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• Nashville SC v Toronto: Smith refuses to rule out playoff push

  Nashville SC are ignoring any suggestions that an MLS playoff position is out of their reach ahead of the midweek clash with Toronto at GEODIS Park.

  That was the message from the Boys in Gold head coach Gary Smith, whose side sit 13th in the Eastern Conference after their 1-0 defeat to Charlotte FC last time out.

  Nashville are still only three points adrift of ninth-placed Philadelphia Union and a place in the postseason, with Smith refusing to give up hope.

  "I don't believe, and nor do any of the guys in the group, that we are by any way, shape or form, out of the hunt for a playoffs position," he said. 

  "A couple of results get you right back in to the mix again, and that's, of course, our challenge over the next two games."

  Toronto are fourth in the East standings after their 3-2 defeat against New York City FC in their last outing.

  Visiting head coach John Herdman is looking forward to facing a familiar face in Jacob Shaffelburg when his side visit, however.

  "He's flying at Nashville," Herdman remarked on Monday. "I've seen some stats at the weekend about his impact on their team and how many touches he has in that opposition half and how many crosses are leading to goals. 

  "I remember having him in that Gold Cup recently. He came off the bench and scored against the US. It shows where he's at now as a player."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Nashville SC – Sam Surridge

  Former Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge continues to provide the goals for Nashville this term, scoring a club-leading five in MLS this campaign.

  The Englishman failed to find the target against Charlotte, but managed a hat-trick against CF Montreal in his previous outing before that.

  Toronto – Prince Osei Owusu

  In the absence of the in-form Federico Bernardeschi, Prince Osei Owusu will be expected to step up against Nashville.

  The Toronto forward leads the club scoring charts with five goals in 12 MLS appearances this year, two ahead of any teammate in the league.

  MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

  Opta's win probability has Nashville as the overwhelming favourites for this one, yet a draw may be more likely considering each team's recent form and head-to-head records.

  Toronto are unbeaten in five straight meetings with Nashville (W2 D3), with the Boys in Gold the only side the Canadians have played three or more times since the start of the 2022 season and not lost against.

  Nashville have also won only two of their last 16 matches against MLS opponents in all competitions (D6 L8), though 11 of the 12 points they have collected over that time have come at home (W2 D5 L3).

  Smith's hosts have conceded at least once in 12 consecutive matches in all competitions, too, their longest streak in club history after opening the season with three straight clean sheets.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Nashville SC win: 55.4%

  Toronto win:18.6%

  Draw: 26%

• 'The serve to win Wimbledon' - Guardiola admits Man City pressure heading into final day

  Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will feel pressure similar to "the serve to win Wimbledon" when they look to secure the Premier League title on the final day of the season.

  The Citizens took a giant stride towards clinching a record-breaking fourth successive top-flight crown with a 2-0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday.

  Erling Haaland struck twice in the second half as City leapfrogged Arsenal to top spot, while moving two points clear of the Gunners with one match remaining.

  Guardiola's side, who welcome West Ham to the Etihad Stadium on the final day, are red-hot favourites to seal the deal with a victory, with Opta predicting they have an 84.3 per cent chance of winning the league now.

  But the Spaniard admits it is not a foregone conclusion and will not be plain sailing, and highlighted similar memorable examples of where City have had to really dig deep to get over the line.

  "The tennis players say 'the serve to win Wimbledon', the last game is the most difficult one," he told BBC Sport. "We know what we're playing for. The tension is there."

  "[The players] were playing for the consequences of the result [in the first half against Tottenham]," he told reporters in his news conference. "When you do that, you are going to lose the Premier League. You cannot perform to your level. They are human beings, I understand the pressure.

  "Not even Arsenal played well against Manchester United [the Gunners' 1-0 win at Old Trafford]. They knew if they did not win there, they would not win the Premier League. It will be the same on Sunday for us against West Ham.

  "We will feel the pressure. Look at Aston Villa a few seasons ago, 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go. Sergio Aguero against QPR, went to 93 minutes. It is normal. That is why we talk and say everyone has to relax, and do what they have to do. That is all."

• Real Salt Lake v Seattle Sounders: Schmetzer enjoying playoff pressure

  Seattle Sounders visit Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake in midweek and Brian Schmetzer is enjoying the challenges of chasing an MLS playoff spot.

  The visiting Sounders have two wins and a draw in their last three outings after defeating Portland Timbers 2-1 on the road.

  Seattle sit 10th in the West, just three points shy of St. Louis City above them, and Schmetzer knows the pressure is there to chase a postseason position.

  "We're three points from the playoff line, that pressure is still there," said Schmetzer.

  "We're still too far down the standings for our liking. But you go to Philly and get points, you come here [to Portland] and get points.

  "You have 120 minutes of kids gritting it out [in the U.S. Open Cup]. I can sense that the group is finding its form."

  Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan added: "We feel we definitely have a good enough team to compete for trophies this year."

  The hosts are unbeaten in their last eight league matches, sitting top of the West standings by two points heading into this midweek clash.

  Pablo Mastroeni's side were held to a 2-2 draw with LA Galaxy in their last outing, with this now the chance to respond on home turf.

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango

  Cristian Arango scored both of Real Salt Lake’s goals on Saturday to take his total to 11 for the season.

  Only five players have scored more than 11 goals in a season for RSL, including just one, Damir Kreilach (twice), since 2015.

  Seattle Sounders – Raul Ruidiaz

  Raul Ruidiaz scored the winning goal for Seattle against Portland on Sunday, his seventh goal of the season, and the fifth different game he's scored in.

  The Sounders have collected 10 points (W3 D1 L1) in the five games in which Ruidiaz has scored compared to three points (W0 D3 L4) in the seven he hasn't.

  MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

  Salt Lake are unbeaten in 13 straight regular-season home matches against Seattle (W10 D3) with the Sounders' only ever league win at RSL coming in 2011.

  RSL has had just one longer home unbeaten run against a single opponent, going 18 in a row at home against the Colorado Rapids without losing from 2007—19, making them the favourites for this clash.

  Yet Seattle have won consecutive away matches for the first time since March-April last season.

  The Sounders scored five times in those matches after scoring just four in their first five on the road this season, suggesting goals are on the cards here.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Real Salt Lake win – 40.3%

  Seattle Sounders win – 30.1%

  Draw – 29.6%