Both Minnesota United and Portland Timbers will be bidding to return to winning ways when they lock horns in the MLS Western Conference on Saturday night.

Minnesota are currently 12th in the table, boasting 21 points from their opening 18 matches of the season, while Poland are 10th, one point ahead of their opponents here, having played two games more.

Match preview

Minnesota have won five, drawn six and lost seven of their 18 league matches this season to occupy 12th position in the table on 21 points, six points clear of 13th-placed Los Angeles Galaxy and only four points behind ninth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps on the same number of games.

Adrian Heath's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake, which stretched their winless run in the MLS to five matches.

A disappointing run has seen Minnesota pick up just three points from their last five games, with their last success actually proving to be a 1-0 victory at Portland on May 21.

The home side finished sixth in the Western Conference last season but were eliminated in the playoffs in the first round, losing out to FC Dallas via a penalty shootout.

Minnesota will be expecting to rise the table in the coming weeks, and the fact that they have matches in hand over a number of the teams above them is important.

Portland, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with New York City FC, with Evander on the scoresheet for the hosts in Oregon before Keaton Parks levelled for New York in the second period.

The Timbers have only managed to win one of their last eight MLS matches, which was a 1-0 victory over Dallas earlier this month.

Portland have only picked up two points from their three games since, drawing with San Jose Earthquakes and New York City, in addition to losing at home to Chicago Fire.

Giovanni Savarese's side finished eighth in the Western Conference last season, failing to qualify for the playoffs, and they have found it difficult to show consistency this season.

Indeed, a total of five wins, seven draws and eight defeats from 20 matches has seen them pick up 22 points to sit 10th, three points behind ninth-placed Vancouver, who have two games in hand.

Team News

Minnesota have four players out through injury, with Kemar Lawrence, Robin Lod, Mikael Marques and Ryen Jiba currently on the sidelines for the hosts.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane has been the team's main source of goals this season, netting six times, and the 23-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field.

Mender Garcia has only scored twice this season but should again lead the line, while Hassani Dotson is expected to keep hold of his starting midfield role for Minnesota.

Portland have three players on the treatment table, with Yimmy Chara, David Ayala and Eryk Williamson ruled out of the contest this weekend.

Evander and Franck Boli have scored 10 goals between them this season and should again feature in the final third of the field, with Marvin Loria also operating in a wide area.

Cristhian Paredes was substituted at the interval of the draw with New York last time out, but the midfielder is expected to start Saturday's contest.

Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
Irwin; Valentin, Boxall, Tapias, Taylor; Trapp, Dotson, Reynoso; Hlongwane, Garcia, Sang-Bin

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Ivacic; Mosquera, Mabiala, Zuparic, Bravo; Moreno, Chara, Paredes, Loria; Boli; Evander

We say: Minnesota United 2-2 Portland Timbers

Both sides will view this match as the ideal chance to put three points on the board, and we are expecting an open and entertaining contest. A case can be made for either side to win it, but we have had to ultimately settle on a score draw here.

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