Soccer <\/p>\n
And then there were three.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
After the first five matchdays of the MLS season, only a trio of teams remain undefeated: LAFC<\/a>, Nashville SC<\/a> and\u00a0San Diego FC<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s gone right for those three clubs so far in 2026? Let\u2019s dig in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Biggest strength: Defensive excellence<\/strong><\/p>\n Still yet to concede a goal in MLS play, LAFC have set the MLS record<\/a> for consecutive shutout minutes to begin a season. Their tally already sits at 450 minutes, and it may not stop there.<\/p>\n Even with a managerial shift from Steve Cherundolo to Marc Dos Santos, defensive attention remains a priority for LAFC.<\/p>\n With a top-10 defense based on expected goals allowed and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris<\/a> having saved the second-most goals above expected so far this year, as per American Soccer Analysis, the Black & Gold are impressively stingy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n .@LAFC<\/a> are the first team in league history to start a perfect 4-0-0 without conceding a single goal.<\/p>\n They\u2019ll try to break the all-time shutout streak record this weekend. \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/JW5ufkSlLR<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Most underrated part: Squad depth<\/strong><\/p>\n LAFC\u2019s roster is impressively deep, even as Dos Santos rolls out consistent lineups across league play and Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> matches. For example,\u00a0Son Heung-Min<\/a> and Denis Bouanga<\/a> have started all nine of LAFC\u2019s fixtures so far this season.<\/p>\n Offseason signing Amin Boudri<\/a> has impressed in his substitute appearances, while Ryan Hollingshead<\/a> and Nathan Ordaz<\/a> are overqualified backups at both ends of the field. We haven’t even seen Jacob Shaffelburg<\/a> play yet as he recovers from injury, and David Mart\u00ednez<\/a> looks to have leveled up around the goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n Deep and talented with roster flexibility for the summer window, LAFC are downright scary.<\/p>\n What\u2019s new in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n From a tactical standpoint, Dos Santos has altered some of the positioning in and out of possession.\u00a0Eddie Segura<\/a> has become the starting left back in a 4-4-2 defensive shape who shifts into a left-sided center back role in a 3-2-5 attacking shape. Many of the same principles have carried over from the Cherundolo era, however.<\/p>\n From a personnel standpoint, perhaps the biggest newcomer is midfielder\u00a0Stephen Eust\u00e1quio<\/a>. Currently recovering from an injury, the Porto loanee showed flashes of elite distribution early in the year. If the Canadian international is healthy, he\u2019s transformative for LAFC\u2019s attacking setup.<\/p>\n Their weakness: Balancing attack and defense<\/strong><\/p>\n Outside of their season-opening, 3-0 win<\/a> against Inter Miami CF<\/a>, LAFC\u2019s attack has been relatively muted this season \u2013 despite having Son and Bouanga up top. According to American Soccer Analysis, LAFC have yet to post more than 1.3 expected goals in any of the four matches that followed their victory over Miami.<\/p>\n Whether it’s a byproduct of tired legs balancing two competitions, a relatively conservative starting lineup, or underdeveloped patterns in the final third, there\u2019s work to be done.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Biggest strength: A filthy-good right wing<\/strong><\/p>\n A wing driven by Andy Najar<\/a> can get you pretty darn far. But a wing driven by Najar and<\/em> newcomer Cristian Espinoza<\/a>? That can do some scary stuff to opposing defenses.<\/p>\n Between those two best-in-class creators,\u00a0Patrick Yazbek<\/a> drifting forward out of central midfield, and Hany Mukhtar<\/a> being his typically excellent self, few teams can match the amount of attacking verve Nashville boast on that side.<\/p>\n With clever overloads and well-timed off-ball movement, the early returns on this Nashville team are very, very promising.<\/p>\n Most underrated part: Athleticism<\/strong><\/p>\n In Yazbek, Nashville have one of MLS\u2019s absolute best ground-covering midfielders. Similar things can be said of his partner in the double pivot, Eddi Tagseth<\/a>.<\/p>\n With those two patrolling the midfield while center backs\u00a0Jeisson Palacios<\/a> and Maxwell Woledzi<\/a> shut down opposing attacks with their strength and speed, Nashville have enough grit to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the region.<\/p>\n Toss in a trio of Designated Players committed to defending, and you have an extremely well-rounded team.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n What\u2019s new in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n Espinoza\u2019s presence, mostly.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take much imagination to picture the Argentine fitting snugly into B.J. Callaghan\u2019s tactical approach \u2013 and that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happened. Espinoza is sixth among wingers in MLS this season in expected goals plus expected assists, according to American Soccer Analysis.\u00a0His connection with Najar on the right side and his distribution into Mukhtar and\u00a0Sam Surridge<\/a> has left nothing to be desired.<\/p>\n The former San Jose Earthquakes<\/a> standout elevated an already dangerous Nashville team into something more, and even has helped Surridge contend for the Golden Boot presented by Audi with a league-best seven goals.<\/p>\n Their weakness: Left-sided attacking<\/strong><\/p>\n For as dominant as Nashville’s right side is, I\u2019m not sold by whatever combination of Alex Muyl<\/a>, Warren Madrigal<\/a>, Daniel Lovitz<\/a>\u00a0and Reed Baker-Whiting<\/a> suit up on the left. There\u2019s less reliable attacking threat between those players, though Madrigal could turn out to be something of a difference-maker.<\/p>\n If I\u2019m a team with Nashville coming up on my schedule, I\u2019m doing everything I can to make their left side beat me.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Biggest strength: Scoring goals<\/strong><\/p>\n Inside the league\u2019s top five in goals scored and top 10 for expected goals, San Diego\u2019s chief asset is clear: they can create chances and put the ball into the back of the net against anybody.<\/p>\n For those who watched San Diego and Anders Dreyer<\/a> during their expansion season, that should come as no surprise.<\/p>\n Now, with ample roster continuity and the same buildup-heavy tactical principles, this year\u2019s squad looks every bit as dangerous going forward as they did in 2025.<\/p>\n Most underrated part: Off-ball movement<\/strong><\/p>\n Many sing the praises of San Diego’s patient possession approach, one that featured a historic number of passes played inside their own third last year. With ambitious, clever passers at just about every spot on the field, it\u2019s easy to be captivated by how San Diego move the ball. But to ignore how they move off<\/em> the ball is a mistake.<\/p>\n Smart, well-drilled patterns define some of the sophomore outfit\u2019s movement, while spatial awareness and organization by defensive midfielder\u00a0Jeppe Tverskov<\/a> governs parts of the rest. It\u2019s magical to watch, and it sets San Diego FC apart.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Anders Dreyer banger against Toluca to make it 3-1! \ud83d\udea8@SanDiegoFC<\/a> | @TheChampions<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MjGoqqROpb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n What\u2019s new in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n At a macro level, not a whole lot. San Diego have shown the same stylistic approach and have retained much of the same talent that made them one of the league\u2019s best teams in 2025.<\/p>\n But at a micro level, some of the personnel are different. Namely,\u00a0Chucky Lozano<\/a> hasn\u2019t made one of the team\u2019s matchday squads this season after conflict dating back to last fall. In his absence, Amahl Pellegrino<\/a> has continued eating up minutes on the left wing.<\/p>\n\n
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