Minnesota United take on Orlando City at Allianz Field on Saturday evening, in the latest round of MLS fixtures.
The hosts are fifth in the Western Conference after a solid start to the season, while the visitors are eighth in the Eastern Conference, having acquired eight points from their opening six games.
Match preview
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Minnesota just about managed to sneak into the playoffs in the 2022 season, finishing in sixth place, and they have set out their stall as a team that will be competing at the top end of the Western Conference table once again.
The Loons have picked up 11 points from their opening six games, having gone on a five-game unbeaten run at the beginning of the season, but they came unstuck for the first time this season against Chicago Fire last time out.
Adrian Heath's side lost 2-1 away at the Eastern Conference side, despite having double the amount of shots on target as their opponents, but while a draw would have probably been a fair result, both teams were lacking in quality.
Still, that is the only time this season Minnesota have faltered, although they are yet to win a match at Allianz Field, having drawn both of their matches on home soil so far, against New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps.
It is just the fifth time the Loons have ever faced Orlando City in a competitive fixture, most recently losing 3-1 away at the Exploria Stadium in the 2020 playoff semi-finals.
Indeed, Orlando have a history of going deep into the playoffs, but they lost their round of 16 match against CF Montreal last season without recording a single shot on target, and they will be looking to go further this time around.
The Lions will need to improve after a slightly disappointing start, however, having won just two of their opening six games, most recently suffering a 2-0 home defeat against Nashville SC, despite dominating the majority of the possession.
Manager Oscar Pareja will be particularly disappointed by the defeat, as it came off the back of an unexpected 2-1 victory away against last year's Supporters' Shield finalists, Philadelphia Union, which should have been a confidence-boosting result
Orlando are undefeated on the road this season, although it is still very early days, defeating Philadelphia Union and picking up a 1-1 draw against DC United in their only other away match up to this point.
Team News
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Minnesota United will continue to be without long-term absentee Bakaye Dibassy, who has been missing since last August through injury, so Michael Boxall and Miguel Tapias are likely to keep their places at centre-back.
Ryen Jiba is making progress in his return from another injury issue, having joined Minnesota in the off-season, but the left-back is unlikely to be involved, and Kemar Lawrence should get the nod.
Ercan Kara is the only player on the treatment table for Orlando, with the Austrian forward missing the last three games due to an ankle issue, so Ramiro Enrique is set to start at striker, in what should be a 4-2-3-1 system.
Mauricio Pereyra will be playing provider for Enrique in the number 10 role, and the 33-year-old is likely to cause a lot of problems for Minnesota, having recorded 11 assists in 33 games during the 2022 regular season.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Taylor, Boxall, Tapias, Lawrence; Trapp, Arriaga, Hlongwane, Lod, Fragapane; Amarilla
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Smith, Schlegel, Jansson, Petrasso; Martins, Araujo, Ojeda, Pereyra, Angulo; Enrique
We say: Minnesota United 1-0 Orlando City
Orlando displayed they have what it takes to beat some of the better sides in the division, having defeated Philadelphia Union in their last away match, but they have been too inconsistent.
As such, we expect the hosts to get their solid start back on track with a narrow 1-0 victory, in keeping with their other results this season, yet to win by more than one goal.
How to watch
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Top tip
Dominic Lund
