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MLS matchday 35 is upon us and the weekend’s fixtures are laced with narratives. From Supporters Shield and playoff implications to local bragging rights, let’s dig into the big talking points ahead of the games.
Fixture of the weekend
This may just be the biggest Hudson River Derby of all time. It’s a battle for the all-important fourth place in the Eastern Conference to earn home-field advantage in at least the opening round of the playoffs.
NYCFC come into the clash in seventh, three points back of the Red Bulls in fourth place — points are at an absolute premium. Sandro Schwarz’s side could give themselves some breathing room in the race, or a slip could see them fall all the way back down the ladder.
The form charts do not look good for either side. The Pigeons are winless in nine straight games, while the Red Bulls have failed to hold onto leads throughout the campaign.
The two New York sides, well New Jersey for one if we’re being technical, have never met in the playoffs, but this may as well come with the same implications.
Player to watch
Jul 17, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White (24) reacts during the first half against Sporting Kansas City at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Brian White has finally returned to the pitch for the Vancouver Whitecaps after a lengthy injury absence, and the club’s all-time leading scorers appears to have not skipped a beat.
White has scored in both MLS games since making his return, and featured for the entirety of Vancouver’s win on penalties over Toronto in the Canadian Championship.
With the late summer addition of Stuart Armstrong and now the return of Brian White, Vancouver have put together a solid little spine ahead of the playoff push.
Three questions ahead of the weekend
What type of LAFC will we get against FC Cincinnati?
In what itself could have been the game of the weekend, LAFC will travel to Eastern Conference contenders FC Cincinnati on Saturday just days after securing the club’s first ever US Open Cup trophy in extra-time against Sporting KC.
While the champagne was likely flowing deep into early Thursday morning in Los Angeles, the Black and Gold will have to shake off the hangover and turn their focus back to an MLS campaign that has begun to slip away from them in recent weeks.
LAFC have not won in the league since July 21, and are in danger of slipping all the way to seventh by the end of weekend after being considered Supporters Shield contenders only a month ago.
Can Miami bounce back in the chase for history?
Inter Miami need 10 points from a possible 12 to close out the season and set the record for most points in regular season history. That leaves them just a shred of a wiggle room as they head into a clash with Charlotte over the weekend.
After dropping two points at the death in New York last time out, Miami will look to bounce back and find a way to replicate the form they discovered without Lionel Messi, but this time with the great one back in the team.
With a game against Columbus right around the corner, Tata Martino’s men will need to be at their scintillating best in the coming weeks to make history.
Can Nashville pull off a miracle in the dying weeks of the season?
The Tennessee club looked all but down and out in last month or so, and at their worst went four games without scoring a goal before pulling off an unlikely draw against Cincinnati last weekend.
Yet B.J. Callaghan’s side, lead by the improved form of star attackers Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge are still in the race to qualify for the playoffs in the east.
Nashville sit just three points back of 9th in the conference, and with a winnable game against a struggling New England side this weekend, there is every chance they could go level on points with a playoff team by this time on Monday.