Round 15 of the 2024 Major League Soccer season sees Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United lock horns at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.
The sides head into this one off the back of contrasting results last time out, but we expect a keenly-contested affair this weekend nonetheless.
Match preview
Colorado Rapids were beaten for the second time in three matches in a 5-3 defeat against Real Salt Lake at the America First Field on Thursday.
After racing to a two-goal lead thanks to Cole Bassett and Rafael Navarro, Chris Armas's men were pegged back by Cristian Arango and Andres Gomez but managed to restore their advantage thanks to Djordje Mihailovic before strikes from Arango, Gomez and Julio Santos turned the game on its head.
As a result, the Pids have dropped down to sixth place in the Western Conference of the MLS table and are now seven points shy of top spot.
On the horizon next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have got the better of this fixture of late, winning four of the last five editions.
Heading into Saturday's clash with three wins from their last four home matches, the hosts will be confident of securing maximum points in front of what is set to be an expectant home crowd.
Minnesota United made it four wins from five matches as they narrowly defeated Portland Timbers 2-1 in Sunday's encounter at the Allianz Field.
Eric Ramsay's men made a poor start and found themselves behind to Jonathan Rodriguez's 17th-minute opener, but they showed great powers of recovery to hit back through Robin Lod and Sang-Bin Jeong.
With 24 points amassed from their 12 matches so far, the Loons sit second in the Western Conference standings, four points behind division leaders Real Salt Lake.
Having come out on top in four of their most recent five away outings, Saturday's visitors have been a force to reckon with on the road of late and will take some stopping here.
Team News
Twenty-three-year-old Daniel Chacon still awaits his first-team debut for Colorado Rapids as he remains sidelined with a long-term knee problem.
The home side will also be without the services of Kimani Stewart-Baynes, who is ruled out with a groin injury, while Djordje Mihailovic is doubtful through a heel problem.
Defender Miguel Tapias received his marching orders in Minnesota's win over Portland Timbers and is ineligible to play any part in this one.
Hassani Dotson and Moses Nyeman miss out for the visitors through thigh injuries as Jordan Adebayo-Smith continues his spell on the sidelines with a damaged knee.
Robin Lod has been directly involved in 12 of his side's 21 goals this term, making the Finland international one to keep an eye on here.
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Vines, Maxso, Bombito, Rosenberry; Bassett, Larraz; Fernandez, Abubakar, Harris; Navarro
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St. Clair; Arriaga, Boxall, Padelford; Taylor, Lod, Trapp, Rosales; Jeong, Oluwaseyi, Hlongwane
We say: Colorado Rapids 3-2 Minnesota United
With two of the highest-scoring teams going head-to-head, we expect an entertaining affair which should yield plenty of goals. We are also tipping the hosts to get the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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