🔮 Major League Soccer Weekend Preview

Some players are on international duty, but we still have plenty of action lined up for you this week in Major League Soccer. Here is everything you need to know.

The best goalscorers meet the best defenders on Saturday in a classic clash of themes between Philadelphia Union and St. Louis City SC.

The Union are the most fluid side in attack this season with 11 goals total from their opening four games. The absence of league-leading goalscorer Tai Baribo (six goals) will be a slight worry, but given their squad depth, a home win will be something they aim to secure.

However, the visitors hope to keep their clean sheet record intact (four) and prove a defensive rock once again. According to MLS Communications, no team in MLS history has held its opponents scoreless in each of the season’s first five games.

We’re sure this will be a tight contest. Buckle up!

Hany Mukhtar of Nashville will undoubtedly look to mark his 150th MLS appearance in style.

The 29-year-old approaches a milestone after a stellar career in the United States representing the Columbus Crew.

📸 Image credit: MLS Communications

Since joining as a Designated Player in 2020, he has recorded 67 career goals and 48 career assists in over 12,000 minutes.

Should he have a goal or an assist against CF Montreal on Saturday, Mukhtar would tie MLS legend Landon Donovan for eighth-most contributions after 150 league games.

Will a depleted Whitecaps side remain hot?

In surprising fashion, the current MLS leaders are from Canada, as Jesper Sørensen’s Vancouver has started the season expertly. Unfortunately for them, the international break will possibly curb their style.

The Whitecaps are 4-0-0 to start the season for the first time ever and face Gregg Berhalter’s Chicago Fire, who look to continue their winning road trip.

Four key starters are missing from Vancouver’s squad due to the international break. The ‘Caps need to find replacements for Brian White, Pedro Vite, Ali Ahmed, and Andres Cubas alongside the injured duo of Ryan Gauld and Sam Adekugbe.

One Sebastian Berhalter – son of Gregg – will naturally want to make an impression on the pitch for his club against his father.

This is arguably one of the first true tests for the Whitecaps, and whether they rise up with their backs against the wall could very well suggest how true of contenders they are actually to go all the way this season.

Can Evander put his money where his mouth is?

FC Cincinnati made a statement signing by bringing former Portland Timbers star Evander to the club, and the 26-year-old is ready to win trophies. But as Cincy look to bounce back during their clash with Atlanta United, can the new star in orange actually deliver?

The club has registered back-to-back losses in all competitions, notably exiting the  Concacaf Champions Cup in the Round of 16 and falling to FC Charlotte in the league. It means Cincy sits eighth in the Eastern Conference table after only one win from five games this month.

So there is no better moment than now, against a rival, for Evander to rise to the occasion. He’s publicly stated he wants to “push the team to a title,” but things have to change on the pitch immediately before the club loses its grip on any chances.

The positive bit is the midfielder loves the pressure.

“I think the pressure needs to come, and we need to feel it. We need to enjoy being under pressure,” he said to MLSsoccer.com. “We need to enjoy this moment. When I say pressure, it’s always in a good way. I think as a soccer player we have everything around us to just focus on the game, and now it’s time to switch and go for the three points and try to win the game.”

📸 Feature image credit: © Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images