With the 2017 Major League Soccer season well under way, Portland Timbers continue the search for their second MLS Cup as they entertain LA Galaxy on Sunday. Portland Timbers won both the Western Conference Regular Season title and the MLS Cup in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Currently sitting in 4th place in the Western Conference, Portland Timbers will be hoping to make the playoffs once more and could even secure an automatic place in the Conference semi-finals.
The season has not been going well for LA Galaxy, who find themselves in 9th place in the Western Conference ahead of this game. The 8-time Western Conference winners and 5-time MLS Cup winners are finding life tough this season.
Portland Timbers Form
Portland Timbers suffered a 7-game winless streak before breaking their poor run of form with a 2-1 win at Vancouver Whitecaps.
However, they failed to build on that win last week and were held to a 2-2 draw at Houston Dynamo. That result means it is now just 1 win in 9 MLS games for Portland Timbers and they need to start finding some consistency to challenge at the top.
At home, Portland Timbers have failed to win their last 3 MLS games, with 2 draws and 1 defeat. Last time out they lost 4-1 to Real Salt Lake but that was only their second defeat in 11 home MLS games this season.
LA Galaxy Form
While Portland Timbers have been struggling to find some consistent form the only way you can describe LA Galaxy’s form is dreadful.
They have failed to win any of their previous 6 MLS games, picking up just 1 point and losing 5 of them. They also lost to San Jose Earthquakes in the US Open Cup and to Manchester United in a friendly match.
LA Galaxy have lost their last 2 away MLS games, losing 2-1 at San Jose Earthquakes and 4-3 at New England. Prior to those defeats LA Galaxy had been on an unbeaten run, winning 4 and drawing 1 of their 5 away MLS games.
Team News
Portland Timbers will be without the injured trio of Chance Myers, Jeff Attinella and Liam Ridgewell. They are set to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Fanendo Adi leading the line.
LA Galaxy have Robbie Rogers and Sebastien Lletget on the treatment table and both will miss this match. Jermaine Jones is rated as doubtful but Romain Alessandrini and Giovani dos Santos, both of which have done well this season, are fit.
Top Betting tips
Portland Timbers have conceded in 9 of their 11 home games this season and LA Galaxy have seen both teams score in 9 of their 10 away MLS games. Both teams to score at 5/8 with Ladbrokes looks like a good bet.
Portland Timbers have won 3 of their last 9 home MLS games and LA Galaxy, despite being awful at home have a decent away record. The draw with both teams scoring is on offer at 4/1 with Ladbrokes.
Romain Alessandrini has been one of LA Galaxy’s best players this season and is their top scorer with 8 goals. A total of 75% of those goals have come in away matches and Alessandrini is available at 14/5 with William Hill to score at any time.