Philadelphia Union vs Dc United Picks and Predictions April 26th 2025

Both Teams Eye Momentum After Breaking Skids

The Philadelphia Union and D.C. United meet Saturday night with both clubs hoping to build on much-needed victories and gain momentum in the MLS Eastern Conference race.

Philadelphia (5-3-1, 16 points) ended a frustrating three-game winless stretch with a commanding 3-0 victory over Atlanta United last weekend. Despite being down a man for much of the second half, the Union showcased resilience and opportunism in the win, leaning on key contributors like Tai Baribo and Quinn Sullivan.

“It’s a version of us,” Union coach Bradley Carnell said about D.C. United’s recent turnaround. “They’ve kind of weathered a storm and they’re trending really well.”

Philadelphia’s offense, which had gone quiet during its skid, looked re-energized against Atlanta. Baribo continued his strong season with his seventh goal, while Sullivan recorded his fifth assist. The Union will be without Jovan Lukic on Saturday after he was sent off last match following two yellow cards.

D.C. United Looking to Build After Breakthrough

D.C. United (2-4-3, 9 points) similarly snapped out of a slump, ending a four-game losing streak with a gritty 2-1 road win over the New York Red Bulls. Joao Peglow, a 23-year-old Brazilian forward, announced his arrival with two dazzling goals, helping D.C. recover from the early loss of top scorer Christian Benteke to injury.

Benteke, who leads the team with five goals after topping MLS with 23 last season, is questionable for Saturday’s match.

“He’s made a difference for us, even when he’s not scoring,” D.C. coach Troy Lesesne said about Peglow. “Now he’s starting to get settled, and that’s big for us.”

D.C. United still faces major defensive concerns, having conceded an Eastern Conference-high 19 goals. They’ll be tested heavily against a Union squad that hasn’t lost to them in their last seven meetings.

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Key Storylines and What’s at Stake

The Union are targeting their seventh playoff berth in eight seasons and will look to keep their edge at home, where they remain difficult to break down even when undermanned. Meanwhile, D.C. United is pushing to return to the postseason for the first time since 2019.

Both teams are trending positively, but Saturday’s clash will reveal which side is better equipped to sustain a turnaround.

Fans tracking MLS Expert Picks will find Saturday’s match an intriguing spot to monitor two teams trying to build momentum as May approaches.

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