Seattle vs. Kansas (Saturday, 8.00pm)
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A pair of MLS sides that we are used to seeing compete for first in the Western Conference are simply looking to remain in the playoff picture as the Seattle Sounders host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday at Lumen Field.
Seattle are unbeaten in their previous three domestic affairs, sitting in the final postseason position, while KC have won two consecutive matches in all competitions and are four points behind The Rave Green.
We say: Seattle Sounders 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
KC may be growing in confidence, but there is no team in MLS who are better at crushing your spirits than the Sounders.
Seattle have shown more consistency, and even when they are not at their best, they always seem to power through and come up with a favourable result.
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DC United vs. Nashville (Saturday, 10.00pm)
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Looking to snap their five-game winless run in the MLS, DC United play host to Nashville at the Audi Field Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, head into the game unbeaten in each of the last four meetings between the sides and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
We say: DC United 0-2 Nashville SC
While DC United will be looking to return to winning ways, they face the stern test of taking on a Nashville side who they are yet to defeat in the MLS. The visitors head into the game on a run of two consecutive away victories and we predict they will heap more misery on the struggling Black-and-Reds and come away with all three points.
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Montreal vs. Charlotte FC (Sunday, 12.30am)
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Still kicking their wounds from the Canadian Championship semi-final exit, CF Montreal play host to Charlotte FC at the Saputo Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors, on the other hand, head into the weekend as one of just two sides yet to pick up a win away from home in their Eastern Conference and will look to end this dry spell.
We say: CF Montreal 2-1 Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC have struggled to get going away from home, where they hold the conference's worst record with two points from eight games. Montreal were narrowly beaten in their last league outings but we are backing them to bounce back this weekend.
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Toronto vs. Atlanta (Sunday, 12.30am)
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After ending a three-match winless run in MLS, Atlanta United are within range of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference as they head to BMO Field to face Toronto on Saturday for the first time this year.
The Reds have won their previous two home fixtures in all competitions, advancing to the final of the Canadian Championship, defeating CF Montreal 4-0, while the Five Stripes are a point back of Charlotte for the final playoff position, following a 2-0 win over Inter Miami.
We say: Toronto 2-2 Atlanta United
Atlanta have developed a habit of tallying early, though they have struggled to maintain that intensity away from home for 90 minutes.
For Toronto, they tend to react well and have shown more potency in the final third, so we expect if they suffer a setback, they will be able to recover.
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Houston vs. Chicago Fire (Sunday, 1.00am)
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For the first time since 2020, the Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire will meet in an MLS regular season encounter on Saturday at PNC Stadium in Texas.
Houston have lost three consecutive games in all competitions, dropping down into 10th in the Western Conference, while the Fire ended an 11-match winless run thanks to a 1-0 triumph over DC United.
We say: Houston Dynamo 0-1 Chicago Fire
The Fire are a long way off the playoff picture right now, but they are showing some fight while working collectively hard to improve, and the same cannot always be said about the Dynamo of late.
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Inter Miami vs. Minnesota Utd (Sunday, 1.00am)
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Seeking to avoid a third consecutive away defeat in the MLS, Minnesota United take a trip to the DRV PNK Stadium to face Inter Miami on Saturday.
The Herons, on the other hand, head into the game into the weekend on a five-game unbeaten run on home turf and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
We say: Inter Miami 2-1 Minnesota United
Minnesota United have struggled to get going in recent weeks, managing just one win since the start of May. Inter Miami, meanwhile, head into the game as one of the most in-form sides at home in the east and we predict they will make use of their home advantage once again.
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Austin vs. Dallas (Sunday, 2.00am)
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Two of Major League Soccer's Texan outfits will do battle on Sunday, as Austin FC entertain Dallas.
The sides both find themselves fighting around the top end of the Western Conference standings in third and fourth spots respectively, with the hosts two points better off than their opponents.
We say: Austin FC 2-2 Dallas
Given the two teams' similarly positive starts to the MLS season, we predict a tight and intriguing encounter that could go either way.
Ultimately, we cannot quite pick a winner, given Austin's momentum and home advantage could be cancelled out by the visitors' attacking firepower.
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Salt Lake vs. Columbus Crew (Sunday, 3.00am)
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Real Salt Lake will aim to strengthen their position at the top end of the Major League Soccer Western Conference standings on Sunday, when they welcome Columbus Crew to the Rio Tinto Stadium.
A win last time out saw the hosts move within two points of division leaders Los Angeles FC, while their visitors have work to do if they are to break into the Eastern Conference playoff places.
We say: Real Salt Lake 2-1 Columbus Crew
On the back of a convincing victory last time out, we see this Real Salt Lake side going from strength to strength and building with another victory on Sunday, particularly with home advantage.
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Portland vs. Colorado (Sunday, 3.30am)
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Saturday will feature a 2021 MLS Western Conference Semi-Final rematch as the Portland Timbers host the Colorado Rapids at Providence Park.
Last season's league runners-up managed to end a three-game losing streak last week, drawing the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1, while The Burgundy Boys picked up their second away point of the campaign by playing to a 1-1 tie with New York City FC.
We say: Portland Timbers 0-1 Colorado Rapids
It would sound like a broken record at this stage to say that both of these teams have underachieved to this point of the campaign, but Portland seem to play their best at home and with plenty of veterans back in the fold, that should give them a psychological boost, which could make a difference heading into this encounter.
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Ben Knapton
