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• Atlanta United v Charlotte FC: Five Stripes looking to build on impressive Miami win

  Gonzalo Pineda is hoping Atlanta United can use their win over high-flying Inter Miami as a turning point ahead of Charlotte FC's visit on Sunday.

  The Five Stripes beat Lionel Messi's Miami 3-1 in midweek, snapping a nine-match winless streak in the MLS in the process.

  It means they move closer to the playoff places in the Eastern Conference, and Pineda is confident they can positively build on this result.

  "I really want to [use the Miami win as a turning point]," Pineda said.

  "I want to find the right words and connection with them individually, collectively, so we can make that big, big victory our turning point in our season and in three or four months, we can look to Miami and say it was the important one.

  "That's when we came back to who we are. I hope that happens, but we have to focus on the next one.

  "It's massively important [to win at home] because we haven't won there in a while. I think our fans deserve to have some joy on Sunday and I hope we can give them that."

  Charlotte's five-match unbeaten run came to an end against New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, with their 3-1 defeat also the first time they have conceded since the start of that run.

  Dean Smith is aware of the rivalry between the two clubs' supporters and wants to use it to give his players an added incentive.

  "Derbies are really important because bragging rights are everything," said Smith.

  "We're a young club still, we'll build up those rivalries, but the players will be aware of it - I'll make them aware of it - because it's important to our supporters."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Atlanta – Saba Lobjanidze

  Lobjanidze scored his first career MLS brace in Atlanta's win over Miami on Wednesday. It was the 48th multi-goal game by an Atlanta player in a regular-season league match, more than any other team since they joined the league in 2017.

  Charlotte – Ben Bender

  Bender scored his first goal of the 2024 season on Wednesday after scoring three times in 2022 and 2023 for Charlotte. The American is the first player to score in all three MLS seasons for Charlotte FC.

  MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN

  Atlanta ended a nine-match regular-season winless run (D4 L5) with a 3-1 win at Miami on Wednesday. The Five Stripes return home, where they have lost four consecutive league matches after having never previously lost three in a row at home.

  Meanwhile, Charlotte saw their five-match unbeaten run come to an end with a 3-1 loss to the Red Bulls on Wednesday. Still, Charlotte's 22 points through 16 games are their most at this stage of a season in club history.

  The four all-time meetings between Atlanta and Charlotte have been split with each team winning twice, once at home and once on the road. Both teams won at home in the 2022 season before winning on each other's field in the 2023 season.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Atlanta – 48.2%

  Draw – 25.9%

  Charlotte – 25.9%

• Everton to 'assess all options' as 777 Partners takeover falls through

  Everton will "assess all options" regarding the club's ownership after a proposed takeover by 777 Partners fell through on Saturday.

  Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri agreed to sell his 94 per cent stake in the club to the US-based consortium last September, but the Premier League refused to sign off on the takeover.

  The deal was repeatedly delayed as 777 failed to meet the Premier League's required conditions of ownership, though the consortium provided financial support to the club for several months. 

  Everton lost eight points to two deductions in 2023-24 for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, but still finished 14 points clear of the relegation zone.

  Moshiri is now looking for alternative buyers to come forward, with Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor having expressed an interest in investing last month.

  The club said in a statement: "The agreement between 777 Partners and Blue Heaven Holdings Limited for the sale and purchase of the majority shareholding in the club expired today. 

  "The board of directors recognises the considerable level of financial support 777 Partners has provided the club over recent months and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for this.

  "The club will continue to operate as usual while it works with Blue Heaven Holdings to assess all options for the club's future ownership.

  "The board of directors would like to thank everyone connected to Everton for their patience over recent months and reiterate its commitment to providing further updates when it is appropriate to do so through the club's official communication channels."

• Nashville SC v New England Revolution: Porter still seeking improvements in Rev's final third

  Caleb Porter has praised New England Revolution's performances in recent weeks but admitted they are still working hard to improve their finishing, as they prepare to travel to Nashville SC.

  New England sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with seven points having won just two of their 13 games so far this season.

  More worryingly, the Revolution have scored just nine goals this campaign, and have failed to score in either of their last two defeats.

  Porter said he is pleased with the progress his team are showing in their performances, but it would not matter if they could not hit the back of the net.

  "It's easier when you can show them the film and there are a lot of positives, but it's tough when you're not getting results because the confidence isn't sky high," the Revs head coach said.

  "These guys have had a great mentality and great attitude. They've come every day to training to work and improve, and we've focused a lot this week on the final third. I really feel that's the missing piece right now.

  "The players know we're playing well from box-to-box, but to win games, you have to actually score a goal."

  Nashville, meanwhile, sit in ninth, occupying one of the playoff spots after a four-game unbeaten run.

  Interim head coach Rumbani Munthali earned his first win in charge with a 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati in midweek.

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Nashville – Hany Mukhtar

  The Revolution are one of just five teams Hany Mukhtar has faced but never scored against in MLS.

  He has only played more games against Cincinnati (six) and Philadelphia (five) without scoring against them than he has against New England (four).

  New England – Carles Gil

  New England's goal difference dropped to -17 following their defeat to New York City FC last Saturday.

  The Revs have scored just nine goals all season, split among four players, with Gil their top scorer on four.

  MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE SC WIN

  Nashville defeated New England 3-2 in the last meeting between the sides in October 2023. The first five encounters featured five total goals - also split 3-2 - in favour of the Boys in Gold.

  Nashville are unbeaten in four straight MLS matches (won two, drawn two) following a 2-0 win over Cincinnati on Wednesday.

  It has been nearly a year since the Coyotes have won consecutive league matches, last doing so during a four-match winning run between May and June last season.

  The Revolution are the fifth team in the post-shootout era (since 2000) to lose 10 of their first 13 matches of a season, and the first since Montreal in 2018.

  No team in the post-shootout era has recorded 11 defeats in their first 14 matches of a season.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Nashville – 51.2%

  Draw – 24.8%

  New England – 24%