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Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Lineups

Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati predicted formations

Nashville SC host FC Cincinnati at Geodis Park on Saturday, August 29 (8:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM CT / 5:30 PM PT).

There’s no injury news of note for either side ahead of this one at Geodis Park, so both Nashville SC and FC Cincinnati should be able to pick from close to full-strength squads. Nashville SC’s attack is built around Samuel Surridge and Hany Mukhtar, who have scored 12 goals and 9 goals respectively this season. Mukhtar has also created 28 chances from midfield, underlining his influence beyond the goals column. FC Cincinnati will lean on Thomas Barlow’s 6 goals up top, with Pavel Bucha and Kenji Mboma Dem both on 5 goals apiece offering support.

Nashville SC top the East, the pace-setters this season, while FC Cincinnati sit sixth and still well inside the playoff picture. Both sides carry goals in their locker — Surridge and Mukhtar at one end, Barlow and Bucha at the other — which points to goals at both ends rather than a shutout. Nashville’s control at Geodis Park should just about tip a tight, entertaining contest their way.

US viewers can watch Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati: Best Bets & Predictions

Nashville SC's East-leading form meets a Cincinnati side still chasing playoff points at Geodis Park.

Where are you following from? Odds & offers below update to match.
Nashville SCTop pickNashville SC top the East with 49 points from 21 games and a goal difference of +26, and they get to do it at Geodis Park.
2-1 Nashville SCSamuel Surridge has scored 12 goals this season, giving Nashville the edge to nose it 2-1 at home.
YesThomas Barlow's 6 goals for Cincinnati and Samuel Surridge's 12 for Nashville point to goals at both ends here.
Over 2.5
Samuel Surridge – Anytime GoalscorerSurridge leads the way with 12 goals from 31 shots, 20 of them on target, making him the standout price for a goal at Geodis Park.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐chanceopening soon @ bet365

Our approach: we combine standings, recent form and player-level output to land on a single most-likely scoreline, then build our Best Bets picks around that read.

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Season Form & Standings

Nashville SC top the East, out in front of the pack this season. They’ve collected 49 points from 21 games, going 15-4-2, with a goal difference of +26. FC Cincinnati sit sixth in the East, still well inside the playoff picture. They’ve picked up 31 points from 21 games (8-7-6), with a goal difference of +2.

Eastern Conference

TeamPosGPWDLGFGAGDPts
Nashville SC12115424317+2649
FC Cincinnati6218764947+231
Shop the matchNashville SC v FC CincinnatiOfficial kits via Fanatics
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Team News Predicted

Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati Predicted Lineups

Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.

Nashville SC

4-4-2
B. Schwake
D. Lovitz
M. Woledzi
J. Palacios
A. Najar
A. Muyl
M. Corcoran
P. Yazbek
C. Espinoza
S. Surridge
H. Mukhtar

FC Cincinnati

3-5-2
R. Celentano
A. Chirila
M. Robinson
S. Gidi
B. Ramirez
T. Anunga
Evander
G. Valenzuela
E. Echenique
T. Barlow
K. Mboma Dem
    Squawka · Team News

    Potential Match-Winners

    • Samuel Surridge (Nashville SC): 12 goals from 31 shots this season, with 20 of those on target — the focal point of Nashville’s attack.
    • Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC): 9 goals and a team-high 28 chances created, driving Nashville’s play from midfield.
    • Thomas Barlow (FC Cincinnati): FC Cincinnati’s leading scorer with 6 goals from 19 shots, including 13 on target.

    Recent Form

    Nashville SC: L D W W W

    • 2026-08-23: Nashville SC 3-2 Columbus Crew (W, home)
    • 2026-08-20: New York Red Bulls 0-1 Nashville SC (W, away)
    • 2026-08-16: Nashville SC 4-1 Inter Miami (W, home)
    • 2026-08-02: DC United 2-2 Nashville SC (D, away)
    • 2026-07-26: Orlando City 1-0 Nashville SC (L, away)

    Nashville SC beat Columbus Crew 3-2 at home, won 1-0 away at New York Red Bulls and beat Inter Miami 4-1 at Geodis Park across their last matches. That form follows a 2-2 draw at DC United and a 1-0 loss at Orlando City.

    FC Cincinnati: L W D W D

    • 2026-08-23: FC Cincinnati 1-1 Seattle Sounders (D, home)
    • 2026-08-20: FC Cincinnati 2-1 NYCFC (W, home)
    • 2026-08-16: Orlando City 1-1 FC Cincinnati (D, away)
    • 2026-08-02: FC Cincinnati 4-2 San Jose Earthquakes (W, home)
    • 2026-07-26: Columbus Crew 2-1 FC Cincinnati (L, away)

    FC Cincinnati drew 1-1 at home to Seattle Sounders, beat NYCFC 2-1 and drew 1-1 at Orlando City in their recent matches. Before that they beat San Jose Earthquakes 4-2 at home and lost 2-1 at Columbus Crew.

    Nashville SC vs FC Cincinnati Prediction

    Nashville SC top the East and have the platform to keep tightening their grip on first place, while FC Cincinnati remain sixth and firmly in the mix but need results like this to close the gap. Cincinnati have enough going forward through Thomas Barlow and Kenji Mboma Dem to find a goal at Geodis Park, but Nashville’s firepower through Samuel Surridge and Hany Mukhtar should have the edge in a game that leaves more for the home side than the away one. Signal’s model lands on a 2-1 win for Nashville SC, with goals at both ends but Geodis Park’s home advantage proving decisive.