Two of the Western Conference's top sides meet at Providence Park in an afternoon showdown on Saturday.
The Portland Timbers surge into the game on the back of a four-match win streak, including last weekend's late 1-0 victory over their biggest rival Seattle.
Meanwhile, visiting Los Angeles FC has put together the best 10-game start for an expansion team in MLS history.
Bob Bradley's men have a 6-2-2 record and haven't lost in six games, but will face a big challenge when they visit a Portland side that has won all three of its home games so far in 2018.
Game | Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC |
Date | Saturday, May 19 |
Time | 3 p.m. ET |
Stream (US only) | fuboTV (7-day free trial) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
Kim Klement
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Squads & Team News
Position | Portland players |
---|---|
Goalkeepers | Attinella, Gleeson, McIntosh |
Defenders | Andriuskevicius, Cascante, Farfan, Jadama, Mabiala, Miller, Olum, Powell, Ridgewell, Tuiloma, Valentin |
Midfielders | Arboleda, Asprilla, Blanco, Chara, Barmby, Flores, Guzman, Paredes, Valeri, Williamson |
Forwards | Adi, Armenteros, Ebobisse, Langsdorf, Polo |
David Guzman has been out since early March with a knee injury and is nearing a return, but likely won't play a part on Saturday. Center back Bill Tuiloma and left back Vytas are both also listed as questionable.
Potential starting XI: Attinella; Powell, Mabiala, Ridgewell, Valentin; Paredes, Chara, Polo; Valeri, Blanco; Adi
Position | LAFC players |
---|---|
Goalkeepers | Lopez, Lyon, Miller |
Defenders | Beitashour, Blackmon, Ciman, Zimmerman, Gaber, Harvey, Jakovic, Moutinho |
Midfielders | Atuesta, Feilhaber, Horta, Kaye, Kovar, Mallace, Murphy, Nguyen |
Forwards | Blessing, Brewer, Vela, Rossi, Urena, Diomande |
Forward Marco Urena is still out after undergoing facial surgery. Bradley's side is otherwise healthy and suspension-free.
Potential starting XI: Miller; Beitashour, Ciman, Zimmerman, Harvey; Atuesta, Feilhaber; Blessing, Vela, Gaber; Rossi
Betting & Match Odds
Portland is the favorite to win, with even odds on a win according to dabblebet, while a LAFC away victory is priced at 12/5 and the draw is available at 5/2.
Game Preview
Jeff Swinger
After a five-game winless streak to start his time as Portland manager, Giovanni Savarese now has his team hitting a run of good form.
Savarese's side has won four straight games to move up to fifth in the Western Conference standings, with Sebastian Blanco's late strike giving the Timbers a 1-0 win over Seattle last week.
Blanco has been key this season with five goals, but its been the Timbers defense that has led the way in recent games.
Savarese's side has now put together a scoreless streak of 279 minutes, but that run will be put to the test on Saturday against LAFC.
Bob Bradley's men are coming off an entertaining 2-2 draw against New York City FC last weekend, a result that further established LAFC as one of the league's top teams despite its expansion status.
Only three MLS teams have more goals than LAFC in 2018 and only four have a better goal differential.
Portland will still feel confident heading into Saturday's game, as the Timbers have yet to drop points at home in 2018.
But LAFC has already demonstrated its comfort away from home, having won four matches during its six-game road trip to begin the season.