Los Angeles Galaxy will aim to keep hold of their playoff place in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference standings on Sunday, when they travel to take on Colorado Rapids.
Back-to-back defeats have seen Greg Vanney's men drop to seventh place, while their hosts sit 13th in the midst of a six-game winless run.
Match preview
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After picking up eight points from their opening five outings of the MLS season, Colorado Rapids have had to endure a tough couple of months, adding 13 points to their tally in 14 attempts since.
Wins over Portland Timbers, Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders, all of which involved clean sheets, in a five-match span did provide plenty of cause for optimism, but Robin Fraser's men now find themselves without another triumph in their last six games.
The last of those triumphs was firstly followed by a defeat to Nashville SC and a draw with New York City FC, before Colorado were beaten 3-0 and 3-2 by Portland Timbers and Austin FC respectively, quickly dropping further towards the bottom end of the Western Conference as a result.
Fraser's side then looked set to fall to a third straight defeat as they trailed by two goals heading into the final 25 minutes against Real Salt Lake, only for Diego Rubio to pull one back from the penalty spot, before Lalas Abubakar salvaged a point with an 89th-minute equaliser.
They now head into the weekend on the back of a second consecutive draw, after Gyasi Zardes levelled their game at home to Orlando City in the second half after Facundo Torres had put the visitors ahead.
While Colorado Rapids should be pleased to have come from behind in their last two outings, they will be keen to turn their form around with a run of victories, given their position in 13th spot in the table, and will hope Sunday acts as a turning point on home turf.
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They take on another side keen to bounce back to winning ways, as Los Angeles Galaxy make the trip on the back of consecutive losses.
The strong Galaxy side had a mixed start to the campaign but were able to establish themselves at the top end of the Western Conference with 19 points from their opening 10 matches.
Greg Vanney's men have since hit a tougher patch, though, winning just two of their last nine games, while suffering five defeats.
Their most recent victory came at home to CF Montreal earlier in July, as Javier Hernandez and Dejan Joveljic hit goals before a Rayan Raveloson in a 4-0 thrashing, only to lose 3-2 to rivals Los Angeles FC in the following encounter.
Looking to bounce back, Vanney's men took on San Jose Earthquakes last time out, and, now on the back of another 3-2 defeat in which they initially trailed by three goals before a Joveljic brace, they will be desperate to return to form to climb back towards the top of the table.
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Team News
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Experienced attacker Gyasi Zardes should keep his place in the Colorado Rapids lineup for Sunday's game after he hit an equaliser in their clash with Orlando City last time out.
Fraser may also opt to bring Diebo Rubio back in from the outset, with the 29-year-old having contributed eight goals and three assists in 16 MLS appearances so far this term.
Arsenal loanee Auston Trusty has missed their last two outings, meaning Danny Wilson could continue to partner regular starter Lalas Abubakar at the heart of the back four.
Los Angeles Galaxy could remain without key frontman and captain Javier Hernandez, who has netted seven league goals this season, after he missed the San Jose Earthquakes contest due to a suspected injury issue.
In the Mexican's absence, the line will again be led by Dejan Joveljic, who took his tally to nine goals for the season across all competitions with a brace in that game.
He should again be joined by Victor Vazquez in attack, while Rayan Raveloson offers further attacking threat from midfield and former Bayern Munich and Juventus winger Douglas Costa will be vying to return to the starting XI.
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Beitashour, Wilson, Abubakar, Esteves; Acosta, Alves, Warner; Lewis, Rubio, Zardes
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Bond; Araujo, Coulibaly, Williams, Edwards; Alvarez, Raveloson, Aguirre, Costa; Vazquez, Joveljic
We say: Colorado Rapids 1-2 Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy have been far from their best recently, but, even without Hernandez, they should have the quality to return to winning ways against a struggling Rapids side.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
