Wild Saturday in MLS: Who is playing and what are their chances of advancing?

T his Saturday, November 8, the action of the MLS Playoffs returns with three decisive games in which the winner will get their ticket to the conference semifinals and the losers will go to rest for a long time due to the winter break.

In this final instance, the teams have shown that their place in the standings guarantees nothing, as in most of the matches the series is tied at one game , so a third game was necessary to define the teams that will continue in the fight to be champions.

MLS Playoffs 2025: Minnesota United vs Seattle Sounders in a tense Western Conference showdown

The first clash on Saturday, November 8, sees Minnesota United take on the Seattle Sounders at Allianz Field at 4:00 pm (ET) . The Columbus Crew return home with their pride wounded after they were held to a 4-2 draw at Lumen Field, looking to repeat the victory of the first meeting on penalties.

Seattle, the current Leagues Cup champion, wants to spring a surprise by winning away from home and will need another good performance from Obed Vargas , the young Mexican who scored twice in the last game. The winner of the third meeting will advance to the conference semifinals.

Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew: Ohio derby for a place in the conference semifinals

The second matchup of this wild MLS playoff Saturday is the "Hell is Real" Ohio derby, which pits Cincinnati against Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium . In the first game of the series, the Orange team won by the narrowest of margins with a late goal from Kevin Denkey

However, for the second match, Columbus demonstrated their home strength with a resounding 4-0 victory led by Diego Rossi , their star player, who provided assists to level the series. The match is scheduled for 6:00 pm (ET).

Inter Miami vs Nashville SC: Lionel Messi seeks first conference semi-final

To close Saturday's action, Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami take on Nashville SC with the absence of Luis Suarez due to a sanction by the Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee for "violent conduct" during game 2 in which they lost 2-1

Now, the Herons will look to repeat what they did in the first meeting when they won 3-1 with a Messi brace , who is looking to reach the conference semifinals for the first time since his arrival in 2023 and leave behind the ghosts of last year when they lost the decisive game against Atlanta.

Three tickets are up for grabs for the conference semifinals with six teams battling it out to keep their MLS championship dream alive on a Saturday full of excitement and nerves.