Nashville SC
- Nashville SC have the superior recent form, winning 2 and drawing 2 in their last 5 MLS 2026 games, winning the last 2.
- Nashville SC are set to be the nuts to crack at Q2 Stadium on Sunday when they take on Austin FC in a MLS 2026 clash of the league's top team against the division's bottom team.
- BJ Callaghan's men have been the superior team in 2026 and they should win this match-up, with the possession versus pressure clash set to be won by the Nashville pressing.
- Nashville have conceded just 9 goals in those 13 away trips and it's a big reason why they travel like a hard nut to crack.
Austin FC
- The Boys in Gold have 60 points from 27 games and the Verde & Black have just 31 from the same number of matches, but that doesn't mean this should be an easy trip for the visitors.
- Austin are unbeaten in five games, drawing four and winning one, and the last head-to-head ended 2-1 to the visitors in the 2025 US Open Cup.
- The hosts have been better when they can control the phases with Davy Arnaud's 5-2-3 system giving them the ability to transition in wingback numbers, arrive in the box or deliver set-pieces.
Head-to-Head
- Austin are unbeaten in five games, drawing four and winning one, and the last head-to-head ended 2-1 to the visitors in the 2025 US Open Cup.
- The head-to-head record is tied 1-1 over the previous two games, which suggests this derby will be tighter than the table suggests it should be, with the midfield and half-spaces likely to decide the tempo.
Key Players
Sam Surridge 's 16 goals in 21 MLS 2026 appearances, while Austin's Christian Ramirez has scored nine in 23 MLS 2026 games and his four in the last five are keeping the Verde & Black up top.
Betting Insights
- So the 1.84 MLS 2026 odds on Nashville SC look a bit short when you compare them with Austin's 3.95 and the 3.65 odds on the draw.
- Austin FC are on a five-game unbeaten run and can certainly make this a close game, even if they don't win, so draw no bet makes sense for Nashville.
Prediction
- But Nashville's compact, yet aggressive, 4-2-2-2/4-3-3 style is set up to deny opponents those things, choking up build-up and hitting fast in transition.
- The away side are on a winning streak of two and have won 5, drawn 5 and lost 3 in 13 away games, which is the sort of record that suggests they can cope with anything Austin throw at them.
- Nashville have conceded just 9 goals in those 13 away trips and it's a big reason why they travel like a hard nut to crack, making a draw no bet or Under 3.5 goals the sensible plays.
