High-flying Minnesota United set out in search of a fourth victory on the bounce when they go head to head with Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday.
Greg Vanney's side have failed to win their last three visits to Allianz Field since August 2021 and will head into the midweek clash looking to end this poor run.
Match preview
© Reuters
Minnesota United continued their surge to the top of the Western Conference table at the weekend as they held firm to secure a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United when the sides squared off at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, Kevin Arriga and Tani Oluwaseyi scored in a six-minute spell to put the visitors in a comfortable lead before Saba Lobjanidze in the 82nd minute.
Prior to that, Minnesota United snapped their three-match winless run on April 21 when they edged out Charlotte FC 3-0 at the Bank of America Stadium, one week before claiming a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on home turf.
Eric Ramsay's side, who have now won three MLS games on the bounce for the first time since August 2022, now return home, where they have lost just one of their last seven matches, claiming three wins and three draws since the start of October.
However, Minnesota will have to show their mettle this weekend as they go up against an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in 11 of their last 14 meetings,
© Reuters
Elsewhere, Los Angeles Galaxy turned in a resilient team performance on Sunday as they fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
A first-half brace from Cristian Arango put Real Salt Lake two goals up but former Barcelona man Riqui Puig led the hosts' fightback as he teed up Gabriel Pec's 54th-minute strike before setting up Miguel Berry's 94th-minute equaliser.
Manager Vanney will hope that last week's result can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form as LA Galaxy have now gone three consecutive games without a win, picking up just two points from a possible nine since scraping a 4-3 victory over San Jose Earthquakes on April 22.
With 20 points from 12 matches, Los Angeles Galaxy are currently third in the Western Conference standings, two points adrift of first-placed Real Salt Lake and level on points with Wednesday's hosts, who have two games in hand.
While Wednesday's visitors will be looking to find their feet, they have failed to win their last three visits to Allianz Field, claiming one draw and losing twice, including a 5-2 thrashing in their most recent clash with Minnesota on October 8.
Team News
© Reuters
Minnesota United will take to the pitch without the duo of Hassani Dotson and goalkeeper Clint Irwin, who have both been ruled out due to knee injuries.
He is joined on the club's injury table by Spanish defender Hugo Bacharach, who has missed each of the last seven matches after suffering a severe knee problem in April.
Jordan Adebayo-Smith will also play no part in Wednesday's game as he continues his spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury in the game against Houston Dynamo on April 14.
Oluwaseyi has hit the ground running for Minnesota since his debut in February and the Nigerian striker, who has five goals and two assists in 10 appearances — only three starts — should retain his role in the XI.
Barring any late fitness issues, Los Angeles Galaxy head into the game with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Vanney the luxury of a full-strength squad at his disposal.
Puig was a standout performer against Real Salt Lake at the weekend as the Spanish midfielder, who has seven goal involvements this season, should team up with Gaston Brugman and Marky Delgado at the centre of the park.
Joseph Painstil, Dejan Joveljic and 23-year-old Pec, who netted his third goal of the season last Sunday, should lead the visitors' attack once again, while we expect an unchanged back four of Miki Yamane, Maya Yoshida, Jalen Neal and Julian Aude.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Taylor, Arriaga, Boxall, Tapias, Padelford; Lod, Trapp, Rosales; Jeong, Oluwaseyi
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Yamane, Yoshida, Neal, Aude; Delgado, Puig, Brugman; Paintsil, Berry, Pec
We say: Minnesota United 2-1 Los Angeles Galaxy
The last six meetings between Minnesota United and Los Angeles Galaxy have produced a combined 30 goals and we anticipate another action-packed contest with plenty of goalmouth action. Minnesota's home advantage gives them a slight upper hand here and we fancy them to come away with the desired result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
