The New England Revolution will be looking to improve their playoff positioning when they travel to GEODIS Park for a match against Nashville SC on Sunday morning.

Both sides have already secured their spot in the MLS Cup playoffs, with Nashville currently seventh in the Eastern Conference following a goalless draw with the Philadelphia Union last weekend, while New England fell short  against Orlando City, losing 3-2 to move into fifth place.

Another campaign in the Music City will continue beyond the regular season, but judging from their results, plenty of improvements still have to happen if they are to contend for a title.

Nashville have failed to score in three successive matches, registering a total of two shots on target over that stretch and barring a pair of dazzling attacking displays to end the campaign, they will finish with their lowest total for goals scored in a 34-game regular season, netting 36 times domestically in 2023, 16 fewer than a year ago.

Their defensive shape has always been the staple of this group since entering MLS in 2020, and that has kept them afloat and above the playoff line throughout the 2023 season, with the team conceding the fewest goals in the league (29).

Gary Smith’s side enter the contest knowing they will begin the post-season away from home for a second successive campaign, which may not be so bad given their current away form when compared to what they have done at home, as they are unbeaten in four successive MLS away matches and without a win in four consecutive domestic games at GEODIS Park.

Throughout the 2023 MLS season, Nashville have gone unbeaten in the Music City when scoring the opening goal, winning seven of eight matches this term when doing so.

If they can find a way to win in their final two matches before the playoffs, the Boys in Gold would set a new club record for wins in a single regular season campaign, eclipsing the old mark of 13 set a year ago.

It seems like all of the off-field distraction in Greater Boston have affected New England on the pitch as this team head into the home stretch of the campaign with just one win in their last nine MLS matches.

Amid the resignation of Bruce Arena last month following allegations of workplace misconduct, interim manager Clint Peay has struggled to get the players refocused in their quest for a home playoff game.

Throughout the campaign, the Revs had been in the running for the Supporters’ Shield, but that ship sailed a while ago, with New England squandering four points when leading in the second half since the end of the Leagues Cup, while conceding in two matches beyond the 85th minute over that stretch to come away empty-handed (1-0 defeat to CF Montreal and 2-1 loss against Columbus Crew).

If they are to make a run for the MLS Cup in the post-season, New England’s final two regular-season matches could be must-win games, as two more wins would guarantee they start the playoffs at home.

The Revs have struggled greatly away from home domestically all season, winning on only three occasions and without a win in their last 11 domestic games played outside of Gillette Stadium.

New England have conceded multiple goals in seven away matches in this competition, with all three of their away wins coming against Eastern Conference opponents.

Nashville SC vs. New England Head to head

In the six previous meetings between these two teams, Nashville SC have claimed one victory while New England have won two, and they have drawn in three.

• 24/10/2020
  Nashville SC

  1

  New England

  1
  MLS
• 08/05/2021
  Nashville SC

  2

  New England

  0
  MLS
• 05/08/2021
  New England

  0

  Nashville SC

  0
  MLS
• 10/02/2023
  New England

  1

  Nashville SC

  0
  Club Friendlies
• 19/03/2023
  New England

  1

  Nashville SC

  0
  MLS