The MLS weekend concludes with the two sides who battled it out for the MLS Cup last season, and who will collide for silverware in the final of the US Open Cup later in this campaign as the Portland Timbers take on Atlanta United.
This is a big match for both sides and on paper at least acts as the best game of the entire weekend, and given what has already gone before that is saying something. The points mean a lot to both which should make for an entertaining night.
Portland Timbers
The former champions moved into the play-off spots for the first time this season in midweek and a win here will give them a little bit of security in what is rapidly becoming an amazing race for berths in the postseason. They will move up to fourth in the Western Conference if they can come out on top here, and will be able to start thinking of securing home matches in the play-offs as they look to return to the MLS Cup final.
It is that home form which has got them into the position they currently occupy. They have only lost one of their eight matches at Providence Park this term and with so many home matches left in their schedule you would expect them to cruise into the postseason. They head into this contest with just one defeat in their last nine matches so it almost goes without saying that their confidence is high.
Atlanta United
It took quite a while for Atlanta United to get up to top speed this season. Whether that was a hangover from winning MLS Cup last term, the subsequent NACL campaign that followed it or the turnaround in the new manager and getting his views across I’m not completely sure, but whatever it was that is all behind them now, and while they are not quite the dangerous side they were under Martino, they are not too far off it.
Atlanta have won four of their last five matches heading into this one, but they have all come at home. Their away form is actually pretty ordinary it has to be said. They have lost their last six matches on the road and some of those defeats have been pretty tame, to teams they shouldn’t really be losing to even allowing for the amount of travelling that can be done in the MLS.
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Team News
Portland Timbers will go into this match without the services of goalkeeper Jeff Attinella who has been out with a shoulder issue for a while. Larrys Mabiala injured his thigh last week and he has been ruled out here too.
Atlanta United will have to do without a few regulars for this one. Brek Shea is out with a serious knee problem while Franco Escobar and Eric Remidi have also been ruled out with leg and hip injuries respectively.
Betting
I think you have to take Atlanta United’s away form into account here. I wasn’t really too interested in betting in this match because both these sides are pretty well matched but a side who goes into the Portland Timbers fortress having lost six straight on the road can’t be heading there with too much in the way of belief. We should acknowledge that Portland played in midweek but they played against 10 men and took it relatively easy in the second half.
Portland are in a great run of form at the minute and will be full of confidence heading into the game. They will need to be on guard defensively but this is an Atlanta side who in this run have shipped four to Los Angeles FC and five to Chicago Fire. Portland are potent enough to make me think that the 0.25AH line is one they can cover and possibly do so with a little in hand.
Tips
Back Portland Timbers (-0.25AH) to beat Atlanta United for a 4/10 stake at 1.94 with BetVictor
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