St Louis City play host to San Diego on Saturday night looking to move away from the bottom end of the Western Conference table.
In sharp contrast, the visitors are fourth and within two points of second, emphasising the stakes of this contest even at this early stage of the campaign.
Match preview
Having dropped down the MLS standings in 2024, St Louis City are eager to return to better times, but there has been little to suggest that they will challenge for a playoff spot.
Since winning a second game in succession on March 16, Olof Mellberg's side have failed to win a game in the league, a run spanning seven matches.
Five defeats have been included during that period, albeit one of the draws coming against first-placed Vancouver Whitecaps in a goalless stalemate on April 20.
St Louis City also earned a 2-2 draw away at Los Angeles FC, who are fifth, to highlight they are more than capable of making a positive impact when they want to.
Last time out, though, Mellberg's team went down 4-1 at Seattle Sounders, reaching this stage of the season with just eight goals from their 11 fixtures.
As for San Diego, there were high expectations ahead of their first-ever MLS campaign and it can be perceived that Mikey Varas is currently delivering on that front.
Despite a recent three-game losing streak, 17 points have been accumulated from their 11 matches to sit in fourth position in the standings.
SDFC got back on track in style with the 5-0 thumping of FC Dallas, their most emphatic victory to date and making it just one defeat from six games at the Snapdragon Stadium.
However, three successive defeats have come on their travels, conceding eight times in the process, and the pressure is on to turn that around given that there is just a two-point advantage over ninth position.
Team News
St Louis City will have to make at least one change in defence with Kyle Hiebert serving a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Akil Watts may potentially revert to right-back with Eduard Lowen coming into the middle of the pitch.
Alfredo Morales is returning from a one-match suspension, although it remains to be seen whether he will be provided with an immediate recall.
Meanwhile, San Diego will also have to tinker with their team due to suspension, Jeppe Tverskov having picked up his third yellow card last time out.
Jasper Loffelsend may be used in central midfield rather than his usual position of right-back in what may prove to be the only alteration.
Forward Anders Dreyer is one of the stars of MLS in 2025 with four goals and five assists from his 11 starts.
St Louis City possible starting lineup:
Lundt; Watts, Yaro, Baumgartl, Horn; Lowen, Ostrak, Wallem; Teuchert, Hartel; Klauss
San Diego possible starting lineup:
Santos; Kumado, McVey, McNair, Bombino; Godoy, Loffelsend, Torre; Mighten, Dreyer, Lozano
We say: St Louis City 1-2 San Diego
Despite having home advantage, St Louis City are up against it to end their long winless streak in this contest. With the visitors getting back on track last time out, we feel they may edge this encounter by the odd goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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