Western Conference outfit Minnesota United welcome high-flying Eastern Conference side New York City FC to the Allianz Field on Sunday, when the visitors could rocket to the summit of their division.
Currently sitting second, New York City are just one point behind the leaders, while Minnesota have been more inconsistent at the start of this campaign, leaving them in ninth place in the Western Conference.
Match preview
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Minnesota are looking to bounce back after disappointment in the Open Cup on Thursday, when they failed to reach the quarter-finals having fallen to a 2-1 loss against Union Omaha.
Adrian Heath's side did record their first MLS victory since April last time out, though, with strikes from Robin Lod and DJ Taylor enough to secure a 2-1 win against Dallas in Texas.
The Loons need to find some consistency if they are to break into the top seven and, importantly, remain in the playoff places, having not managed to register three MLS wins on the bounce so far this season.
Minnesota are level on points with seventh-placed Houston Dynamo, with the Western Conference still tight after just 13 matches, meaning that Sunday's hosts should have confidence about keeping the pressure on those teams above them.
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New York City enter this fixture in fine form, and last time out they extended their unbeaten run to 10 games across all competitions, with a 1-0 victory against New England in the Open Cup.
Santiago Rodriguez netted in the early stages of extra time in that encounter, setting up an all-New York affair in the quarter-final with the Pigeons facing rivals New York Red Bulls in the next round.
Ronny Deila's side kept another clean sheet in the MLS last Sunday, their seventh in 12 matches at the beginning of this campaign, helping them on their way to a 1-0 win against Chicago Fire.
However, if New York City wish to continue at the business end of the table, they will have to improve their away form, having won just once on their travels, granted they have played the majority of their matches on home soil so far.
At the Yankee Stadium, Deila's side have netted 21 goals in eight matches, but away from home they have scored three goals in four matches, suggesting that the visitors may struggle in front of goal this weekend.
Minnesota are likely to allow New York to retain more possession in the match, with the hosts looking to break on the counter-attack, but Heath's side are coming up against one of the strongest defensive records in the MLS this year.
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Team News
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Eric Dick, Hassani Dotson, Patrick Weah and Romain Metanire will all continue to be absent from Minnesota's squad due to injury, but Heath could name the same starting 11 which defeated Dallas on Monday.
Lod has netted in three consecutive MLS matches and will be looking to continue that good form, with Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Franco Fragapane taking the responsibility of creating chances from wide areas.
Emanuel Reynoso has been a consistent performer for the Loons, and is certain to start in the number 10 role, with Wil Trapp and Kervin Arriaga making up the central midfield.
New York City right-back Anton Tinnerholm has not featured this season due to an Achilles injury, and he will remain sidelined for this outing, but could make his return next month.
Gabriel Pereira was substituted off just before half time against Chicago and he is a doubt for this match, with Talles Magno likely to come into the starting lineup on the left wing.
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson has kept seven clean sheets in 12 matches this year, currently leading the Golden Gloves chart, and so he will be looking for another clean sheet to add to his tally this weekend.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St Clair; Lawrence, Dibassy, Boxall, Taylor; Arriaga, Trapp; Fragapane, Reynoso, Hlongwane; Lod
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Amundsen, Callens, Martins, Acevedo; Morales, Moralez; Thiago, Rodriguez, Magno; Heber
We say: Minnesota United 0-1 New York City FC
New York have not played enough away games to get a true sense of how they are doing on their travels this year, but while in good form they should make the most of Sunday's opportunity to improve their record on the road.
Despite these two teams usually being involved in high-scoring matches than a 1-0 result, Sunday could be a tight game given the visitors unfamiliarity away from home, and Minnesota's inconsistencies.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Sammy Wynne
