Seattle Sounders v Nashville SC: Willis expects a ´battle´ at Lumen Field

Joe Willis insists Nashville SC will have to play at full intensity if they are to come away with victory in their clash against Seattle Sounders.

Nashville snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake, moving them up to sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Seattle are 10th in the Western Conference, meanwhile, having gone four games without a win prior to last week’s 1-0 victory at FC Dallas.

“Any time you go to Seattle, you’re in for a battle,” goalkeeper Willis told reporters ahead of the clash at Lumen Field.

“We talk a lot about intensity being the starting point for us, so that’s definitely going to have to be the case.

“It’s a tough place to play, a lot of travel, but ultimately, we’ll go there with the mentality that we can take all three points.

“No matter how the game goes, or what’s thrown at us, we need to be resilient and play for the full 90 minutes.”

Wheels up to Seattle pic.twitter.com/pVmkLTrmjR

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) April 17, 2025

Danny Musovski’s first-half goal was enough for Seattle to get back on track last time out with just their second win in eight games this season.

However, head coach Brian Schmetzer admits there is still plenty more to come from his side.

“Nashville are a good team, and we know it’ll be a challenge,” he said. “But we’ve got the home crowd behind us, and we’ll see what we can do.

“Against Dallas, we played well enough to win, but there is still room for improvement. In terms of what we saw, with the movement, it was better.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

SEATTLE SOUNDERS – Kim Kee-hee

Kim was brought on for his first appearance of the season last week after Jackson Ragen sustained a hamstring injury.

After helping preserve a clean sheet, centre-back Kim – who returned to Seattle in the close season – will be hoping to get the nod again this weekend.

NASHVILLE SC – Sam Surridge

Surridge scored a 91st-minute penalty against Real Salt Lake last weekend, with what was his second stoppage-time matchwinner in MLS.

That makes the Englishman the first player in Nashville history to score multiple 90th-minute winning goals.

Back Home on Saturday

Opponent Outlook: Nashville SC pic.twitter.com/WYZ8f6h4OO

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 18, 2025

MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE WIN

Seattle did not face a single shot on target in the win over Dallas, marking the fifth time that has happened since the start of the 2023 season.

The Sounders are unbeaten in 10 successive home matches in all competitions since last September, now seven short of their all-time record.

Nashville’s 2-1 comeback win against Real Salt Lake marked the first time they have won from behind in 15 attempts in regular-season games.

The Boys in Gold are unbeaten in three meetings with Seattle, keeping their opponents scoreless in each of those.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 58.6%

Draw – 21.6%

Nashville SC – 19.8%