Nashville Sc vs Dc United Picks and Predictions May 17th 2025

Nashville SC returns to action at Geodis Park on Saturday night

brimming with confidence and hungry for more home-cooked success. With five consecutive wins across all competitions at home, including a historic triumph over the New York Red Bulls, the club is surging into their Eastern Conference campaign with purpose.

Currently sitting fourth in the East with a 7-4-2 record and 23 points, Nashville has found its stride. The catalyst? None other than 2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar, whose recent form has been nothing short of sensational.

Mukhtar Sparks Nashville’s Attack

Hany Mukhtar has been the pulse of Nashville’s resurgence. In just his last three home matches, the German star has netted four goals, including the decisive strike in their first-ever win against the New York Red Bulls—a feat that took eight meetings to achieve.

With six goals and four assists this season, Mukhtar continues to link up effectively with Sam Surridge (6 goals, 3 assists), giving Nashville one of the most potent duos in the league. Check our Soccer Picks from Soccer Expert Handicappers

Fortress Geodis: Nashville’s Home Advantage

Coach B.J. Callaghan is proud of the home form, noting:

“We want Geodis Park to be a really difficult place to play. And right now, it is.”

The stats back that up. Six home wins in 2025 have already surpassed last season’s total of five, a year in which the club missed the playoffs for the first time since joining MLS in 2020.

D.C. United Struggles Without Benteke

On the other side, D.C. United arrives in Music City under pressure. With just 13 points from 13 matches (3-6-4), the team is winless in their last two and hasn’t scored a goal during that stretch. Their offensive woes are compounded by the absence of leading scorer Christian Benteke (six goals), who suffered an ankle injury during their recent 0-0 draw against NYCFC.

Without their talisman, D.C. will struggle to find the back of the net—especially against a Nashville team that’s locked in defensively and thrives in front of their home crowd.

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Barraza Shines Despite D.C. Offensive Struggles

A silver lining for United has been the performance of goalkeeper Luis Barraza, who made six saves against NYCFC. In six starts, he’s allowed just eight goals—a strong individual showing amid team-wide struggles.

However, D.C. United’s attack remains ineffective, having managed just seven shots on target over their last two matches. Coach Troy Lesesne acknowledged the issue, saying:

“We did a good job of breaking the first line but just didn’t really progress the ball enough.”

Tactical Preview: What to Expect

Expect Nashville to press high and dominate possession, using Mukhtar’s vision and Surridge’s movement to exploit a weakened D.C. defense. The visitors will likely focus on staying compact and relying on counters—but without Benteke, their threat in transition is minimal.

Callaghan respects the opponent’s structure:

“D.C.’s gonna present unique issues for us by the way that they play, a really good pressing team. They’re hungry for a win.”

Still, all signs point to another strong night for the boys in gold.

Nashville vs. D.C. United: By the Numbers

Nashville SC

• Record: 7-4-2
• Points: 23
• Key Player: Hany Mukhtar (6G, 4A)
• Last 3 Matches: W-W-W

D.C. United

• Record: 3-6-4
• Points: 13
• Key Player: Luis Barraza (GK)
• Last 3 Matches: L-D-D (0 goals scored)

Match Info

• Match: Nashville SC vs. D.C. United
• Date: Saturday, May 18
• Venue: Geodis Park, Nashville, TN
• Kickoff: 7:30 PM (local time)

Prediction

With momentum, a fully-fit squad, and one of the league’s top performers in Mukhtar, Nashville SC is heavily favored to secure another home victory. D.C. United’s injury issues and lack of offensive output make this a tall order for the visitors.