FC Cincinnati are looking to continue a nearly unprecedented run in the history of MLS when they take on Nashville SC. They are trying to extend their already club-record seven-game win streak and become the second team ever to win eight consecutive games.

To reach that plateau, The Orange and Blue must win on a short week, quickly turning around from their hectic Saturday night in Toronto (where they won 4-3 on a 93-minute Sergio Santos goal) to a Wednesday fixture back at TQL Stadium three-days later. Fortunately for FC Cincinnati, a long, hard earned rest awaits them after this match as the first bye week of the season comes on Saturday for FCC with the international break immediately following that.

So with a 16-day break looming, FC Cincinnati can head into that break riding the high of an eight match win streak or reeling after a loss. So focus headed into the match is of even greater import.

“(Nashville) is still a very experienced team, when healthy. You see Walker (Zimmerman) back in the mix and that’s still an experienced group that still knows how to defend in a strong way, but you can see the conversations they’re having (about) scoring more goals,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of Nashville SC on Monday.

Nashville SC was the first team this season to make a coaching change, letting go of Gary Smith and bringing in an interim. Now, with two games under the new manager, FCC is preparing to face a challenge with less data than you can typically have.

“In terms of the structure there have been some subtle changes in how they attack and how they defend,” Noonan said. “It looks a little bit different. We can look at the numbers, but sometimes a small sample size won’t show drastic changes to what the eye test tells you…for us, it’s more taking a look at those small sample sizes to see what the subtitles differences are.”