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Two sides looking for their first MLS victories since March square off on Saturday as the Chicago Fire welcome Atlanta United to Soldier Field.
They each earned a single point last week, as the Fire drew 0-0 with Orlando City and sit 11th in the Eastern Conference with three more points than the Five Stripes, who are 13th following a 1-1 result at home to Nashville SC.
We say: Chicago Fire 2-2 Atlanta United
Neither side have been convincing enough for us to believe there is a decisive edge for one team this weekend, though given how poor they each have been defensively, it could be a fun match to watch for the neutrals.
> Major League Soccer preview: Chicago Fire vs Atlanta
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Both aiming to continue strong starts to the Major League Soccer season, Minnesota United and Inter Miami will do battle at Allianz Field on Saturday.
The two sides both returned to winning ways last time out to sit second in the Western Conference standings and fourth in the Eastern Conference respectively.
We say: Minnesota United 1-2 Inter Miami
Despite Minnesota United having home advantage and having recorded back-to-back wins heading into the weekend, we see the visitors having too much quality throughout their ranks on Saturday and back Inter Miami to leave with all three points.
> Major League Soccer preview: Minnesota Utd vs Inter Miami
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In game three of their four-match MLS homestand, Toronto welcome DC United to BMO Field on Saturday in the second meeting between both sides this year.
The Reds began this month by losing 2-0 at home to the New England Revolution, putting them second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference with five fewer points than DC in 12th, with the latter defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-1 last week.
We say: Toronto 1-2 DC United
With Benteke back in the fold for the visitors, DC have their scoring spark back, while Toronto are lacking inspiration in the attacking third.
> Major League Soccer preview: Toronto vs DC United
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Aiming to move to the top of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference standings, FC Cincinnati will welcome Austin FC to the TQL Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts suffered a defeat last time out, ending a five-match winning run, while their hosts sit sixth in the Western Conference after back-to-back losses.
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 Austin FC
Saturday’s game promises to be an exciting one with both teams having plenty of optimism from their starts to the season, and we give a narrow edge to FC Cincinnati to make it six wins from seven games with home advantage on their side.
> Major League Soccer preview: Cincinnati vs Austin
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A rematch of the 2024 MLS Cup final will take place on Saturday when the New York Red Bulls host the Los Angeles Galaxy at Red Bull Arena.
Last week, the Red Bulls fell below the Eastern Conference playoff line with a 4-1 loss at Inter Miami, while the Galaxy are bottom of the West standings following a 1-0 defeat versus Sporting Kansas City.
We say: New York Red Bulls 1-2 Los Angeles Galaxy
A Red Bulls team that that have shown plenty of inconsistencies of late may be just what the Galaxy need to earn that elusive first victory at long last.
Defensively, the home side have shown itself to be extremely vulnerable this year and even a side as poor in the attacking third as LA should be able to expose that.
> Major League Soccer preview: NY Red Bulls vs LA Galaxy
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New York City FC will play four of their next five MLS fixtures on home soil, beginning on Saturday when they host CF Montreal at Yankee Stadium.
Thanks to a 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati, the Boys in Blue moved up to seventh in the Eastern Conference table, while Le CFM are still at the bottom following a 2-1 loss at home to the Philadelphia Union.
We say: New York City FC 1-0 CF Montreal
Montreal know how to keep it close but cannot seem to find that decisive breakthrough, while experience seems to have done New York City FC some good in nail-biting affairs, and we expect them to find a way to get ahead in this one.
> Major League Soccer preview: NY City vs Montreal
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Orlando City play host to New England Revolution with the two teams sitting in the mid-table spots of the Eastern Conference standings.
However, with both sides on prolonged unbeaten streaks, this could prove to be one of the most entertaining games of the weekend.
We say: Orlando City 1-1 New England Revolution
Taking New England’s defensive record into account, we can only predict a low-scoring contest between these two teams. Although Orlando City boast one of the best attacks, a draw could play out, one that suits neither side.
> Major League Soccer preview: Orlando City vs New England
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Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew square off in MLS on Saturday night battling for top spot in the Eastern Conference table.
There are just two points separating the teams, the visitors sitting in first place having lost just one of their 11 games.
We say: Philadelphia Union 1-1 Columbus Crew
With both teams currently on winning streaks, we expect a competitive match between sides full of confidence. With that in mind, a low-scoring draw could materialise, a result that would suit both at this stage of the season.
> Major League Soccer preview: Philadelphia vs Columbus Crew
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Dallas and Real Salt Lake will clash at the Toyota Stadium this weekend in their gameweek 12 MLS encounter.
Fresh from a 3-1 victory over Alta in the US Open Cup, the home side will aim to return to winning ways in the league, while the visiting side will go in search of their fifth top-flight victory in 2025.
We say: Dallas 1-1 Real Salt Lake
Both sides are yet to find their footing in the current season, and they could do with some consistent run of positive results; however, there is not a lot between these sides, and we reckon the contest will end in a 1-1 draw.
> Major League Soccer preview: Dallas vs Salt Lake
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Houston Dynamo will seek to continue their recent resurgence when they welcome the Seattle Sounders to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday in Round 12 of the 2025 Major League Soccer season.
Unbeaten in each of their last nine meetings across all competitions, the hosts have enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture of late against the visitors, who head into this weekend’s meeting having won three and drawn one of their last four matches.
We say: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders are the more in-form of the two sides, but their away record does not make for good reading, and consequently, we are backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.
> Major League Soccer preview: Houston vs Seattle
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Two teams that are in the top half of the MLS Eastern Conference will do battle at GEODIS Park this weekend, as Nashville SC faces Charlotte FC.
Sitting sixth in the table with 17 points, two adrift of the visitors, the hosts will be looking to overtake Sunday’s opponents, while the North Carolina-based outfit will be aiming to avoid losing three straight games in the league.
We say: Nashville SC 2-1 Charlotte FC
Nashville seem to have found their rhythm after a troubling spell, now unbeaten in three games, and up against a Charlotte side struggling away from home, we can only back the home team to claim a 2-1 win.
> Major League Soccer preview: Nashville vs Charlotte FC
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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.
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 that they may edge this encounter by the odd goal in three.
> Major League Soccer preview: St Louis City vs San Diego
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Fresh off the back of reaching the 2025 US Open Cup round of 16, San Jose Earthquakes journey to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to face Colorado Rapids in MLS on Sunday morning.
While the Rapids are unbeaten in their most recent three home matches, San Jose have lost each of their last three games on the road and will head into the weekend looking to end this poor run.
We say: Colorado Rapids 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes
Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquake have struggled to impose themselves in the new MLS campaign and are currently separated by three points in the midtables. While San Jose will head into the weekend with confidence, rolling their recent two victories, home advantage gives Armas’s men an extra edge here and we are tipping them to secure all three points.
> Major League Soccer preview: Colorado vs Earthquakes
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Portland Timbers will welcome Sporting Kansas City to Providence Park when they clash in their MLS fixture on Sunday.
Fresh from a 3-2 triumph over Tacoma Defiance in the US Open Cup, the third-placed hosts will be looking to move up to second spot in the standings, while 12th-placed Sporting KC will be aiming to claim their fourth victory in six league matches.
We say: Portland Timbers 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
Despite their recent loss to San Jose Earthquakes, Portland Timbers have what it takes to get back on track after the disappointing loss, and considering the haphazard form of the visitors, Neville’s men could claim a 2-1 win.
> Major League Soccer preview: Portland vs Kansas
