Nashville SC vs. D.C. United
2026 MLS Regular Season | Matchday 12
Saturday, May 9 | 8:00 p.m. CT
GEODIS Park | Nashville, TN
Broadcast Details
Watch | Apple TV
Listen | 104.5 The Zone
Nashville SC returns to GEODIS Park Saturday night for another high-octane MLS matchup, this time against D.C. United. The Boys in Gold hold a commanding lead atop the Eastern Conference with 23 points through 10 games — four more than New England in second — and have an opportunity to sail further ahead should they beat fifth-placed D.C.
Key Storylines
Muyl’s time to shine?
If one unfamiliar with Nashville’s history were to hazard a guess for the club’s all-time top goalscorer against D.C. United, they would likely select one of Hany Mukhtar or Sam Surridge. They are, after all, unquestionably the most lethal attacking duo the club has ever employed. But the crown for this specific matchup belongs to another longtime Boy in Gold.
Alex Muyl has been a staple of Nashville’s setup since its inaugural season, logging more than a thousand minutes in the 2020 campaign before eclipsing 1,500 in 2021 and over two thousand in every season since. Muylmay not have the astronomical numbers of Surridge, Mukhtar or 2026 offseason acquisition Cristian Espinoza, but his work rate, selflessness and positional sense have made him a regular in a team which has changed substantially over his six years in Music City. One of his other constants in that span has been the grip he holds on matches against D.C. Nearly 50% of his league goals (five of 12) for Nashville have come against the squad from the nation’s capital, including braces in August 2021 and October 2024.
The Boys in Gold have shown numerous times this season that one of their greatest strengths is their depth, particularly in the attacking ranks. All members of its forward line have scored at some point. But with a packed schedule and a slew of players nursing injuries ahead, it’s likely that more responsibility to make a difference in both the center of the park and on the wing will be thrust Muyl’s way. That’s especially true against one of the most improved sides in the league from 2025 to 2026 riding a four-game unbeaten run. Fortunately, there is no club Muyl has been better at punishing throughout his career in Nashville than D.C. If you’repicking for a game for Muyl to shine in — in his 300th career regular-season appearance — his past says this might be it.
Blocking Baribo
One of the keys to last weekend’s match against Philadelphia for Nashville was figuring out how to make sure it could shut down a new-look attack after star forward Tai Baribo — who netted 16 times in 2025 — departedthis offseason. This time, it’s figuring out how to shut down Baribo himself.
The Israel international made a blockbuster move away from Philadelphia to D.C. United over the winter, taking up one of its Designated Player spots alongside fellow addition Louis Munteanu, and has enjoyed a prolific start. He has six goals in eight appearances (all starts), including the lone goal in D.C.’s opening-day victory against his former team, and a hat trick last weekend against Red Bull New York. For all his goalscoring exploits, however, Baribo has never netted against Nashville in his six previous meetings in all competitions, and lost all three games he played in 2025. While D.C. United is much improved from last season, Baribo’s record against Nashville combined with the Boys in Gold’s imperious defense makes Saturday’s assignment look difficult. Brian Schwake is among the best keepers in MLS while the center back tandem of Maxwell Woledzi and Jeisson Palacios might be the best in MLS, conceding just six goals through 10 matches. Only Seattle Sounders have surrendered fewer times than Nashville.
D.C. will need its talismanic striker to play at the top of its game if it hopes to become the only MLS side to beat the Boys in Gold at GEODIS Park this season. History, at least, says they will be prepared to make sure he can’t.
Series History & What’s Next
Nashville has dominated the all-time series with D.C. United in regular-season play, holding five wins to its opponent’s two with three draws sprinkled between, as well as a 17-10 goal advantage. The Boys in Gold also commanded last season’s slate of matches, securing a clean sheet at home before a 1-0 road win and 5-2 hammering in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal en route to the title.
Nashville has a short rest after the conclusion of Saturday’s match, heading North to take on New England in Foxborough, Mass., on Wednesday night before a home matchup against LAFC at GEODIS Park next Sunday, May 17.
