Charlotte FC will be looking to make it a clean sweep as they head up north to face the New England Revolution.
Here are the three ingredients of the match to keep an eye on against the Revolution.
Point to Prove
Charlotte FC has proved they are a formidable opponent at home, winning three out of four total home matches this season. However, they haven't managed to earn any points playing away.
"We got to figure out ways to win on the road. I think that's the next step for us as a team," said CLTFC midfielder Brandt Bronico."
With four straight away games ahead of them (including a match in the U.S. Open Cup), the team will need to figure out those ways soon. But to begin the away stretch, they will play a familiar opponent in the New England Revolution, whom they beat 3 – 1 to earn the Club's first-ever win back in Week 4.
This match is an opportunity for CLTFC to use the lessons learned in their previous encounter, as they did with Atlanta United, to get their first away result against what is a difficult team to play against despite their recent form.
Stick With What Works
Sticking to what has been working will also aid CLTFC in their quest to earn those first away points that have eluded them. And what's been working for CLTFC this season has been playing a 442 diamond.
All three wins this season have come playing this formation, with the overall starting lineups being similar. The team has outscored opponents 6 – 1 in those three matches. Proving to be a setup that has helped the team score goals on top of providing defensive stability.
However, the team has yet to set up in the 442 in an away match. But it's been clear that it's a setup that the players have thrived in, so why not keep it going?
Carles Gil
Without a doubt, the New England Revolution's most important player is the 2021 MLS MVP, Carles Gil. And just because the Revolution has struggled as a team early into the season doesn't mean that the Spaniard can't still single-handedly win games for them.
Gil is the midfield maestro that pulls all the strings for New England. Everything flows through him. He's a complete player that can beat you with silky dribbling, pinpoint passing, or laser set pieces.
It's near impossible to completely nullify his effect on the game, but mitigating as much of his influence as possible will be critical for CLTFC. For the most part, the Crown did a good job of doing this the last time these sides met, but they had their fan's support behind them.
The best way to limit Gil's effect on a game is by making him uncomfortable early, disrupting him so that he doesn't get into a rhythm. If CLTFC can manage to do this, they will be cutting off New England's most dangerous threat.
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