Minnesota United travel to Colorado Rapids on Sunday looking for their first points of the season, having lost all three of their games in the Western Conference so far.
The Rapids have recorded one win, draw and loss in their matches this season, which places them two positions higher than their visitors in the league.
Match preview
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Robin Fraser's side have only scored two goals in their first three games, with a vital one being scored by Diego Rubio last time out to seal a 1-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps.
The scoreline in that game was marginal, however the game did generate 10 shots on target between the two sides, showing potential for the Rapids in their quest to score more goals.
Defensively Colorado Rapids have been strong, with William Yarbrough registering two clean sheets in three games, however Austin FC managed to put three past the 32-year-old in gameweek two.
The Rapids have always been a mid-table side in the MLS, finishing 10th and 16th respectively in the last two overall seasons, however the side will be hoping to recreate a season like 2016 when they recorded the club's highest-ever finish by coming second in the Western Conference.
Sunday's visitors have had the worst possible start to this year's campaign as three consecutive defeats have left Minnesota sitting rock-bottom of the MLS, having only managed to score one goal.
Last time out, Adrian Heath's side fell to a 17th-minute strike from Austin's Diego Fagundez, and that was the seventh goal conceded by Dayne St Clair after Real Salt Lake netted twice and Seattle Sounders scored four against Minnesota this season.
Attacker Robin Lod scored Minnesota's only goal of the campaign so far in the 2-1 defeat to Salt Lake, and the single goal the side have managed means that they are the lowest scorers in the Western Conference.
Minnesota will have higher expectations of themselves than the start to the season they have made because for the last two years the side have finished the Western Conference in fourth place, but they are already six points adrift of that position this campaign.
The away side may take confidence from the last meeting between these two sides which they won 3-0 in November 2020, and Minnesota have not lost to Colorado since June 2019.
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Team News
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Defensive duo Samuel Vines, who played 90 minutes, and Lalas Abubakar, who featured on the bench, returned to the Rapids squad for their last fixture against the Whitecaps after they both missed the first two games through injury.
Braian Galvan and Steven Beitashour remain doubtful for Sunday's clash but striker Rubio is expected to lead the line following his winning goal last time out.
Minnesota's Lod was absent for their game against Austin after picking up a chest injury and is a doubt for Sunday, however Heath will be ensuring he does everything possible to get the Finland international fit for this fixture.
Centre-back Brent Kallman dropped down to the substitutes' bench after the opening day defeat to the Sounders and new signing from Los Angeles FC Jukka Raitala replaced him and is expected to do so again for this game.
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Vines, Trusty, Wilson, Rosenberry; Price, Namli; Barrios, Acosta, Shinyashiki; Rubio
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St Clair; Gasper, Raitala, Boxall, Metanire; Trapp, Alonso; Lod, Reynoso, Finlay; Abila
We say: Colorado Rapids 1-0 Minnesota United
The Rapids will take confidence from their first win of the season on Monday and we predict Fraser's side to win by the same scoreline again, as they have not scored many goals themselves in recent games.
Colorado's record of two clean sheets in three games means that it could be difficult for Minnesota, who have only scored once all season, to break down their hosts' defence.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Colorado Rapids win with a probability of 49.16%. A win for Minnesota United had a probability of 27.57% and a draw had a probability of 23.3%.
The most likely scoreline for a Colorado Rapids win was 2-1 with a probability of 9.51%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (8.39%) and 2-0 (7.45%). The likeliest Minnesota United win was 1-2 (6.84%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (10.7%). The actual scoreline of 3-2 was predicted with a 3.6% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Colorado Rapids would win this match.
