Charlotte FC vs. Columbus Crew (Sunday, 12.30am)
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Charlotte FC can claim their first home victory of the new Major League Soccer season when they host the Columbus Crew on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
The Crown were minutes away from winning for the first time in the Tar Heel State this year, only to concede in injury time and draw the Colorado Rapids 2-2, while Columbus equalised in the latter stages of their previous match, playing to a 1-1 tie with the New England Revolution.
We say: Charlotte FC 1-1 Columbus Crew
The Crown might be playing Columbus at a good time, as the Crew could be without some vital pieces, which should benefit Charlotte this weekend.
While Columbus seem to be buying into the Nancy style of play, they have not been quite as potent on the road, scoring just once in three of four outings, while seven of their nine goals conceded have come away from home.
How to watch
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Cincinnati vs. Portland (Sunday, 12.30am)
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In the ninth round of Major League Soccer fixtures this season, FC Cincinnati and Portland Timbers will do battle at TQL Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts come into the game on the back of their first defeat of the season last time out, while their visitors secured their second win of the campaign last weekend.
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 Portland Timbers
FC Cincinnati will be desperate to bounce back from last week's heavy defeat, and although the visitors will travel on a high, we back the Orange and Blue to bounce back to winning ways and continue their eye-catching start to the campaign.
How to watch
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Montreal vs. NY Red Bulls (Sunday, 12.30am)
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A pair of teams performing below their standards from a year ago will face each other for the first time in the 2023 MLS campaign this Saturday as CF Montreal wrap up their home stand with a date against the New York Red Bulls at Saputo Stadium.
After seven matches this season, Le CFM have already suffered six defeats, falling 1-0 at home to DC United last weekend, while New York came back to draw the Houston Dynamo 1-1, their second successive result by that score.
We say: CF Montreal 0-0 New York Red Bulls
Neither have shown much quality in the attacking third to this point of the season, nor have they created many opportunities, so given the form and low morale of each, we do not expect much excitement in this one.
How to watch
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New England vs. Kansas (Sunday, 12.30am)
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Two teams who find themselves at opposite ends of their Major League Soccer conferences will do battle on Saturday, as New England Revolution entertain Sporting Kansas City.
Following an eye-catching start to the season, the hosts currently sit at the summit of the Eastern Conference, while their visitors find themselves bottom of the Western Conference with just three points on the board from their opening eight games.
We say: New England Revolution 2-0 Sporting Kansas City
Although the Revs are missing some important players in attack, the contrasting fortunes only point towards a relatively straightforward home win at the weekend.
The visitors have only managed two goals so far this season and are lacking any confidence or momentum to pull off an upset on their travels.
How to watch
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NY City vs. Dallas (Sunday, 12.30am)
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New York City FC and Dallas will both look to continue relatively positive starts to the Major League Soccer season when they square off at Citi Field on Saturday.
Having both picked up victories last weekend, the two sides sit fifth and fourth in the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively eight games into the league campaign.
We say: New York City FC 1-1 Dallas
With both sides coming into the game with confidence after victories last time out, we anticipate a closely-fought encounter between two teams stocked with quality and cannot quite pick a winner, instead opting for a score draw in New York.
How to watch
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Orlando City vs. DC United (Sunday, 12.30am)
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Two sides separated by three points in the middle of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference will do battle on Saturday, as Orlando City welcome DC United to Florida.
After seven league outings, the hosts sit seventh in the division with 11 points on the board, while their visitors find themselves 11th after a game more.
We say: Orlando City 1-1 DC United
DC United will be rejuvenated following their return to winning ways last time out, and with more quality than the recent winless run suggests, we think they have enough to pick up a result away at an Orlando City side who are yet to reach their full potential this term.
How to watch
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Philadelphia vs. Toronto (Sunday, 12.30am)
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A pair of sides hovering in and around the playoff line will face each other on matchday nine of the Major League Soccer regular season, as the Philadelphia Union host Toronto at Subaru Park.
The reigning Eastern Conference champions are coming off a 2-2 draw at the Chicago Fire, extending their winless run in the league to five matches, while the Reds are currently holding down the final wildcard spot as they wound up with the same result versus Atlanta United, putting them a point ahead of Philly.
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-2 Toronto
With a massive CCL semi-final just around the corner, the Union might have one eye on this game and another on their opening match with LAFC.
That being said, both teams have quality all over the field, but the Reds have struggled to close out fixtures this year, while it has been the opposite story for Philly.
How to watch
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Houston vs. Inter Miami (Sunday, 1.30am)
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Houston Dynamo will go in search of their fourth win of the Major League Soccer campaign on Saturday when they welcome Inter Miami to the Shell Energy Stadium.
The hosts are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference, while the visitors will be looking to end their five-game losing streak.
We say: Houston Dynamo 1-0 Inter Miami
We can see Houston edging this contest and preserving their 100% record at home this weekend.
Miami are struggling to turn their possession into wins and have endured a torrid time on the road so far this season.
How to watch
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Nashville vs. Los Angeles (Sunday, 1.30am)
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Nashville SC will go in search of their fourth win of the MLS campaign in the early hours of Sunday morning, as they take on Los Angeles FC at Geodis Park.
The hosts are currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference while the reigning champions are yet to taste defeat this season.
We say: Nashville SC 1-3 Los Angeles FC
Los Angeles are on a roll coming into this game, and nothing appears to be slowing them down any time soon.
Nashville have proven themselves to be a solid defensive unit, but LAFC have too many weapons across this roster, so we think they will claim all three points this weekend.
How to watch
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Colorado vs. St Louis City (Sunday, 2.30am)
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Fresh off a two-game road trip, the Colorado Rapids return to Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City on Saturday to face St Louis City.
The Rapids are unbeaten in their last four domestic affairs, salvaging a 2-2 draw at Charlotte FC, while St Louis handed FC Cincinnati a first defeat of the MLS campaign, ending a two-match losing run in the process with a convincing 5-1 triumph.
We say: Colorado Rapids 1-2 St Louis City
The Rapids have some solid chemistry along the backline and should make it difficult for St Louis to find many openings, but this expansion team have been relentless in the press throughout the campaign and made the most out of their half chances, something which we believe will tip the scales in their favour.
How to watch
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Salt Lake vs. Earthquakes (Sunday, 2.30am)
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Real Salt Lake will attempt to win back-to-back home games for the first time this season when they welcome the San Jose Earthquakes to America First Field on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, have not lost in their previous four outings and will be aiming to keep that unbeaten run intact here.
We say: Real Salt Lake 1-2 San Jose Earthquakes
We think that San Jose will extend their unbeaten run here, and also claim their first away win of the season.
The Quakes look much improved in virtually every aspect of their game early on, while RSL have only won once at home all season, and despite it being a resounding victory, we think it could be a one-off.
How to watch
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LA Galaxy vs. Austin (Sunday, 3.30am)
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Los Angeles Galaxy's search for their first victory of the season will continue on Saturday when they welcome Austin FC to Dignity Health Sports Park.
The visitors also find themselves in the bottom half of the Major League Soccer Western Conference, with both teams looking to kickstart their campaigns properly.
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 0-2 Austin FC
LA Galaxy have had a miserable start to the new campaign, and that is something that could end up continuing this time out as their offensive struggles could prove an opening for Austin FC.
How to watch
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Seattle vs. Minnesota Utd (Sunday, 3.30am)
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Two teams in the top half of the Major League Soccer Western Conference will meet on Saturday as Seattle Sounders host Minnesota United.
Both have started the new campaign strongly, but they also head into the game on the back of defeats that they will want to put behind them immediately.
We say: Seattle Sounders 2-1 Minnesota United
Both teams might be playing with confidence this season, but the recent struggles of Minnesota United could make this particular trip a tough one.
How to watch
You can watch Seattle Sounders vs. Minnesota United and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Barney Corkhill
