Preview: Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams in the bottom half of the Major League Soccer Western Conference are set to meet on Sunday as Seattle Sounders welcome Houston Dynamo to Lumen Field.

The hosts are without a victory in their previous five matches, while the visitors snapped a six-game run without a victory in midweek.

Match preview

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Seattle Sounders come into this game in 10th place, and while they are running out of time to push for a playoff position, finishing in the top seven is something that is still a possibility for them.

The Rave Green are only seven points away from those spots, and a run of consistency is something that would create the possibility of putting them in that spot.

However, their recent form has seen them create an unwanted run as Seattle Sounders are without a victory in their previous five games.

Four of those matches have resulted in a defeat, with the most recent taking place in midweek when the squad were defeated at the hands of Orlando City.

Despite the fact that Seattle twice led through Albert Rusnak and Raul Ruidiaz, they were unable to hang on, and eventually lost the game to a Kyle Smith goal in the 91st minute.

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The visitors had the complete opposite midweek experience as they brought an end to their own poor run of form by defeating Los Angeles FC 2-1 in a surprise result.

Sebastian Ferreira had given Houston Dynamo the lead in the first half through a penalty, and while their opponents were able to come back into the game, Griffin Dorsey was able to score the winner in the second half.

That victory brought an end to a six-game run that the squad had been suffering where they had failed to win a match.

Houston Dynamo are currently 12th in the Western Conference, and the club will be looking over their shoulders right now due to the fact they are just two points above the foot of the table.

Away from home the squad have only managed to win three matches, and with 10 defeats throughout the season games on the road have proven to be difficult for them.

Team News

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Joao Paulo has been unavailable to Seattle Sounders lately because of a knee injury, but that has been a long-term issue that the club has adjusted to over time.

Obed Vargas is another player that is not an option for the hosts, as he is sidelined due to an ankle problem right now.

Darwin Ceren came off the bench only to be sent off for Houston Dynamo in midweek, and because of that, he will be missing this weekend because of suspension.

Teenage Hadebe is another player that the visitors might not have the services of for this match as he has been out of action because of a back problem.

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:

Frei; Tolo, Arreaga, Gomez; Rowe, Leyva, Rusnak, Roldan; Lodeiro, Ruidiaz, Morris

Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:

Clark; Dorsey, Parker, Steres, Lundqvist; Vera, Herrera; Rodriguez, Baird, Carrasquilla; Ferreira

We say: Seattle Sounders 1-2 Houston Dynamo

Neither team heads into this game in particularly strong form overall, but after a fresh victory in midweek, the visitors do have slightly more momentum behind them.

That is something that could work in Houston Dynamo's favour, despite the fact they are lower down in the league table.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.