Philadelphia Union v St. Louis City: Just another three points for Carnell as reunion looms

Bradley Carnell is treating Saturday’s reunion with St. Louis City as just another game, as the Philadelphia Union look to bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign.

Having been fired by St. Louis last year, Carnell led Philadelphia to three straight victories to start the 2025 MLS campaign, but his new team suffered their first setback last week.

A 3-1 defeat to Nashville SC left them second in the Eastern Conference standings, ahead of Saturday’s match against his former club at Subaru Park.

Carnell was St. Louis’ first-ever head coach and led them to the top of the Western Conference standings in their debut season in 2023.

While he harbours plenty of fond memories from his time there, he is simply focused on leading the Union to three more points.

Carnell said: “It’s just another game, a cross-conference opponent, but for sure there are special people there still that I connect with and I keep in touch with.

“I’m going to welcome a lot of the faces and people I’ve been in contact with all the time.

“Special memories for sure, but at the end of the day it’s three points on the line and another game.”

St. Louis have taken eight points from their first four games of 2025 and are yet to concede an MLS goal under new head coach Olof Mellberg.

“Obviously new coaching staff comes in, different style of play, different formation, they defend in different areas of the field,” Carnell said of St Louis’ approach.

“They are, I would say, very ruthless in transition, there’s a whole bunch of guys they could start.

“So again, it’s a slightly different way of playing, but still a successful way I’d say, and they’ve got off to a good start, a hot start, and we’re excited to face them.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Philadelphia Union (@philaunion)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Jovan Lukic

Lukic has scored in consecutive matches for the Union, netting the team’s lone goal in their loss to Nashville last Sunday.

He is the sixth different Union player to find the net in consecutive matches at least once since the start of last season.

St. Louis City – Roman Burki

St. Louis are the third team in MLS history to not allow a goal in their first four matches of a season (after the New York Red Bulls in 2007 and Vancouver Whitecaps in 2012).

Burki and his team-mates will set an MLS record for the longest shutout streak to begin a campaign if they can hold the Union scoreless for the first 68 minutes on Saturday.

MATCH PREDICTION – PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

This will be St. Louis’ 85th match in all competitions but their first against Philadelphia.

The Union have won just six of their last 24 regular-season home matches dating back to mid-September 2023 (D9 L9). This run comes immediately after the Union had won six consecutive league games at Subaru Park.

St. Louis, meanwhile, have lost only one of their 15 regular-season matches played in February and March (W8 D6), including going unbeaten through their first four matches this season (W2 D2).

But Philadelphia look like genuine contenders this term, with only Inter Miami currently above them in the Eastern Conference standings, so they will be confident of victory.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Philadelphia Union – 53.3%

St. Louis City – 22.8%

Draw – 23.9%