Nashville SC vs Minnesota United Prediction & Betting Tips - Leagues Cup

Prediction published on 09/08/2023, 22:21  by Joseph King | Modified on 10/08/2023 at 22:21 in Football Predictions

The quarter-final of the Leagues Cup sees an all-MLS clash when Nashville host Minnesota United. The winner of this tie will go on to face either LAFC or Monterrey in the semi-final. Nashville progressed to this stage of the tournament following their penalty shootout victory over Club America. The two sides played out a wild 2-2 draw which saw America take the lead in the 90+4 minute only for Nashville to grab a dramatic equalizer in the 90+9 minute through new signing Sam Surridge. The result was the second straight match for Nashville that went to penalties after their round of 32 win over Cincinnati. In the Leagues cup, Nashville now have one win, one loss and two draws in the 90 minute regulation time. They’ll have the advantage of playing this fixture at Geodis Park where they have posted impressive statistics. Nashville have won eight and lost only twice in their 12 home MLS fixtures, racking up a league best +0.80 expected goal differential per 90. 

Minnesota are coming off a penalty shootout victory over their own after a 2-2 draw with Toluca in the round of 16. Like their opponents today, it was also Minnesota’s second straight match which saw them finish level after regulation time and have to be decided by shootout. This should make for a fascinating fixture given Minnesota’s excellent underlying away numbers. They rank as the best team in the Western Conference in terms of expected goal differential per 90 minutes at +0.12, the only team to post a positive number in that category. The Loons have performed better on the road this season than they have at home. They’re averaging 1.33 average points per away fixture in the MLS compared to 1.20 at home. Minnesota come into this fixture having lost only once in their last six matches.