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• LA Galaxy v Portland Timbers: Neville demands in-form visitors remain grounded

  Phil Neville has urged the Portland Timbers to remain grounded as they look to continue their upturn against the Western Conference's outstanding team in the LA Galaxy.

  The Timbers are seventh in the standings, occupying a playoff place, after recording an excellent 3-0 win over high-flying Real Salt Lake last Saturday.

  That was their fifth win in their last six matches, the only blot on their record during that span being a 3-2 loss at FC Dallas.

  With the Galaxy leading the way in the West, two points clear of Los Angeles FC and Real Salt Lake and 10 ahead of Portland, Neville knows Saturday's match will be a real test.

  "We've come off a really good weekend and we gave the players a couple of days off just to regroup," Neville said this week. "This is the last push of this little section of the season. 

  "We've got to keep our feet on the ground, I think that's really important, because there's a lot of football still to be played. 

  "We are a team that has grown in confidence and got momentum but we can still improve, and this is a big test against one of the best teams in the conference."

  The Galaxy, who beat the Colorado Rapids 3-2 in their last match on Wednesday, could be set to receive a major boost with former Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus in talks regarding a move.

  While the deal is not yet done, head coach Greg Vanney knows what the German would bring to California. 

  "Anyone that we hopefully add in the summer window is somebody who can continue to make the team better," Vanney said shortly before the MLS Secondary Transfer Window opened.

  "A player of his profile gives you experience, gives you quality, it gives you versatility, also a winning mentality, a championship mentality.

  "Those types of things are always good for teams."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec 

  Pec has contributed to a goal in 10 straight home matches (eight goals, eight assists), equalling Robbie Keane's club-record mark set between 2012 and 2013. 

  He is the first player in team history to record a goal contribution in 10 straight home matches within a single season.

  Portland Timbers – Evander 

  Evander recorded a goal and an assist in Portland's win over Real Salt Lake last week, his fifth straight match with a goal contribution. 

  Only Diego Valeri (nine straight in 2017) has had a longer run of consecutive games with a goal contribution in the Timbers' MLS history.

  MATCH PREDICTION: LA GALAXY WIN

  The Galaxy are unbeaten in six straight meetings with the Timbers (three wins, three draws) though the last three meetings have all ended level. 

  This is the longest unbeaten run by either team against the other in all competitions since Portland joined MLS in 2011 (36 meetings).

  With the Galaxy winning eight of their last 11 matches, the first time they have managed that many victories in an 11-game span since 2015, they are favourites to edge what should be an entertaining contest.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

  LA Galaxy – 48.7%

  Portland Timbers – 25.6%

  Draw – 25.7%

• Colorado Rapids v Real Salt Lake: Armas resets focus for Rocky Mountain Cup clash

  Colorado Rapids boss Chris Armas hopes recovering players and resetting the team's focus will help them come through Saturday's Rocky Mountain Cup clash with Real Salt Lake.

  Colorado saw their three-game unbeaten run halted as they lost 3-2 to the LA Galaxy in midweek, just falling short of a comeback after going 2-0 and 3-1 down.

  The Rapids sit fifth in the Western Conference standings, two places and six points adrift of Real Salt Lake, albeit having played one additional game, ahead of Saturday's matchup. 

  With Omir Fernandez and Calvin Harris missing due to knocks, Colorado were depleted last time out, but Armas is hoping for a clean bill of health this weekend.

  "I don't harp on too much about what we don't have, but we'll get back and we'll recover, reload and then throw everything at Salt Lake on the weekend," Armas said. 

  "We'll have some guys getting healthy, Omir [Fernandez] is back, so we'll be ready to go. It's good to see Johnny [Lewis] have a strong performance. 

  "We'll have enough to cause Salt Lake some problems."

  "Every player knows this is going to be a big game for us, for the club and for the fans," forward Cole Bassett added. 

  "I don't think this is one you have to motivate us for. We know the importance."

  Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, stayed within two points of Western leaders Los Angeles FC as the teams played out a 1-1 draw in midweek, Brayan Vera equalising after Pablo Mastroeni's team fell behind early on.

  "We knew if we could have taken all three points it would have been a dream performance, but that result and a fantastic performance is in line with the team we are and the mindset we must have," Mastroeni told KSL Sports.

  "It's not going to be an easy game", he added of this weekend's derby. "I just want to see this type of resilient, committed performance. 

  "Every team in this league is a super difficult opponent. There's just no easy game".

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Colorado Rapids – Cole Bassett

  Bassett scored his eighth goal of the season on Wednesday, extending his career-high tally in 2024. 

  He also has a career-best 12 goal contributions this season as his four assists are tied for the second-most in a single year in his career (five in 2020).

  Real Salt Lake – Brayan Vera

  Vera scored the fourth goal of his MLS career in Real Salt Lake's draw with LAFC, all of which have been from outside the box. 

  Since Opta began detailed data collection of MLS in 2010, Vera and David Beckham (11) are the only players with at least four goals with 100% of them coming from outside the box.

  MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

  Real Salt Lake beat Colorado 5-3 in the last Rocky Mountain Cup matchup on May 18, recording their 20th regular-season win over the Rapids since the start of 2014, three more than any other team has managed against a single opponent in that span.

  Colorado are, however, unbeaten in seven regular-season home games (five wins, two draws), earning six points more at Dicks Sporting Goods Park this year (23) than they did throughout the entire 2023 season (17).

  Real Salt Lake have only lost one of their last 12 MLS road games, though seven of those have finished level, making the draw a real likelihood here.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

  Colorado Rapids – 35.4%

  Real Salt Lake – 38.5%

  Draw – 26%

• Philadelphia Union v Nashville SC: Curtin hails record breaker Sullivan

  Jim Curtin hailed Cavan Sullivan after he became the youngest player in MLS history this week, with more minutes potentially on the horizon when the Philadelphia Union face Nashville SC.

  Sullivan replaced Tai Baribo, who scored a hat-trick, for the final five minutes as the Union ended a near-four-month wait for a home win by thrashing the New England Revolution 5-1.

  At just 14 years of age, Sullivan has surpassed Freddy Adu as the youngest ever MLS player, also becoming the youngest debutant among the top North American professional sports leagues and the big five European leagues, UEFA Champions League and Europa League, dating back to 1988.

  "It was a special, special night," Union head coach Curtin said afterwards. "The place had a buzz. This is just the first chapter in Cavan's career. 

  "For those that don't know, we do have a plan for him. It's not just minute by minute or day by day; there is a plan in place. 

  "You guys don't get to see him every day in training, but the staff does, and the time was right to give him an opportunity.

  "The reality is, guys, he's not a normal kid. We've known that from the start. Because he's different, he has a different plan and a different trajectory to other players in our group."

  Sullivan's second senior outing could come against a Nashville team sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points above Philadelphia, but looking over their shoulders after five straight defeats.

  The latest of those losses – a comprehensive 3-0 reverse against Orlando City – led forward Jacob Shaffelburg to demand better.

  "We haven't been playing well for the fans" Shaffelburg said. 

  "They should know that we're trying our hardest, we're working hard, but they do deserve better. We got to give them better."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Philadelphia Union – Tai Baribo

  On Wednesday, Baribo became the first Israeli player in MLS history to score a hat-trick. 

  Israel is the 50th different nation to produce a player that scored at least three goals in an MLS match.

  Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar 

  Nashville attempted eight shots in their defeat to Orlando on Wednesday, the 12th time this season they have been held to fewer than 10 shots in an MLS match. 

  Mukhtar (41) has created more than twice as many chances as his next closest team-mate this year, with Sam Surridge teeing up 17 attempts. His creativity could be key.

  MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

  Nashville have lost five straight matches for the first time in club history with three of those defeats coming on the road. 

  They have managed only two wins in their last 12 away from home across all competitions (three draws, seven defeats), so approach this one as clear outsiders.

  The Union, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Nashville, winning three and drawing three, including a 2-1 road victory in early April.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

  Philadelphia Union – 45.1%

  Nashville SC – 28%

  Draw – 26.9%