The MLS returns with a fresh set of fixtures as Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rapids go head to head at the Lumen Field Stadium on Saturday.
Brian Schmetzer's side head into the weekend on a run of five wins from their last five home games against the Rapids and will look to keep this fine record alive and kicking.
Match preview
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Seattle Sounders were left empty handed once again as they fell to a slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chicago Fire when the sides met last Sunday.
In a cagey affair at the Soldier Field Stadium, Rafael Czichos came up trumps for the Fire as he netted in the 23rd minute to hand them their sixth victory of the season.
The Rave Green have now lost each of their last three games, conceding five goals and failing to find the target since a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC at the BMO Field on July 3.
With 26 points from 20 games, Seattle Sounders are currently ninth in the Western Conference standings, level on points with 10th-placed Vancouver Whitecaps, but could move into the playoffs places with all three points this weekend.
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Elsewhere, Colorado Rapids returned to winning ways in style as they claimed a comfortable 2-0 victory over LA Galaxy on home turf last Sunday.
In a one-sided affair at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Diego Rubio and Gyasi Zardes scored either side of the half-time interval to condemn the visitors to their ninth defeat of the season.
Prior to that, Robin Fraser's side were on a run of six consecutive games without a win, picking up three draws and losing three while scoring seven goals and conceding 13 in that time.
Colorado Rapids have picked up six wins, six draws and lost eight of their 20 games to collect 24 points and sit 12th in the conference standings, four points and two places above Sporting Kansas City.
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Team News
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Seattle Sounders will take to the pitch without the midfield duo of Obed Vargas and Joao Pedro, who have been ruled out through back and ACL injuries respectively.
They are joined on the club's injury table by Peruvian forward Raul Ruidiaz, who has missed the last two games after suffering a hamstring problem against Portland Timbers on July 9.
Meanwhile, strikes from Zardes and 29-year-old Rubio, who now has nine goals this season, helped the Rapids snap their winless run last time out and we expect to see both men leading the attack once again.
On the injury front, Fraser will be unable to call upon the trio of Oliver Larraz (ACL), Aboubacar Keita (ACL) and Braian Galvan (foot), who all continue their spells on the sidelines.
English midfielder Jack Price is also set to sit out his sixth consecutive game after picking up a calf injury in June's game against New York City FC.
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Cleveland; Rowe, Gomez, Arreaga, Tolo; Leyva, Rusnak; Roldan, Lodeiro, Morris; Bruin
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Wilson, Esteves; Acosta; Barrios, Priso-Mbongue, Rubio, Lewis; Zardes
We say: Seattle Sounders 2-1 Colorado Rapids
Seattle Sounders will be backing themselves on home turf against a Colorado Rapids side whose last road win came back in October 2021. The Rave Green have won five straight home games against the Rapids and we predict that this trend will continue with the visitors falling to their ninth league defeat of the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
