Dean Smith hopes Charlotte FC will be able to take advantage of any weariness in the FC Cincinnati camp when the teams face off on Saturday.

Cincinnati were knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in midweek, losing 3-1 away to Mexican giants Tigres following a 1-1 first-leg draw on home soil.

They have taken six points from their first three MLS games of 2025 to sit two clear of Charlotte, who lost 1-0 to the 10 men of Inter Miami last time out.

But Smith hopes Cincinnati's quick turnaround might show at Bank of America Stadium, saying: "We've done some final-third work, some stuff without the ball, we know what to expect.

"They've brought in a couple of new players, so we've looked at them and how we think they're going to play.

"They played Tigres in Mexico on Tuesday, so that's a tough game there, then they had to travel back, so they'll probably have less chance to do as much work as we have on them.

"That could be the thing we have over them this weekend."

Smith was not pleased with the officiating of last week's game in Miami, saying winger Wilfried Zaha was targeted by the hosts' defenders, who took turns fouling the former Crystal Palace man.

Asked if there had been any repercussions to Zaha's treatment, Smith said: "I'm not going to go there... 

"The protection that I would expect for Wilf, he didn't get. There were at least six or seven fouls on him. That isn't targeting him, apparently.

"They would have three guys on the side that Zaha was on. He will see things even if there are three players around him, but he needs someone to play it off or to offload it to."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Charlotte FC – Wilfried Zaha

Charlotte failed to register a shot on target against Miami last week, despite Herons goalkeeper Oscar Ustari being sent off in the 38th minute. 

That made them the first team to not register a shot on target in a match in which they played at least 45 minutes a man up since the Seattle Sounders against FC Dallas in March 2015. Zaha will hope to inspire much better this week.

FC Cincinnati – Evander 

Evander has contributed to a goal in two of his first three MLS games for Cincinnati, including an assist in their win last Saturday. 

Since the start of last season, Evander has been involved in at least one goal in 23 games, tied with former Cincinnati player Luciano Acosta for the most in MLS in that time.

MATCH PREDICTION – CHARLOTTE FC WIN

The six all-time meetings between Charlotte and Cincinnati have been split, with each side winning twice and two draws being played out. 

Charlotte have never lost at home against Cincinnati (W1 D2), and they will fancy their chances in this one.

The hosts have lost only three of their last 38 home matches in all competitions dating back to late May 2023. 

The Crown have won four of their last five at Bank of America Stadium (D1), keeping clean sheets in their last three in a row at home.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Charlotte FC – 47.1%

FC Cincinnati – 26.6%

Draw – 26.3%