Preview: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers - prediction, team news, lineups

Los Angeles Galaxy will be looking for an immediate return to winning ways when they welcome Portland Timbers to the Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

On the other hand, the visiting team make the trip to Carson this weekend aiming to pick up a fifth consecutive Major League Soccer victory.

Match preview

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Los Angeles Galaxy were involved in a thrilling 3-3 stalemate against Austin FC when the teams went head-to-head at the Q2 Stadium on Monday.

Greg Vanney's men headed into the interval on the back foot following goals from Alexander Ring and Ethan Finlay either side of Riqui Puig's penalty, after which Emiliano Rigoni looked to have put the game to bed, only for Dejan Joveljic and Michael Barrios to restore parity in the final five minutes.

Consequently, the Galaxy remain 13th in the Western Conference of the MLS table, a whopping six points adrift of playoff contention heading into the final knockings of the regular season.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have only come out on top in one of the most recent six editions of this fixture.

Having netted nine times across their last four matches on home turf, Sunday's hosts will be looking to put on another attacking masterclass in front of their fans.

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Portland Timbers came away with maximum points from the fourth game running thanks to a 3-2 victory over Colorado Rapids at Providence Park on Sunday.

Miles Joseph's men raced to a commanding lead through Antony Alves and Santiago Moreno but were pegged back by strikes from Diego Rubio and Andrew Gutman before Felipe Mora decided the contest 19 minutes from time.

With 42 points picked up from 31 matches this term, the Timbers sit seventh in the Western Conference standings, one point clear of the chasing pack in the race for the final playoff spot.

Having recently recorded a first away win in 11 matches, Sunday's visitors now go in search of back to back victories on the road for the first time in over a year.

Team News

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Los Angeles duo Chicharito and Gaston Brugman are both ruled through knee injuries, while Martin Caceres misses out through an ankle problem.

The home side will also be without the services of Lucas Calegari, who is set to sit out a fourth game on the bounce due to a torn muscle.

Riqui Puig's strike last time out took his tally of direct goal contributions for the season to 14, making him one to keep an eye on here.

David Ayala, Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Eryk Williamson are all unavailable for Portland Timbers through knee injuries, and neither will play any part in this one.

Twenty-five-year-old Evander was absent from the visitors' win over Colorado, but the midfielder is expected to make his return to action this weekend.

Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:

Bond; Edwards, Mavinga, Yoshida, Leerdam; Puig, Rosell, Delgado; Fagundez, Sharp, Boyd

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:

Bingham; Mosquera, McGraw, Zuparic, Bravo; Paredes, Acosta; Moreno, Evander, Blanco; Boli

We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 Portland Timbers

Goals have been a real feature of this fixture of late, and we expect that trend to continue here. We are also tipping the home side to get the better of their visitors come the sound of the final whistle, albeit by only a narrow margin.

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