NYCFC vs FC Nashville SC preview: Finish out the regular season at home with a win

The 2024 regular season is almost over and New York City FC has had a roller coaster year.  They had periods when they played extremely well, like during the five-game unbeaten streak in the spring and their Leagues Cup journey.  Then, they had periods when they could not get the desired results, including the nine-match winless streak that ended thanks to the Hudson River Derby win.

Now, NYCFC will play their final home match of the Major League Soccer regular season.  Sadly, it is at Red Bull Arena due to the MLB playoffs, but the Pigeons will have to live with it.  They will welcome Nashville SC, who won narrowly in the opposite fixture in 2024.

The Music City team is struggling this year.  They sit in 13th place and have a record of 8-15-9.  If NYCFC does not beat the opposition, then this will be seen as a failure.  Plus, they know they must win to jump back within two points of Orlando City SC.  The Florida side and Charlotte FC both won on Saturday, so the Pigeons temporarily sit in sixth place.

There is a lot on the line in the final home match of the regular season.  Here is a preview of the game between NYCFC and Nashville SC.

Date

NYCFC and Nashville will play one another on Sunday, October 6.

Time

The match is at 4:00 PM ET.

Location

The game will be in Harrison, NJ at Red Bull Arena.

How to watch

Fans can watch the fixture on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.

Weather

Sunday afternoon will be 71 degrees and sunny.  The winds will not be too bad at around 9 mph but the slight breeze and about 50% humidity should make it a nice day for a game.

Injury report

Malachi Jones (leg) continues to be out for NYCFC. James Sands (suspension) was missing due to his yellow card accumulation.

Players to watch

The player to watch on NYCFC is Maxi Moralez.  The veteran continues to shine at 37 years old and plays well in the midfield.  He recently had a goal and assist in the Hudson River Derby and an assist in the FC Cincinnati fixture.  The Pigeons still rely on him quite a bit.  With the international break coming up and a week off, Moralez must start in this critical match.

Fans should also watch Sam Surridge on Nashville SC.  The striker leads the team with 11 MLS goals and will be one of the more dangerous players.  If the Bronx team can stop the Englishman, then they have a strong chance of keeping the visitors out of the goal.

Prediction

This game is too important to lose, so NYCFC will get the job done.  They will beat Nashville 2-1, with both goals coming in the second half.  They will also outplay the Music City team, with the Tennessee side's one goal coming from a decent counterattack.