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

Colorado Rapids will be looking to snap their five-match winless run when they go head to head with Minnesota United at Allianz Field on Thursday morning.

Adrian Heath's men head into the midweek clash undefeated in each of their last four Major League Soccer matches and will be looking to move into the playoff places.

Match preview

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Minnesota United were denied successive wins in MLS for the first time since May as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Seattle Sounders when the sides met on Sunday.

Colombian defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade put the Sounders ahead inside the opening 20 minutes but Andrade inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 56th minute to force a share of the spoils.

Prior to that, Heath's men saw their Leagues Cup campaign come to an end in the quarter-finals courtesy of a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Nashville on August 12, nine days before claiming a 2-0 victory at New York City FC.

With Sunday's draw, Minnesota United have now gone four consecutive MLS games without defeat, picking up two wins and two draws since a 4-1 loss against Austin FC on July 9.

This solid run of form has seen the Loons rise to 10th place in the Western Conference table, level on 32 points with ninth-placed Austin in the second playoffs qualification spot.

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Elsewhere, Colorado Rapids were left empty handed once again as they were thrashed 4-0 by a rampant Los Angeles FC side at the Banc of California Stadium last Thursday.

In a one-sided affair, Mateusz Bogusz, Carlos Vela, Ryan Hollingshead and substitute Cristian Olivera all found the back of the net to hand the Black and Gold their 11th win of the season.

This followed a truly forgettable outing in the 2023 Leagues Cup, where they suffered consecutive defeats against Nashville and Mexican outfit Toluca to finish rock bottom in the Central 4 group.

Robin Fraser's men head into Wednesday without a win in any of their last five outings across all competitions, losing three and picking up two draws since a 2-1 victory over Dallas on July 9.

Colorado Rapids have managed just three league wins this season while losing 11 and claiming 10 draws to collect 19 points and sit rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference table.

While the Rapids will be looking to return to winning ways, they journey to Allianz Field, where they have lost five of their last six visits, with a 3-1 victory in October 2021 being the exception.

Team News

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Minnesota United will take to the pitch without the midfield duo of Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Kervin Arriaga, who are currently recuperating from knee injuries.

They are joined on the Loons' injury table by 30-year-old midfielder Robin Lod, who has been out of action since picking up a meniscus problem in May's game against Houston Dynamo.

American defender Ryen Jiba is yet to feature for Minnesota this year and will play no part in Wednesday's game as he continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

As for Colorado Rapid, Fraser will be unable to call upon the services of experienced midfielder Jack Price, who picked up an Achilles tendon injury back in March.

Max Alves came off injured in May's 4-2 victory over Sacramento Republic in the US Open Cup, while Alex Gersbach is currently recuperating from a tendon injury.

Minnesota United possible starting lineup:

St. Clair; Taylor, Boxall, Tapias, Bristow; Trapp, Gregus; Dotson, Reynoso, Rosales; Pukki

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:

Ilic; Abubakar, Maxso, Wilson; Rosenberry, Ronan, Priso, Gutman; Tavares, Rubio, Navarro

We say: Minnesota United 2-1 Colorado Rapids

While Colorado Rapids will be looking to find their feet, they have their work cut out against a resurgent Minnesota United side who are unbeaten in their last four league matches. Health's men have enjoyed a solid home record against the Rapids and we are tipping them to come away with all three points in this one.

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