Revs vs DC United preview

Saturday the New England Revolution travel to Audi Field in Washington DC to play DC United. New England is coming off a 1-0 victory vs Nashville SC. Gustavo Bou opened up his 2023 account with a goal of the week nominee to lift the Revolution. DC meanwhile travelled to New York City and lost to NYCFC 3-2. Carles Gil looks set to miss his 2nd game in a row with a hamstring injury. DC will also be without their most creative threat as Taxi Fountas is also out with a hamstring injury. Both teams have multiple injuries going into this game. Nacho Gil, Tommy Mac, Andrew Farrell have yet to play in 2023 for New England with various lower body injuries. In 4 games New England has 5 goals, but the only game where they put up a crooked number was vs Houston when Revs tallied 3. So the offense hasn't been firing at 100% as of yet. DC has been scoring, but have conceded 8 goals through 4 games. New England has 3 clean sheets out of 4 so far this year. The back 4 of Dejuan Jones, Dave Romney, Henry Kessler and Brandon Bye have been stingy so far this year. Romney and Kessler will have their hands full on Saturday night as one of the best aerial players in the league lines up across from them in Christian Benteke. Benteke has 2 goals this year both of the header variety. DC plays everything through Benteke through the middle through 4 games. Whether it's in the air or through his feet Benteke can hurt Revs. He wins more than 3/4 his aerial duels and the ball sticks to his feet when he is holding the ball up and he brings others into play. Mateusz Klich is the steady, calm customer who is pulling the strings as a CDM/CM player for DC. New England will primarily play through the outside with Brandon Bye and Dejuan Jones providing service for the forwards. With no Carles Gil this seems to be the preferred style of play Bruce Arena has chosen to break down the opposition this year. The stage is set for Saturday night in DC. New England looks to take 4 out of 5 games to begin 2023, while DC needs a result to build on the 4 points they have accumulated through 4 games to start the season.