MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 03:28:21| >> :600:9613940:9613940:
[monks data]
Club Leon
Leagues Cup | Group Stage
Jul 29, 2024 at 3.30am UK
Providence Park
Portland Timbers

Club Leon
1 - 2
Portland

Medina (12')
Medina (33')
FT(HT: 1-1)
McGraw (41', 90')
Williamson (20'), Miller (45+2'), McGraw (59')

Preview: Club Leon vs. Portland Timbers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's Leagues Cup clash between Club Leon and Portland Timbers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Club Leon and the Portland Timbers will meet for the first time on Sunday in the opening match for both sides at the 2024 Leagues Cup from Providence Park.

In this tournament last year, La Fiera were eliminated in the round of 32 by Real Salt Lake (3-1), with the Timbers losing out at that same stage against Monterrey (1-0).


Match preview

Club Leon manager Jorge Bava© Imago

The 2024 Liga MX Apertura campaign is still young, but Club Leon look like a mere shadow of the side that won this tournament in 2021.

After four domestic matchdays, Jorge Bava's men have yet to claim a victory, while they have not won a competitive fixture since defeating Monterrey 2-0 in April.

There has been plenty of turnover from the squad that lifted this trophy three years ago and the one that won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023, and there has been a lack of consistency with this new squad since April, winning only once.

Leon have not been knocked out in the group stage of an international tournament since the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Last year, they topped their Leagues Cup group above the Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles Galaxy, having never lost a group game in this competition.

Los Panzas Verde have emerged victorious in five of their six Leagues Cup meetings versus MLS opponents, with their only defeat coming against RSL in the knockout phase last season.

Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville reacts on May 16, 2024© Reuters

Throughout the 2024 MLS campaign, the Timbers have been perhaps the most exciting side to watch, but that has not always equalled three points.

Three or more goals have been scored in 20 of their 25 domestic affairs, though they have failed to win on 12 of those occasions.

After 25 domestic fixtures this year, Portland have scored 50 goals, four more than they managed at the end of the 2023 regular season.

Phil Neville's men have been a handful in the attacking third at Providence Park, winning their last four matches played there by a combined score of 12-3.

At the Leagues Cup, however, they have lost their last two encounters at home, failing to score only once in their knockout defeat to Monterrey last year.

Both of their defeats at this tournament in 2023 came against Mexican opposition, while they have never beaten a side from Liga MX in four prior meetings across all competitions.

Club Leon form (all competitions):


Portland Timbers form (all competitions):



Team News

Alfonso Alvarado of Club Leon© Imago

In their 1-1 draw with Necaxa last Sunday, Leon were without Ivan Moreno due to a Metatarsal injury, while Federico Vinas was sidelined because of an Achilles tendon issue.

A 65th-minute penalty converted by Jhonder Cadiz enabled them to claim a single point in their previous encounter, his team-leading third of the Apertura this year.

Portland did not have David Ayala at their disposal when they were beaten 3-2 by the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend after he previously suffered a knock, and Marvin Loria continues to recover from his knee surgery.

Santiago Moreno netted his sixth of the MLS campaign last week, with Jonathan Rodriguez scoring his team-leading 12th of the year in a losing effort.

Club Leon possible starting lineup:
Blanco; Guerra, Barreiro, Bellon, Reyes; Frias; Alvarado, Ambriz, Guardado, Cabral; Cadiz

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Mosquera, Araujo, K. Miller, Bravo; Williamson, Chara; Moreno, Evander, Antony; Rodriguez


SM words green background

We say: Club Leon 2-3 Portland Timbers

While Portland have looked susceptible defensively throughout the year, they show no signs of slowing down in the attacking third, and we believe their potency in that area of the field will rescue them again this weekend.


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 Club Leon win with a probability of 50.1%. A win for Portland Timbers had a probability of 26.96% and a draw had a probability of 22.9%.

The most likely scoreline for a Club Leon win was 2-1 with a probability of 9.55%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (8.18%) and 2-0 (7.45%). The likeliest Portland Timbers win was 1-2 (6.72%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (10.48%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with a 6.7% likelihood.



ID:549067:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8767:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Club Leon vs Portland

Club Leon
17.4%
Draw
6.5%
Portland Timbers
76.1%
46
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Los Angeles FC (LAFC) midfielder Timothy Tillman (11) celebrates on February 25, 2024
Read Next:
Saturday's Major League Soccer predictions including LAFC vs. Columbus Crew
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

East 1

TeamPWDLPTS
1Cincinnati22006
2Queretaro20111
3NY City20111

East 2

TeamPWDLPTS
1Orlando City21104
2Montreal21013
3Atletico San Luis20111

East 3

TeamPWDLPTS
1Tigres22006
2Inter Miami21013
3Puebla20020

East 4

TeamPWDLPTS
1Philadelphia21104
2Cruz Azul20202
3Charlotte FC20111

East 5

TeamPWDLPTS
1New England21104
2Mazatlan21013
3Nashville20111

East 6

TeamPWDLPTS
1Toronto21104
2NY Red Bulls20202
3Pachuca20111

East 7

TeamPWDLPTS
1DC United21104
2Atlanta20202
3Santos Laguna20111

West 1

TeamPWDLPTS
1Austin22006
2Pumas20111
3Monterrey20111

West 2

TeamPWDLPTS
1LA Galaxy21104
2Guadalajara20202
3Earthquakes20111

West 3

TeamPWDLPTS
1Juarez21104
2St Louis City21104
3Dallas20020

West 4

TeamPWDLPTS
1Toluca22006
2Kansas21013
3Chicago Fire20020

West 5

TeamPWDLPTS
1Portland22006
2Club Leon20111
3Colorado20111

West 6

TeamPWDLPTS
1Necaxa21013
2Seattle21013
3Minnesota Utd21013

West 7

TeamPWDLPTS
1Los Angeles21104
2Vancouver21104
3Tijuana20020

West 8

TeamPWDLPTS
1Houston21013
2Atlas21013
3Salt Lake21013


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!