B.J. Callaghan knows Nashville SC have struggled to recapture their early-season form since MLS returned from the World Cup break, but he is sure they will return to those standards ahead of visiting D.C. United on Saturday.

Nashville remain the Supporters' Shield frontrunners with 39 points from 17 games this season, though they were beaten 1-0 by Orlando City last Saturday.

That defeat – their first in league play since April 5 – allowed in-form Inter Miami to close to within two points of Nashville at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Nashville's three games since the World Cup hiatus have all been tight, with Callaghan's side defeating Atlanta United and New York City 1-0 prior to their loss to Orlando.

"I think it is a little different for each game. Right now, we are getting the ball into the box and into the areas that we want," Callaghan told reporters after that loss last time out.

"But at the moment, it just comes down to technical execution and the decision-making, to find the right runners.

"We understand that this isn't the best version of ourselves, but we're okay with that. We are constantly striving to improve, and we'll keep working to improve all sorts of areas with those same standards and the same expectations."

Defender Josh Bauer echoed those sentiments and stressed that there is no panic at Geodis Park just yet.

"We are a team that expects to win every game, so this one stings a little bit, but I don't think we're sounding any alarm bells over this," the centre-back said.

"We're still top of the Supporters' Shield race, and they [Orlando] are a good team."

D.C. currently occupy the final wild-card spot in the West, having beaten Toronto FC 2-1 last time out, with Tai Baribo scoring a decisive penalty deep into second-half stoppage time.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

D.C. United – Tai Baribo 

Baribo scored D.C.'s winner versus Toronto from the penalty spot, 10 minutes into stoppage time.

It was the latest goal D.C. United have ever scored in regular-season play, and Baribo is now on 10 goals for 2026 – his second straight year in double figures in MLS play (18 goals in 2026).

Nashville SC – Alex Muyl 

Muyl has scored six of his 23 career regular-season goals against D.C. United, having not netted more than three times against any other single opponent.

Only one of those six goals was scored at Audi Field, though, netting for Nashville in a 1–1 draw back in May 2023.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC WIN

Nashville's 10-match regular-season unbeaten run came to an end last time out, following their narrow defeat to Orlando. 

Each of Nashville's last three MLS games have seen one goal scored, so it would be no surprise if Saturday's match is a tight affair. 

Nashville boast an excellent record against D.C., only losing two of the teams' 12 meetings across all competitions (W6 D4) with both defeats coming in the 2024 season. 

They have outscored D.C. 24–14 over those 12 meetings, and even though D.C. have lost just one of their last 10 regular-season games (W3 D6), the visitors go in as favourites.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 30.8%

Nashville SC – 43.5%

Draw – 25.7%