Nashville SC vs. D.C. United: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United takes on Nashville SC after playing to a scoreless home draw with New York City FC on Wednesday. Luis Barraza recorded a clean sheet, and D.C. picked up a point against a strong NYCFC side. Jackson Hopkins returned to the pitch for the first time in 2025 after recovering from an injury.
The Black-and-Red continue to chase points and a spot closer to the playoff line. Unfortunately, the injury list is growing and includes star striker and 2024 Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke.
For Troy Lesesne, it’s next man up. “Now, we have to find solutions,” he said. “In my year and a half here, we’ve had different times where Christian has been out of the team, and the likes of Jacob Murrell have stepped up. Now we have [Joāo] Peglow, and he’s had some good games…. But you know we have to figure out solutions, and that’s part of the job.”
B.J. Callaghan’s men aren’t faring much better in the injury department, but have been able to achieve a five-match home win streak. They’ll look to defend GEODIS Park tonight against the Black-and-Red. Sitting in 4th place in the Eastern Conference with 23 points, they have a good chance of doing so.
Will the Black-and-Red upset Nashville’s plans? Tune in to find out!
Hear everything head coach Troy Lesesne had to say in the pre-game press conference here.
Let us know your thoughts about tonight’s match in the comments below and be sure to join us live here during the game to chat with your fellow supporters.
Key Player: Joāo Peglow
While Peglow is questionable so far for tonight’s match, he’s had numerous shining moments this season. We’ll see if he can step up in Christian Benteke’s absence to keep D.C. competitive against a sizzling Nashville side.
Watch Out For: Hany Mukhtar
Hany Mukhtar has long been Nashville’s danger man. The striker was hot on Benteke’s heels in 2024 to claim the Golden Boot and has been a dynamic force so far this season, recording six goals and four assists.
Challenges: The Black-and-Red have struggled to find consistency this season as they integrate new players into the roster and try to adopt a new style of play. Now injuries are starting to challenge Troy Lesesne. The head coach is working to keep the team healthy and on the pitch during a high-tempo period featuring both regular-season and Open Cup matches.
Previously: D.C. United last met Nashville SC at GEODIS Park in October 2024, where they claimed victory, winning 4-3.
Nashville SC Availability:
Out: Tyler Boyd (knee), Maximus Ekk (knee), Julian Gaines (thigh), Tyler Washington (knee), Walker Zimmerman (head)
Questionable: None
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Dominique Badji (thigh), Christian Benteke (ankle), Lukas McNaughton (thigh
Questionable: Kristian Fletcher (ankle), Joāo Peglow (thigh), Gabriel Pirani (knee)
Location: GEODIS Park,
Kickoff time: 8:30 pm ET
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Well that was close!
Well DCU is saved on the offside flag despite the ball coming off Bartlett.
Starting XI: Murrell, Zouhir, Hopkins, Peglow, Servania, Peltola, Tubbs, Antley, Bartlett (captain), Schnegg Barraza
Bench: Dodson, Eno, Herrera, Karamoko, Kijima, Kim, Leal, Rowles, Stroud
A lot of rotation on Nashville too. Gonna be an interesting one
Coughing the ball up in the defensive third…this is gonna be a long night….
Peltola is in the book with a yellow in the 24′.
Hopkins takes a late foul and Yazbek picks up a yellow for it. It bails DCU out. Its a soft yellow….
Barraza immediately calls for help after fielding a ball. He’s getting up though.
Peltola is killing us with these hospital passes to the backline….
Wait…how’s that a foul and a free kick? WTF?
And thankfully Barraza saves the free kick form Mukhtar from dead center just outside the box.
We are very fortunate not to have shipped at least one goal so far.
I feel like most of the chances they’ve actually had haven’t been all that great. A couple free kicks for Muhktar, but otherwise not a ton of great looks really. Just a lot of sketchiness in front of goal
I’m just saying we’re fortunate because Nashville hasn’t been able to do anything with all the gifts we’ve been giving them in our defensive 3rd.
Yeah that’s fair. We’ve given them lots of great gifts that they’ve just done absolutely nothing with
Not a single shot in the 1st half from DCU. Its 0.2 XG vs 0.0 xG after the 1st half.
Rowles for Hopkins….interesting sub…
Hoping Stroud and Kijima make their way on soon to help provide literally any amount of offense
And the backline lets Nashville get off a long range strike that forces a save out of Barraza.
DC took a shot! It wasn’t a good one, but it was a shot!
Peltola is down off the ball and calls for the trainers.
Enow and Leal getting ready to come on.
Enow for Peltola and Leal for Peglow.
Herrera for Antley. 1 sub left and 1 window left.
Leal with a long range daisy cutter that ends up being an easy save for Willis.
I understand why this game was in rivalry week now. Clearly there is a massive rivalry between Barraza and the Nashville fan base
Barraza with a great save but Nashville is offside on the free kick.
Former DCU player Andy Najar subs into the game.
Barraza picks up a yellow for time wasting…when there were 2 subs made by Nashville…
Kijimia for Zouhir is the final sub.
Minimum of 5 mins of stoppage.
Rowles gets a knock to the back of the head after heading the corner clear. He has to get evaluated.
Murrell puts the best chance of the night for DCU wide.
Back to back clean sheets.
For the first time since 2023, no less
https://www.givemesport.com/us-soccer-mls-approves-pre-club-world-cup-transfer-window-sources/#threads
Darth Garber continues to astound me.
The favoritism borders on the hilarious.
What’s next? His pets get two more DPs to “highlight the growth in MLS….”