MLS has once again brought fans its offerings to keep them entertained this weekend. For Matchday 5 we’ll be seeing a lot of interesting games and Portland Timbers VS LA Galaxy is one of them.
Portland is off to a weak start this season, last week Atlanta United defeated them. LA on the other hand found themselves in a 1-1 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps at home.
Ahead of the game, MatchPlug has done this preview on Timbers and Galaxy. It has the Best Betting Tips Today and MLS Picks for you.
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Predictions and Betting Preview for Portland Timbers VS LA Galaxy FC Matchday Game 5
- Venue: Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
- When: Saturday, March 25, 2023
- Time: 13:30 GMT
- Teams to play: Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy
- PICKS: SPREAD -1.5
Odds as provided by 1XBet and BetMGM.
Betting On Portland Timbers
- 1XBet Spread: -1.5
- 1XBet Over/Under: Over 2.5
- 1XBet Moneyline: 2.32
- BetMGM Over/Under: Over 2.5
- BetMGM Moneyline: 2.30
Coming back home after the terror they faced at the hands of Atlanta United provides some succour for the Portland Timbers. They started the season on a bad note, and if they don’t step up soon they’ll hit a dead end.
After winning Kansas City on matchday 1, the Timbers proceeded to lose three consecutive games finishing 10th in the Western Conference with just 3 points. But the biggest challenge they face is that they are the only team in MLS that has allowed more goals, with 10 goals in the past 3 games.
This record is something they’d want to improve on for today’s match vs LA Galaxy. It’s happening at their home field, where they lost their last 11 games and scored only 9 times in this span.
Possible Lineup (5-3-2): David Bingham; Juan Mosquera, Dario Zuparic, Larrys Mabiala, Zac McGraw, Claudio Bravo; Cristhian Paredes, Eryk Williamson, Diego Chará, Santiago Moreno, Nathan Fogaça.
Betting On LA Galaxy
- 1XBet Spread: +1.5
- 1XBet Over/Under: Under 2.5
- 1XBet Moneyline: 2.915
- BetMGM Over/Under: Under 2.5
- BetMGM Moneyline: 2.90
The Los Angeles Galaxy like their opponents is struggling this season. In the first 3 games they played this year, they failed to make three out of three.
When their matchday 1 game was suspended against LAFC because of weather conditions, Galaxy couldn’t find their game and now place 12th in the Western Conference with just two points.
Los Angeles’ core weakness is the lack of goals, they lost 3-1 to FC Dallas, drew 0-0 in a road game to Kansas City, and held a 1-1 draw at home by Vancouver.
Additionally, Chicharito Hernández will be absent from today’s game and hasn’t played this year because of an injury. Douglas Costa was sent off against the Whitecaps too.
But, Galaxy hopes today can get them off to a good start when they play on the road against the Timbers. They want to match the performance they had last year for their away matches. Los Angeles was the best club in MLS in this regard and lost just three of their last eight games.
Possible Lineup (4-1-4-1): Jonathan Bond; Kelvin Leerdam, Jalen Neal, Chris Mavinga, Raheem Edwards; Gaston Brugman; Marco Delgado, Riqui Puig, Efrain Alvarez, Tyler Boyd; Dejan Joveljic.
MatchPlug Prediction
Although LA Galaxy’s offence seems to be absent this season, today’s game is their chance to bring some action against the Portland Timbers’ defence.
Portland will not allow 5 goals again at home, but their current defensive problems won’t be solved by magic, especially since they’re playing against a club as tough as the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Furthermore, consider that the Timbers have responded to attacks to an extent, scoring in all their matches, and in the head-to-head games between the two teams, both scored at least one goal in 14 matches of the last 20.
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