Preview: Charlotte FC vs. San Diego – prediction, team news, lineups

Each aiming to proceed spectacular begins to the Main League Soccer 2025 season, Charlotte FC and San Diego will do battle on the Financial institution of America Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts sit second within the Jap Convention after eight outings on the again of consecutive victories, whereas their guests occupy third spot within the Western Convention of their maiden marketing campaign.

Match preview

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Charlotte FC return to the Financial institution of America Stadium on Saturday looking for a 3rd straight victory to strengthen their standing on the prime finish of the MLS Jap Convention, having made a quick begin to their fourth-ever season.

Following an Eleventh-placed end and first-round playoff exit final time round, the Crown presently discover themselves second having earned 16 factors from their first eight outings, successful 5 and solely dropping two of these.

That solitary defeat got here away at Colorado Rapids in late March after consecutive victories, and Dean Smith‘s aspect have since bounced again with one other pair of back-to-back wins, firstly making an prompt return to successful methods at residence to Nashville SC, having trailed 1-0 heading into the ultimate 5 minutes earlier than Wilfried Zaha levelled from the penalty spot and Idan Gorno netted a Ninetieth-minute winner.

A visit to CF Montreal then adopted final weekend, and the North Carolina outfit once more took all three factors as Pep Biel netted the one objective of the sport contained in the opening 20 minutes.

Having shortly constructed confidence within the new time period, Charlotte FC will purpose to additional set up their place within the Jap Convention’s main pack with a 3rd consecutive win and a sixth league victory of the marketing campaign on Saturday whereas sustaining an ideal residence document, having come out on prime in every of their 4 outings on the Financial institution of America Stadium to date.

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They face a tricky check, although, with the guests travelling on the again of a equally spectacular begin within the Western Convention of their debut MLS marketing campaign.

Following their 2023 basis, San Diego kicked off life in Main League Soccer in February and have loved a delightful opening run, sitting third of their Convention with 14 factors on the board from eight outings.

Each of their defeats to date have come within the final 4 video games, although, as Mikey Varas‘s aspect fell brief away at Austin FC, solely to bounce again with consecutive 3-2 and 3-0 residence wins over Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders respectively.

Aiming to construct on these outcomes with a third-ever aggressive away win, SDFC visited Colorado Rapids final weekend and fell simply brief in a high-scoring encounter, as Luca de la Torre drew them stage early within the second half and Tomas Angel was solely capable of scale back the deficit to 3-2 within the 89th minute after Darren Yapi and Rafa Navarro gave the hosts a two-goal lead.

Nonetheless with loads of positives to take from their begin to their first MLS season, however having now misplaced their final two away video games, San Diego will bid to bounce again to successful methods on Saturday with the prospect to maneuver again to second spot of their Convention standings.

Charlotte FC Main League Soccer type:

San Diego Main League Soccer type:

Staff Information

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Charlotte FC are set to stay with out key winger Wilfried Zaha, who missed final weekend’s win over CF Montreal by way of harm, whereas Jahlane Forbes, Brandon Cambridge and Nimfasha Berchimas are additionally confined to the therapy room.

Dean Smith might subject an unchanged beginning XI from that victory, with Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett sure to proceed their partnership on the coronary heart of a again 4.

Pep Biel will proceed to play a key function in midfield having contributed three objectives and 5 assists in eight MLS appearances this season, whereas Kerwin Vargas ought to once more be part of Patrick Agyemang and Liel Abada in a entrance three in Zaha’s anticipated absence.

San Diego are contending with a number of harm problems with their very own forward of Saturday’s journey, with Emmanuel Boateng, Luca Bombino and Marcus Ingvartsen set to overlook out once more.

Tomas Angel will hope to return into the assault from the outset, having netted his first objective of the season off the bench final day out, whereas Alex Mighten may even hope to return on the wing from the outset.

Former Napoli and PSV Eindhoven man Hirving Lozano will proceed in a entrance three, having managed one objective and 4 assists in his first 5 appearances for the membership, whereas Celta Vigo loanee Luca de la Torre is a key man in the midst of their 4-3-3 setup alongside Jeppe Tverskov and veteran Anibal Godoy.

Charlotte FC doable beginning lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Ream; Westwood, Biel, Bronico; Vargas, Agyemang, Abada

San Diego doable beginning lineup:
Dos Santos; Loffelsend, McNair, McVey, Negri; Godoy, Tverskov, De La Torre; Angel, Valakari, Lozano

We are saying: Charlotte FC 2-1 San Diego

In what guarantees to be a good encounter between two sides having fun with sturdy runs to open their MLS campaigns, we give a slight edge to Charlotte FC, given the standard of their squad and their excellent residence document to date.

For knowledge evaluation of the most definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.

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