Short-Staffed Philadelphia Union look for bounce back win against Bradley Carnell’s former club: “For us the challenge is to find moments, find plays to try and expose them, and that’s what we’ve been working on this past week”

“It’s just another game, a cross-conference opponent, but sure there are special people there still that I connect with and I keep in touch with, so yeah, the atmosphere, it’s a good experience. I’m going to welcome a lot of the faces and people I’ve been in contact with all the time. Special memories for sure, but at the end of the day it’s 3 points on the line and another game” – Bradley Carnell on facing his former team, St Louis City SC

After their first humbling of the 2025 season in a 3-1 loss to Nashville SC last Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia Union will look to learn from their first defeat and make the tweaks and changes necessary to get back to winning ways this weekend as Bradley Carnell’s former team, St Louis City SC, make a trip to Subaru Park to take on a short-staffed Blue and Gold.

Union, MLS — Image Credit: Philadelphia Union

How to watch Union vs St Louis City SC

When: Saturday, March 22nd @ 7:30 pm
Where: Subaru Park – Chester, PA
Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+

Philadelphia Union vs St Louis City SC Betting Odds

Philadelphia Union (Home): +125
St Louis City SC (Away): +190
Draw: +240

Preview By The Numbers

*Current Form – Last 4 Games*	Philadelphia Union: W, W, W, L	St Louis City SC: D, D, W, W
*Expected Goals:*	Philadelphia: 9.33 xG (3rd best)	St Louis City SC: 5.75 xG (20th best)
*Total Goals Scored:*	Philadelphia Union: 11 goals scored (1st best)	St Louis City SC: 4 goals scored (T-6th best)
*Expected Conceded Goals:*	Philadelphia: 5.5 xGA (T-10th best)	St Louis City SC: 3.7 xGA (T-5th best)
*Goals Conceded:*	Philadelphia Union: 6 goals conceded (T-6th best)	St Louis City SC: 0 goals conceded(1st best)
*Top Goal-Scorers:*	Philadelphia: Baribo – 6, Lukić – 2, Damiani, Uhre, Gazdag – 1	St Louis City SC: Becher, Hartel, Löwen, Teuchert – 1
*Top Assists Leaders:*	Philadelphia Union: Wagner – 4, Q. Sullivan – 3, Gazdag, Westfield – 2	St Louis City SC: Hiebert, Kessler, Teuchert – 1

St Louis City SC’s Season So Far

Under new coach Olof Mellberg, St Louis City SC is off to a nice start to the 2025 season with 8 points from a 2-2-0 record. They are currently sitting third in the Western Conference and fifth in Major League Soccer’s Supporters Shield standings.

Though they’ve scored just 4 goals (4 different goal scorers) from the first 4 games of the 2025 season, it’s St Louis City’s stingy defense that’s getting the job done early on, having yet to concede a goal in the 2025 campaign.

Scoreless draws against Colorado and San Diego, and consecutive clean-sheet wins against the Galaxy, and Seattle have Mellberg’s side feeling confident. On Saturday night, they will face a short-staffed Union in Chester, which will serve as a big test.

“Obviously new coaching staff comes in, different style of play, different formation of play, they defend in different areas of the field. They are, I would say, very ruthless in transition. They are lethal with Teuchert, Hartel, up front they could have Klauss, there’s a whole bunch of guys they could start. So again, slightly different way of playing, but still a successful way I’d say, and they’ve got off to a good start, a hot start, and we’re excited to face them” – Bradley Carnell on St Louis City SC

St Louis City SC Predicted Starting XI

While St Louis isn’t dealing with international call-ups like the Union is, Mellberg’s strong defensive side will be without two of its anchors on Saturday night. Goalkeeper Roman Bürki and Right Wingback Tomas Totland are set to miss an extended amount of time.

It looks like Mellberg likes to set his team up in a 5-3-2, and it sounds like they have a few options to replace the injured Totland at RWB. Here’s my best guess at how STL will line up against the U on Saturday:

Formation: 5-3-2

GK: Lundt
RWB: Watts, CB: Baumgartl, CB: Kessler, CB: Horn, LWB: Wallem
CM: Durkin, CM: Löwen
CAM: Hartel
ST: Becher, ST: Klauss

“They haven’t conceded a goal for a reason, they plug up around the box, they defend deep, they’re very passive in that area, and they do a good job at it. They defend the box really well and that’s going to be a tough breakdown. For us the challenge is to find moments, find plays to try and expose them, and that’s what we’ve been working on this past week.” – Bradley Carnell on St Louis City SC’s defense

Philadelphia Union Predicted Starting XI

If the Union want to bounce back from their 3-1 loss to Nashville at Subaru Park last Sunday, they’re going to have to carry that “Next Man Up” mentality and get the job done without the list of players below:

-Andre Blake (GK) – International Duty
-Tai Baribo (ST) – International Duty
-Daniel Gazdag (CAM) – International Duty
-Jesus Bueno (CM) – International Duty
-Danley Jean-Jacques (CM) – International Duty
-Frankie Westfield (RB) – International Duty
-Neil Pierre (CB) – International Duty
-Olwethu Makhanya (CB) – Red Card Suspension
-Markus Anderson (ST) – Injury

Here’s how I think Bradley Carnell will line up against his former team on Saturday night:

Formation: 4-2-2-2

GK: Oliver Semmle
RB: Nate Harriel, CB: Jakob Glesnes, CB: Ian Glavinovich, LB: Kai Wagner
CDM: Ale Bedoya, CDM: Jovan Lukić
CAM: Quinn Sullivan, CAM: Indiana Vassilev
ST: Bruno Damiani, ST: Mikael Uhre

My big questions heading into this weekend are who will replace Andre in net and who will replace Danley in midfield.

Both Rick and Semmle have been Union’s bench keepers so far this season, with Semmle being the backup against Nashville and Rick getting the start for Union II on Monday night. I don’t have much to make me lean this way, but I think Carnell might lead to Semmle getting the start on Saturday night.

Unless Carnell shifts things tactically, I think Bedoya is the guy to start in the midfield in the absence of DJJ. With Flach gone in the off-season and Bueno also off for International duty, it looks like it might be time for Bedoya to make his first start of the season

A much easier one to work out is who steps in for Olwethu Makhanya, who was issued a late Red Card against Nashville. With Ian Glavinovich officially being given the green light from Bradley Carnell and the Union’s medical staff, it looks like the 23-year-old Argentinian Centerback will make his first start for the Blue and Gold on Saturday night in a big test at Subaru Park.

“He’s a good player, that’s why we signed him. So when he’s coming back and getting his fitness, we can see his value on the training ground every single day now. He’s been good through pre-season, he’s been us for a couple of weeks so, theoretically, tactically, practically, we see all the bits and pieces why we signed Ian.” – Bradley Carnell on Ian Glavinovich