Match Predictions: FC Dallas vs Nashville SC

There's some good news for FC Dallas as they welcome red hot Nashville SC to Frisco. And some bad news. Get our match predictions here.

In his media call on Friday, FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez shared some good news for FC Dallas fans after a disappointing midweek game - Maarten Paes is likely to start after missing a few games in goal.

“Jimmy has done an amazing job. He was ready for the opportunity. He was calm and composed. He did a very good job,” Nico told reporters. “Maarten is doing much better every single day. He is strong to start.”

Jimmy certainly showed why he is a capable backup keeper, but no doubt the team will prefer to have Maarten back in goal, organizing things and providing his stalwart shot-blocking skills. They’ll need it as they face one of the best strikers in the league, Hany Mukhtar.

Now, the bad news hits a little hard. The team will hit the pitch with the same roster as Wednesday, minus Edwin Cerrillo who picked up his fifth yellow card and will serve a suspension. The midfield is running on fumes at this point with Sebastian Lletget, Tsiki, and Edwin out.

Facundo Quignon only played half a match, so he should have less worn-down legs but this could mean Nolan Norris gets his second consecutive start.

All in all, it poses a lot of questions to this FC Dallas team who hopes to protect its own house in the midst of this injury-depleted stretch.

“They are a physical team. We will have to be up there in intensity. We have to play our game, something we didn't do well there,” Nico said about Nashville. “Lately, we have been doing better. If we are able to do that and play with that intensity and we keep being solid, I think we will be able to win this game.”

I could see Nico try to tinker with the lineup a bit to make the most out of the lineup. Could you move Jesus Ferreira to a deeper midfield role for this match? Would Alan Velasco make sense to start more centrally? Do you run out Junqua again as a sort of quasi-midfielder? However, I don’t know how much you over think things. Jesus is at his best up top. Jader Obrian has been playing fairly well on the right, and Velasco is a menace on the left. Jesus Jimenez was unlucky not to score on Wednesday, so it is likely Nico runs out the 4-4-2 again.

It’s going to be an interesting one.

Here is what our contributors predict:

Ismael Belkoura anticipates a defensive draw, 0-0.

Jose Carmona predicts a 1-1 draw. He says, “I’m being optimistic. Nashville is red hot and didn’t play midweek. Jesus with the lone goal. I will add that Jesus is overdue for a multi-goal performance.”

For me, I’ll go with a 1-1 draw as well. These injuries are hitting the team hard, and a draw at home is hardly a bad thing considering the circumstances.

What do you predict for the match?