Frederic Brillant will make his first start of 2017 at RFK Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The French defender comes in as the only change to the XI which has started the last three games, replacing Ethan White.
It appears as though NYCFC will play with three at the back for the first time this season, with Brillant starting alongside Etihad Player of the Month Alexander Callens and Luxembourg international Maxime Chanot.
If it is three at the back, Jack Harrison and Ronald Matarrita are likely to provide the width as wing-backs, while Andrea Pirlo and Alex Ring will anchor the midfield, with Rodney Wallace and Maxi Moralez in behind David Villa at the tip of the field.
Off the bench, Miguel Camargo could be in line for his NYCFC debut.
You can watch the game live on the Univision Deportes Facebook page here.
NYCFC XI: Johnson, Brillant, Chanot, Callens, Harrison, Matarrita, Pirlo, Ring, Wallace, Moralez, Villa (C)
Subs: Johansen, Sweat, White, McNamara, Shelton, Herrera, Camargo
READ: How to follow NYCFC at DC United
Key Stats
- D.C. United had lost four of their previous six matches against NYCFC in MLS play, including a 4-0 defeat in the Bronx earlier this year.
- D.C.’s 2-0 win against Philadelphia last weekend snapped a three-game scoreless streak to open the season. They had closed the 2016 regular season with goals in 17 consecutive matches (2.2 goals per game average).
- Following their 2-1 win over San Jose last weekend, NYCFC have won seven of their last 14 regular season matches (3D-4L) and have averaged 2.1 goals per game along that run.
- D.C. United has conceded six goals to David Villa since the start of the 2015 regular season. There are seven instances of an MLS player scoring six or more goals against the same MLS team since the start of the 2015 season, and two have come against D.C. United (Sebastian Giovinco also has six goals against United).
- Tommy McNamara scored the winner against San Jose last weekend, snapping a six-game scoreless streak. He now has 11 goals in 54 MLS appearances.
- NYCFC has scored five goals in the first half, tied for the third-most by any MLS team. D.C. United has allowed four first half goals, tied for the second-most in MLS.
- D.C. United scored twice last week after being shut out in their first three games this season. Dating back to 2016, D.C. has scored multiple goals in 11 of their last 14 games (including playoffs).
- NYCFC forward David Villa has scored six goals in six appearances against D.C., tied for his most goals scored against any MLS opponent.
- D.C. midfielder Marcelo Sarvas enters this weekend with 14 interceptions, tied for the third-most in MLS.
- Eleven players have won at least 11 tackles in MLS play this season. Two of them (Alexander Ring - 14, Ronald Matarrita - 11) play for NYCFC.
