Preview: Philadelphia Union vs Colorado Rapids - prediction, team news, lineups

In a rematch from the 2024 third-place match at the Leagues Cup, the Philadelphia Union welcome the Colorado Rapids to Subaru Park on Saturday in MLS action.

A 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo dropped Philly down to third in the Eastern Conference, while the Rapids are clinging to seventh in the West after earning a 3-3 result at the Seattle Sounders.

Match preview

We witnessed yet another strong start for the Union against Houston, but this time they failed to close the deal, only the third time all year they failed to win when drawing first blood.

In the 2025 domestic campaign, Philadelphia have scored 12 times in the opening half hour, while 17 of their goals have come in the first 45 minutes of a match.

Throughout the year, they have been the model of consistency, averaging 1.96 points per game in this competition, tied with Nashville SC for first in the league.

It was largely because of this that Bradley Carnell’s men find themselves in contention for the Supporters’ Shield crown, with just a single point separating them from FC Cincinnati for that title.

The Union have accumulated eight victories at Subaru Park domestically this year, as many as they managed in their previous two regular seasons combined.

Philly are unbeaten in their previous five MLS home games against the Rapids, collecting an emphatic 6-0 win the last time they played them in Chester in the regular season.

While the Union gave away two points last week, Colorado must have felt like they had won their previous match versus the Rave Green in Seattle.

Early into the second half of that game, the Burgundy Boys were down 3-0 but stormed back to increase their unbeaten run in this competition to two matches.

Chris Armas has seen his team score a combined six goals in their last two league contests, as many as they had in their previous six regular-season affairs before that.

With 10 games left before the end of the regular season, Colorado are holding down the final automatic playoff position out West, but are only two points above rivals Real Salt Lake, who are outside the post-season places.

The Rapids have points in two of their previous three domestic affairs outside Dick’s Sporting Goods Park but have not won any of their last eight matches played away from home.

They have not won a match in normal time at Subaru Park since 2013 (2-1), but the Burgundy Boys were able to beat them on penalties to claim third place in Chester at the Leagues Cup last year.

Philadelphia Union MLS form:

Colorado Rapids MLS form:

Team News

A knee injury kept Ian Glavinovich out of the Philadelphia fold versus the Dynamo, while Frankie Westfield will be suspended after receiving a straight red card in the latter stages of that clash.

Alejandro Bedoya put them in front after 15 minutes, though former midfielder Jack McGlynn stole two points from them when he converted a penalty in the latter stages of the opening half.

Meanwhile, the Rapids were missing Ali Fadal against Seattle with a knee injury, while Zack Steffen was back between the sticks for a second successive occasion.

Djordje Mihailovic and Cole Bassett converted second-half penalties for them against the Sounders, with Darren Yapi putting home the equaliser on 75 minutes.

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:

Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Harriel, Wagner; Vassilev, Bueno, Q. Sullivan, Bedoya; Uhre, Damiani

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:

Steffen; Cannon, Maxso, Awaziem, Vines; C. Bassett, Atencio; C. Harris, Mihailovic, Ku-DiPietro; Navarro

We say: Philadelphia Union 1-0 Colorado Rapids

The Union are once again among the toughest defensive units in the league, particularly at home, where they have collected five clean sheets this year, and we expect to see them frustrate a streaky Rapids side.

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