 regular-season matches in 2024 but have now lost four straight matches in all competitions for the first time in club history.

Orlando have also won their last three meetings with Nashville, including a two-match sweep in last season’s playoffs.

The Lions have won four of their last five matches (L1), too, after winning four of just 18 league games prior in 2024, including wins in their previous three in a row – only twice enjoying longer victorious streaks.

However, Nashville cannot be completely ignored considering they had gone unbeaten in their previous eight against Orlando in all competitions (W3 D5) before their three-game losing streak recently.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC win – 43.7%

Draw – 26.8%

Orlando City win – 29.5%