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Portland Timbers
Major League Soccer
Mar 25, 2023 at 8.30pm UK
Providence Park
LA Galaxy

Portland
0 - 0
LA Galaxy


Fogaca (38'), Bonilla (55'), Bravo (66')
FT

Puig (45+4'), Calegari (48'), Boyd (60'), Rodriguez (69'), Neal (82')

Preview: Portland Timbers vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Portland Timbers and Los Angeles Galaxy, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two teams who have made less than ideal starts to their respective Major League Soccer campaigns lock horns on Saturday as Portland Timbers play host to Los Angeles Galaxy.

The home side are currently on a run of three straight defeats, while their visitors make the trip to Providence Park still in search of their first win this term.


Match preview

Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese watches from the sidelines before a game against Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park on February 28, 2023© Reuters

Portland Timbers came away empty-handed from Sunday's meeting against Atlanta United at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they suffered a 5-1 thrashing.

Giovanni Savarese's men found themselves three down in under an hour thanks to strikes from Caleb Wiley, Thiago Almada and Georgios Giakoumakis after which goals from Luiz Araujo and Almada either side of Tega Ikoba's consolation added more gloss to the scoreline.

As a result, the Timbers have dropped down to 10th in the Western Conference standings, three points adrift of the last automatic playoff spot having played a game more.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have only been beaten in one of the last five editions of this fixture, winning three of the other four.

However, that solitary defeat did come in the most recent encounter back in February, when Saturday's hosts strolled to a comprehensive 4-1 friendly victory.

Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney reacts during the first half against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on March 5, 2023© Reuters

Los Angeles Galaxy had to make do with a share of the spoils for the second game running courtesy of a 1-1 stalemate against Vancouver Whitecaps at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

Greg Vanney's went behind to Tristan Blackmon's 14th-minute opener but managed to draw level before the half-time whistle thanks to Kelvin Leerdam's equaliser.

Picking up two points from their three outings so far, the Galaxy sit 12th in the Western Conference, just one point clear of bottom club Colorado Rapids, albeit with a game in hand.

Having failed to keep a clean sheet in all but one of their last 16 away matches across all competitions, Saturday's visitors will need to shore up at the back to bolster their chances of emerging triumphant.

Portland Timbers Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L

Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • D
  • D


Team News

Javier Hernandez in action for Los Angeles Galaxy on October 9, 2022© Reuters

Felipe Mora, David Ayala and Dairon Asprilla have all had knee surgeries over the last few months and are unavailable to feature for Portland Timbers.

The hosts will also have to cope with the absence of Yimmi Chara and Evander, who are currently sidelined due to muscle and hip problems respectively.

Nineteen-year-old Tega Ikoba found the back of the net on his return to action from an injury layoff and will be pushing for a place in the starting XI here.

LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez has not played any of the last five matches due to a muscle injury which is set to keep him out of Saturday's contest.

Despite having already served his suspension for a sending-off last season, Douglas Costa remains out of contention for the visitors through a torn muscle.

Jonathan Bond came off with an injury scare less than 30 minutes into his side's last outing, and the Englishman could be replaced by Jonathan Klinsmann.

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Ivacic; Bravo, McGraw, Mabiala, Zuparic, Mosquera; Moreno, Chara, Williamson; Niezgoda, Fogaca

Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Klinsmann; Edwards, Caceres, Neal, Leerdam; Brugman, Delgado, Puig; Alvarez, Boyd, Joveljic


SM words green background

We say: Portland Timbers 2-1 Los Angeles Galaxy

Portland Timbers were beaten in their last home encounter but have not suffered back to back defeats on home turf in almost two years, which certainly makes for good reading. We are backing the hosts to narrowly get the job done in what should be an open and end-to-end affair.

How to watch

You can watch Portland Timbers vs. Los Angeles Galaxy and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Portland vs LA Galaxy

Portland Timbers
57.6%
Draw
22.0%
Los Angeles Galaxy
20.3%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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