GOAL takes a look at emerging storylines and trends ahead of MLS Matchday 4
Matchday 4 of the MLS season is on the horizon, and the conference standings are starting to take shape three weeks into the campaign.
Only two teams remain unbeaten: the Vancouver Whitecaps and Philadelphia Union, both setting the early pace while the rest of the league tries to catch up.
Around the league, several key storylines are emerging.
All three of the Columbus Crew, Seattle Sounders, and FC Cincinnati crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup midweek in unexpected fashion. Can they bounce back? Meanwhile, expansion side San Diego FC has emerged as a surprise contender through three weeks. Can Mikey Varas keep them on their unbeaten run, or will the league’s competitive nature finally catch up to them?
Elsewhere, reigning Supporters' Shield champions Inter Miami have their first shot at revenge against Atlanta United in another edition of Sunday Night Soccer on Apple TV. Can Lionel Messi and Co. take down the team that embarrassed them in the 2024 MLS postseason, or will the revamped once again prove to be Miami's kryptonite?
GOAL breaks down all that and more in The Kickoff, your weekly preview of each MLS Matchday.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportCan MLS' elite bounce back from CCC exit?
In astonishing fashion, three of MLS' best teams were all eliminated from CCC in the Round of 16. The Crew, 2024 finalists in the competition, fell to LAFC, while Seattle – the lone MLS side to ever win the competition – were eliminated by Liga MX side Cruz Azul, and FC Cincinnati by Tigres.
Now, it's up to each team and each manager to not let their shock exits reflect their MLS form heading into Matchday 4.
The Crew, who are unbeaten to start the season, clash with newcomers San Diego FC in a contest between two of the best to begin the regular season campaign. Seattle, meanwhile, tackles St. Louis CITY SC in a Western Conference battle as it looks to become the first MLS club to put a goal past Roman Burki in net.
Then, Cincy meets Wilfried Zaha and Charlotte FC in a match between two of the best clubs in the Eastern Conference. It will be a tactical battle between Dean Smith and Pat Noonan, arguably one of the most high-profile matches of the entire weekend. Each match features playoff contenders, so nothing will come easy for any club.
So, can each respective club overcome midweek disappointment to return to excellence at the weekend? Or, will their disappointment overshadow their performance?
AdvertisementImagnSan Diego FC: Legit contender in the West?
Varas has led the 2025 expansion side to an undefeated start to the season with two wins and one draw. They've defeated the reigning champions LA Galaxy, a Western Conference contender in Real Salt Lake and earned a point against CITY. Forward Anders Dreyer has excelled in their attack, with three goals already to his name, while U.S. international Luca De La Torre has absolutely ran the midfield in the middle of the park to begin their campaign.
So now, the question in the air: are they legit?
The club lost superstar winger Chucky Lozano to an injury on Matchday 2, and he's set to remain sidelined through Week 4 the club confirmed this week. However, if their performance against RSL last weekend is anything to go off of, they're ready to contend without him.
“We're hungry because we want to get better,” said Varas after their win over RSL. "We want to win these types of games, but have a bit more control of the game at the end of the day.”
They'll have a chance to prove any doubters wrong on Matchday 4 when they clash with the Crew. Wilfried Nancy's side is arguably MLS's best-run team and has won significant trophies each year since his arrival in 2023. If SDFC can find a result on Saturday against one of the league's finest, heads will officially start to turn.
Getty Images SportIs it time for Messi's revenge?
The 2024 MLS Playoffs saw Atlanta upset No. 1 seed Inter Miami in the Round 1 Best-of-3 series, with the taking Games 2 and 3 in the series to eliminate the . It was an utter catastrophe for the South Beach club, and it was an embarrassing exit for Messi and Co.
However, Sunday presents the club with the prospect of revenge in a star-studded affair between the two clubs.
Atlanta bolstered their roster over the offseason with the recruitment of MLS-record transfer Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almiron, adding to their already threatening attack, while Miami returns with the likes of Messi and Luis Suarez, along with the in-form duo of Telasco Segovia and Tadeo Allende.
The are unbeaten through seven matches across all competitions to begin 2025, and on Thursday evening, they booked their spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals after defeating Jamaican side Cavalier SC. Messi himself returned in the contest after missing three-straight matches due to "load management," and now looks set to play a part against Atlanta this evening in what is slating up to be the most anticipated match of the weekend.
Can Miami exact revenge on Atlanta? Or, will Ronny Deila's side prove to be their weakness once again? The result of Sunday's clash will say a lot about both sides.
Getty Images SportWhat's trending?Philadelphia Union striker Tai Baribo can set the MLS record for the most goals through the first four matches of a season against Nashville SC if he can score two goals to bring his season total to eight. Currently, the record is held by former LA Galaxy striker Edson Buddle, who bagged seven goals in four matches in 2010.St. Louis CITY SC can become the third team in MLS history, joining the 2012 Vancouver Whitecaps and 2007 New York Red Bulls, to keep four-straight clean sheets to begin the season. Through three games, CITY have recorded two 0-0 draws and a recent 3-0 victory over the Galaxy.San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza will record his 113th-straight appearance for the club if he appears this weekend, tying David Ousted for the third-longest streak in MLS history.
