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Preview: Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Major League Soccer clash between Dallas and Colorado Rapids, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Dallas will look to move a step closer to securing their place in the MLS playoffs when they face Colorado Rapids on Wednesday.

While the hosts are hoping to maintain their spot in the top nine, Colorado are sitting at the foot of the Western Conference and only have pride to play for.


Match preview

 FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez reacts on September 17, 2023© Reuters

While Dallas have gone six MLS matches without defeat, Nico Estevez will be frustrated with the fact that his side have drawn five matches in their unbeaten run.

After drawing with Atlanta United and Seattle Sounders, Dallas picked up maximum points in their away meeting with Real Salt Lake on September 21.

Since that result, they have gone on to play out three consecutive draws, including Sunday's goalless affair in the Texas Derby against Houston Dynamo.

Having missed the chance to convert a number of draws into victories, Dallas are currently in ninth place in the Western Conference, which would secure them a place in the wildcard round.

Sitting just three points clear of the chasing pack, their main priority will be to secure their place in the top nine, but they will also be harbouring hopes of closing the two-point gap to the top seven and a spot in the first round of the playoffs.

Colorado Rapids interim head coach Chris Little looks on on September 28, 2023© Reuters

After picking up just 26 points from their 31 MLS fixtures, Colorado will miss out on the playoffs for the second straight season.

While there may be little to play for, the Rapids do have the chance to claim consecutive MLS victories for the first time since September 2022 after claiming a narrow win in Saturday's home meeting with Austin FC.

Andreas Maxso's 41st-minute effort proved enough to guide Colorado to just their fifth victory of the MLS season, which still leaves them with the lowest win tally in the Western Conference.

They will now head on their travels, where they will be looking to end a run of 10 consecutive away defeats in all competitions.

Colorado will need to improve at both ends of the pitch if they are to end their poor away form, having conceded at least two goals in each of their last 10 away matches, while they have failed to find the net in six of those fixtures.

Dallas Major League Soccer form:

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Dallas midfielder Asier Illarramendi (14) and midfielder Liam Fraser (18) and forward Jesus Ferreira (10) on September 3, 2023© Reuters

Dallas are without long-term absentee Tarik Scott, while Geovane Jesus and Sebastian Lletget are sidelined with knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

Jader Obrian dropped down to the bench at the weekend following four consecutive starts, but the Colombian is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday.

Having scored 12 goals in 24 MLS appearances this season, Jesus Ferreira will continue to lead the line for the hosts.

As for the visitors, their injury list contains Alex Gersbach, Aboubacar Keita, William Yarbrough and Jack Price.

Sidnei Tavares has missed the last three matches for Colorado, and he remains a doubt for Wednesday's encounter due to illness.

After seeing his side claim maximum points at the weekend, interim boss Chris Little could be tempted to name an unchanged starting lineup.


Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Tafari, Farfan; Quignon, Illaramendi, Arriola, Velasco, Obrian; Ferreira

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Ilic; Anderson, Bombito, Maxso, Gutman; Ronan, Bassett; Nicholson, Rubio, Harris; Navarro


SM words green background

We say: Dallas 2-1 Colorado Rapids

After drawing their last three matches, we think that Dallas will return to winning ways against a Colorado side who have lost 10 consecutive away games in all competitions.

How to watch

You can watch Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids 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:curl

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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Dallas vs Colorado

Dallas
77.3%
Draw
13.6%
Colorado Rapids
9.1%
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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
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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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