Vancouver Whitecaps' latest arrival, Stuart Armstrong, is relishing the challenge of the MLS as he aims to aid his new side’s push for the playoffs, starting with FC Dallas this weekend.

Armstrong, who arrived at BC Place as a free agent following his release from Southampton last season, provides a wealth of international and domestic experience for Vanni Sartini’s team.

The Whitecaps returned to league action last week with a win over Austin FC, leaving them fifth in the Western Conference table, four points behind Colorado Rapids with two games in hand.

And Armstrong, who will reunite with former Dundee United team-mate Ryan Gauld at the club, provided insight into what fans can expect from him for the remainder of the campaign.

"Hopefully, I can bring position play from back to front and connect the midfield to the forward line. Hopefully I can chip in with some creativity, some goals and assists too," Amstrong said.

"Every player I speak to says to me that the changing room's the best they've experienced in their career. The first player that said that to me was Ryan (Gauld) and I didn't believe him.

"Once more and more, every player says it, you begin to believe it. And having met the boys, a few boys yesterday and everyone today and a few more when they come back, I can re-affirm that everyone's a very good guy and a very good changing room to be a part of."

FC Dallas, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller against the Rapids last time out, with Darren Yapi’s 93rd minute winner sealing the victory for the away side.

The Toros twice led the encounter but were unable to build on their dramatic win over DC United in their first MLS fixture since their disappointing run in the Leagues Cup.

Interim head coach Peter Luccin acknowledged his side must improve to have a chance of reaching the playoffs as they sit 11th in the standings, identifying his team’s home form as a particular area to strengthen.

“We knew from the beginning that we had to get points on the road,” Luccin said. “Now we are doing the opposite, now we are winning on the road and losing at home.

“It would be great to now do both at the same time, but in the end, I am not saying that it was crucial today that we lost three points, but it was important.

“But the content of the game, is a concern. We have to learn, because today was not good enough.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld

Gauld assisted Vancouver’s only goal against Austin last time out, his 10th assist of the season to go along with his nine goals.

The Scot, who recorded 11 goals and 12 assists last year, could become the first Whitecaps player to notch 10 goals and 10 assists in multiple MLS seasons.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Musa came off the bench to score for Dallas on Saturday, his fifth straight regular season appearance with a goal.

Only Jeff Cunningham (six in 2009) and Carlos Ruiz (seven in 2006) have had longer scoring streaks in FC Dallas’ MLS history.

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

The Whitecaps have lost only one of their last nine meetings with FC Dallas dating back to 2019 (W5 D3), including going unbeaten at home against Dallas in that time (W3 D1).

They have also won five of their last seven regular season matches (D1 L1), including a 1-0 victory over Austin. The 1-0 win marked Vancouver’s first clean sheet in league play since a scoreless draw against the same opposition in May.

However, Dallas’ 4-3 win against DC United marked a rare away victory. The last time they recorded back-to-back triumphs on the road in the MLS was in May 2018, when they secured wins against Toronto FC and LA Galaxy.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 50.2%

Draw – 25.2%

FC Dallas – 24.6%

Dani Carvajal has no intention of playing for any European club other than Real Madrid, describing a move to MLS as a possibility at the end of his career.

Carvajal came through the ranks at the Santiago Bernabeu before spending a lone season in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen in 2012-13.

Since returning to Madrid, Carvajal has built a legacy as one of the club's most decorated players, winning LaLiga four times, the Champions League on six occasions and the FIFA Club World Cup five times.

Carvajal scored the opener as Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund in last season's Champions League final, then played a key role as Spain won a record-breaking fourth European crown at Euro 2024. 

Carvajal saw fellow Madrid stalwart Toni Kroos hang up his boots after that tournament and sees his own contract expire next year, but he has no intention of moving or retiring in the near future.

"I have until next summer on my contract. I'm not considering retirement at the moment. I talk about it with my family," he told The Athletic.

"I want to enjoy every game, every training session. As the years go by, you realise you have to give more value to every moment and enjoy it.

"The relationship I have with the club is very transparent, very clear. If both parties agree to continue, I hope to stay here for many years."

Pushed on where his future could lie when he does leave the Spanish capital, Carvajal talked up the prospect of following Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to the United States. 

"It's a possibility. When I decide not to be at Real Madrid, I'm not going to play in Europe, and the alternatives are much reduced," he said of moving stateside. 

Asked if that meant he would have to choose between MLS, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, Carvajal said: "Exactly, it would be one of those three options."

Madrid have taken eight points from their first four games of the season in LaLiga, already sitting four adrift of early pacesetters Barcelona, who have a perfect record.

That is despite Los Blancos finally bringing in long-term target Kylian Mbappe, and some have questioned whether the Frenchman can play in the same side as Brazilian duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

Carvajal is confident they will make it work, though, saying: "It's clear that the three feel comfortable playing on the left, but last year I had a lot of space on the wing and it boosted my attacking play a lot. 

"This year, I don't think there will be any problems. When you don't have the ball, you have to be structured, but when you have the ball, the coach gives us more freedom. The system is up to the coach; he's the one who decides."

Stuart Armstrong has completed a move to the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps following his exit from Southampton at the end of last season. 

Armstrong, who made 214 appearances in all competitions for the Saints, has signed a two-year deal and will join fellow Scotland team-mate Ryan Gauld at the club, having previously played with him at Dundee United.  

The 32-year-old was part of Steve Clarke's Scotland side during their dismal display at Euro 2024, featuring once as a substitute in their 1-0 defeat to Hungary.

He played 42 times in the Championship for Russell Martin's side last year, scoring five goals and adding seven assists, but missed the play-off final with a hamstring injury.

During his four-year stint at St. Mary's, Armstrong made 149 appearances in the Premier League and will provide an experienced midfield option for head coach Vanni Sartini.

“We are very excited to welcome Stuart and his family to Vancouver,” said Whitecaps FC sporting director, Axel Schuster. 

“He is a player who has excelled for many years at the highest levels in the United Kingdom, as well as internationally with Scotland.

"He brings experience, tactical awareness, positional flexibility, and a very high work rate.

"In addition, his passing range and elite chance creation from the midfield position will add another dimension to our team’s overall attack."

The Whitecaps currently sit fifth in the Western Conference table, with Armstrong potentially in line to make his debut this weekend against FC Dallas. 

Luis Suarez has announced he will retire from international football after Uruguay's World Cup qualifier versus Paraguay on Friday.

Suarez is Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer, having netted 69 times in 142 appearances, with only Diego Godin (161) winning more caps for La Celeste.

The striker helped Uruguay reach the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and win their 15th Copa America title in 2011, being named Player of the Tournament as he scored four goals including the opener in the final – a 3-0 victory over Paraguay.

Suarez will face the same opponents in his final international match on Saturday as Marcelo Bielsa's team look to build on a return of 13 points from their first six games in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification process.

"I've been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time," a tearful Suarez told reporters on Monday.

"I want to be relaxed when I play my last game with the national team. I'll be just as excited to play as I was in 2007 when I played for my national team for the first time.

"That 19-year old kid is now a veteran player, an older player, however you want to call it, with an incredible history with the national team, that will give his life for the team."

Suarez was memorably sent off for a handball on the goal line to deny Ghana a winning goal as La Celeste won the teams' 2010 World Cup quarter-final on penalties, while he missed the 2015 Copa America after receiving a nine-match ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

"We did go through difficult moments. There were many," he added. "Personally, it was worse for me after my massive mistake in 2014.

"But there's nothing that I would reproach."

The 37-year-old played a limited role as Uruguay took the bronze medal at this year's Copa, making four substitute appearances with Darwin Nunez predominantly leading the line.

Suarez did, however, net a stoppage-time equaliser to take the third-place play-off versus Canada to penalties, also converting from the spot as Uruguay triumphed 4-3 in the subsequent shoot-out.

He has 16 goals in 20 MLS outings for Inter Miami this year, with only Christian Benteke and Cristian Arango (17 each) ahead of him in the Golden Boot race.

Marcel Hartel's second-half strike compounded Western Conference leaders LA Galaxy to a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of St. Louis City. 

Cedric Teuchert's early strike was cancelled out by Gabriel Pec's equaliser 50 seconds into the second half, only for Hartel, who signed from St. Pauli in July, to net his third goal on his sixth appearance for the club.

Having failed to win in their last five MLS fixtures, St. Louis took the lead with just nine minutes on the clock as Teuchert punished John McCarthy's poor clearance. 

In a fairly even contest, parity was restored shortly after the interval as Galaxy substitue Miguel Berry made an instant impact from the bench with his flick finding Pec who finished emphatically. 

But Hartel would have the final say, steering Jayden Reid's inviting cross home in the 68th minute, leaving Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney dissappointed in the result and his players, who were unable to adapt to the conditions. 

“I'm disappointed in the result for sure. More for me, it's being able to manage the conditions and still be able to perform on things that we need to perform on the day," Vanney said.

"That's what's important in this time of the season. That then also translates into results. I think you'll see across the league at this time of year, we see it all during the year. 

"We've got to be at the point in the season where we have to manage whatever the conditions are and still perform and execute upon the things that we need to execute to have the game look how we want it to look and see it out in the ways we need to.

"I felt like we didn't do that today. So it's disappointing. It happens in the course of the season. We have to bounce right back."

Data Debrief: Hero Hartel to the rescue

St. Louis' triumph saw them end a run of consecutive draws against the Galaxy, having shared the spoils in their last three encounters in the MLS. 

Hartel was the player to strike the decisive blow and now has three MLS goal involvements (one goal and two assists) since his move to St. Louis in July. 

Joseph Paintsil was a particular standout for the visitors, recording the most touches in the oppositions box (13) as well as playing 18 passes into the final third.

Marcel Hartel's second-half strike compounded Western Conference leaders LA Galaxy to a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of St. Louis City. 

Cedric Teuchert's early strike was cancelled out by Gabriel Pec'S equaliser 50 seconds into the second half, only for Hartel, who signed from St. Pauli in July, to strike his third goal on his sixth appearance for the club.

Having failed to win in their last five MLS fixtures, St. Louis took the lead with just nine minutes on the clock as Teuchert punished John McCarthy's poor clearance. 

In a fairly even contest, parity would be restored shortly after the interval as Galaxy substitue Miguel Berry made an instant impact from the bench with his flick finding Pec who finished emphatically. 

But Hartel would have the final say, steering Jayden Reid's inviting cross home in the 68th minute, leaving Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney dissappointed in the result and his players, who were unable to adapt to the conditions. 

“I'm disappointed in the result for sure. More for me, it's being able to manage the conditions and still be able to perform on things that we need to perform on the day," Vanney said.

"That's what's important in this time of the season. That then also translates into results. I think you'll see across the league at this time of year, we see it all during the year. 

"We've got to be at the point in the season where we have to manage whatever the conditions are and still perform and execute upon the things that we need to execute to have the game look how we want it to look and see it out in the ways we need to.

"I felt like we didn't do that today. So it's disappointing. It happens in the course of the season. We have to bounce right back."

Data Debrief: Hero Hartel to the rescue

St. Louis' triumph saw them end a run of consecutive draws against the Galaxy, having shared the spoils in their last three encounters in the MLS. 

Hartel was the player to strike the decisive blow and now has three MLS goal involvements (one goal and two assists) since his move to St. Louis in July. 

Joseph Paintsil was a particular standout for the visitors, recording the most touches in the oppositions box (13) as well as playing 18 passes into the final third.

Cucho Hernandez dedicated Columbus Crew's dramatic last-gasp victory over New York City FC to the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau.

The Crew struck twice in stoppage time to seal a 4-2 triumph and extend their winning streak across all competitions to eight matches.

Despite cancelling out Alonso Martinez's early strike through Diego Rossi and Maximilian Arfsten, Columbus were pegged back in the 86th minute by Mounsef Bakrar.

However, the hosts were not to be denied at Lower.com Field as DeJuan Jones and Jacen Russell-Rowe snatched victory in stoppage time, while Julian Fernandez was sent off for the visitors.

Striker Hernandez took to X to pay tribute to Gaudreau, who plied his trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, after the seven-time All-Star and his younger brother Matthew were killed in a bicycling accident in Philadelphia on Thursday.

"We would like to dedicate this victory to Johnny and his brother Matthew," he posted. "Our condolences to his family at this difficult time. May they rest in peace."

Luis Suarez scored two and orchestrated another as Inter Miami cruised to a 4-1 win over Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday.

His shot led to the opening own goal before his second-half double put the game out of reach as Miami stretched their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to nine points. 

Suarez played a neat one-two with Diego Gomez to set up a strike from the edge of the box, and though Chris Brady did well to save it, he pushed it straight against Tobias Salquist, who chested it over the line 25 minutes in.

The Uruguayan thumped a free header against the bar minutes later, but finally got his reward just after the break – he raced in behind before slotting a neat shot in at the near post.

Alba then picked him out for his second in the 65th minute, fizzing a low cross into the six-yard box for him to guide past Brady.

Gomez was unlucky from distance as his drilled shot hit the inside of the post before Georgios Koutsias' instinctive close-range finish beat Drake Callender.

Substitute Robert Taylor then rounded off the scoring with a lovely first-time finish in stoppage time.

Data Debrief: Suarez continues to step up in Messi's absence

Miami have now been without their talisman Lionel Messi for three months due to the Copa America and an ankle injury, but Suarez has proven once again that they still pose a threat without him.

He has scored four times from a total of 12 shots since MLS resumed, with nine of those coming in this game. 

The 37-year-old ran the show, leading the team in expected goals (1.4), shots on target (five), touches in the box (eight) and big chances (four).

Marco Reus is desperate to bring silverware to the LA Galaxy after making a flying start to his time in MLS, with St. Louis City the destination for his first road game on Sunday.

Reus registered a goal and an assist on debut last week as the Galaxy beat Atlanta United 2-0, maintaining their grip on top spot in the Western Conference.

The Galaxy are five points clear of local rivals Los Angeles FC at the top of the standings ahead of Sunday's trip to St. Louis, who are 13th and 10 points adrift of the playoff picture.

Reus' arrival in Los Angeles has caused plenty of fanfare, but he is focused solely on the team's collective aims.

"It's not about me, it's about the team," he said. "We want to be champions. So we take it game by game.

"Besides the traffic, it's really amazing. The people are so friendly. The weather, it's really nice. When you wake up in the morning and the sun is shining, you start the day differently.

"So I'm really, really happy every morning I come into the dressing room. I'm just happy and excited."

St. Louis played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with the Portland Timbers last week, twice throwing away a two-goal lead to leave interim coach John Hackworth bewildered. 

"Really don't know what to say," Hackworth said. "It's hard to imagine coming to a place like this and scoring four goals, being up, and then just losing one-versus-one defensive battles.

"Sometimes, the number of goals you give up, or the number of goals you score, can hide a lot of the transition moments.

"An easy way to prevent some of these defensive miscues from happening is to just be better with the ball."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Eduard Lowen

Lowen scored his fourth goal of the MLS season last time out, converting from the penalty spot as St. Louis drew 4-4 with the Timbers.

Only Joao Klauss, with five goals, has outscored him for St. Louis this term.

LA Galaxy – Marco Reus

Reus is one of 20 players in MLS history to record a goal and an assist on his regular-season debut. 

He is also the fifth Galaxy player to do so, after Steven Gerrard, Andreas Herzog, Giovani dos Santos and Sasha Victorine. No other team have had more than two players achieve the feat.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

The Galaxy have won 10 of their last 13 regular-season matches, the first time they have done so in a single season since 2011. LA have not recorded 11 wins in a span of 14 matches within a single regular season in the post-shootout era (since 2000).

It would be no surprise to see the points shared in this one, though. All three meetings between St. Louis and the Galaxy have ended level, all with different scorelines (1-1, 2-2, 3-3).

St. Louis have only won one of the last six matches in which they have held the lead in regular-season play dating back to the beginning of June (four draws, one defeat).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City – 35.8%

LA Galaxy – 38.1%

Draw – 26.1%

Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay is hopeful his team have settled into their new "identity" ahead of their trip to San Jose Earthquakes in MLS.

After snapping a winless streak in MLS before the Leagues Cup, Minnesota were beaten 3-2 by Seattle Sounders last time out, having come from behind to level twice before Albert Rusnak's winner.

They sit 11th in the Western Conference but still have the playoffs in sight.

Ramsay believes his team are starting to gel after introducing new signings and other returning from various injury setbacks.

"We're finding analyzing where we are now difficult as a group because the Seattle game felt like day one of a new season, and we've loved working with our new group over the last three weeks," Ramsay said.

"But we've got to analyze it with an element of urgency and desperation wrapped around it because it's a group that wants to reach the playoffs.

"We need to keep pushing to make sure we see the results on a weekend, and now we can start to see a real emergence of an identity in the team."

Meanwhile, San Jose Earthquakes got an impressive win over high-flying Real Salt Lake last time out, snapping their three-match losing streak in MLS.

They are still bottom of the table, but interim head coach Ian Russell was impressed with the manner of the win and is hoping they can continue their high-level performances on home soil.

"I told the guys the last six or seven games have been really, really good," he said.

"We haven't won them all, obviously, but ever since the Houston game at home, we started showing a lot of fight. And you know, we've had a couple losses late in games, but the win over Real Salt Lake was really good."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Jose Earthquakes – Cristian Espinoza

Cristian Espinoza has never scored in 10 career regular season matches against Minnesota.

The Loons are the only one of the 11 teams Espinoza has faced 10 or more times in his MLS career that he has never scored against.

Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah

Kelvin Yeboah scored both of Minnesota's goals against Seattle Sounders on Saturday, becoming the 22nd player in MLS history to score multiple goals on his debut and the first in over two years, since Nathan Fogaca did so for Portland in May 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Minnesota have lost only one of their last 11 matches against San Jose in all competitions (won six, drawn four) dating back to 2019 after the Earthquakes won each of the first four meetings between the sides in 2017 and 2018.

However, Minnesota are winless in eight straight road matches in all competitions (two draws, six losses). This is their longest winless run away from home since a 17-match stretch from March to October 2018.

Meanwhile, San Jose's 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday was just their fifth win of the season, but four of those five wins have been against teams in the top five in the current Western Conference standings (Los Angeles FC, RSL, Colorado Rapids, Seattle).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Jose Earthquakes – 38.1%

Draw – 26.5%

Minnesota United – 35.4%

Houston Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen has urged his team to find their clinical edge in a tough test against Los Angeles FC on Saturday.

The Dynamo had lost just one of their last 10 MLS matches before the Leagues Cup break, winning four and drawing five of the other games in that streak.

However, they returned to league action with a 1-0 defeat to Toronto FC last time out and sit eighth in the Western Conference.

And Olsen has challenged his team to improve their end product against the Leagues Cup finalists.

"The last game was not the result we wanted, that's for sure," he said.

"I'm starting to sound like a broken record: we play well, we have a lot of chances. We can do all that stuff, but we don't make the play.

"If we're going to be the team we want to be, we need to be killers, be way more cut-throat in the final third. We can't keep expecting our defence to get shutouts in every game."

Meanwhile, LAFC bounced back from Leagues Cup final heartbreak by reaching the US Open Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders.

In MLS, they are five points behind leaders LA Galaxy, having lost their last league match 3-1 to San Jose Earthquakes, but head coach Steve Cherundolo has confidence in his team.

"Our LAFC players are monsters," he said. "They show great heart and skill, and their physical side of the game is great.

"Simple mentality gives them the edge. I've also been happy with the control and managing of the minutes in recent matches."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga has not been involved in a goal in any of his four meetings with the Dynamo (incl. playoffs).

They are the only MLS opponent he has faced more than twice and not recorded at least one goal involvement against.

Houston Dynamo – Hector Herrera

Hector Herrera completed 101 passes against Toronto FC on Saturday, his sixth match with at least 100 completed passes in regular season MLS play.

He is tied with Riqui Puig for the most such games to complete 100+ passes since making his MLS debut in July 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

This will be the first meeting between Los Angeles and Houston since LAFC's 2-0 win in last season's Western Conference Final. That win was their only clean sheet against the Dynamo (14 meetings).

However, LAFC's last two regular-season home matches were a loss to Columbus Crew and a draw with Real Salt Lake. They have gone three such matches without a win only twice since the start of the 2019 season but have not done so since 2021.

Meanwhile, the Dynamo won their final two regular-season road matches before the Leagues Cup break, winning at San Jose and Vancouver Whitecaps. However, they have not won three consecutive such games since a four-match run spanning the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LAFC – 61.8%

Draw – 20.2%

Houston Dynamo – 18%

Josh Wolff believes Austin FC's new signings have given them a much-needed boost and hopes that will carry on against Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

Austin added Mikkel Desler, Oleksandr Svatok and Osman Bukari, who scored in their 2-0 win over Nashville SC last time out, helping to snap a three-match winless streak.

It means they sit ninth in the Western Conference, though only have a one-point advantage over the two teams sitting just below them.

However, Wolff says he is excited to see how the team continues to grow in the second half of the season.

"The guys that we got in the summer have performed well and that helps create better overall performances for the team and creates competition in the group and I think it's helped us immensely," he said.

"We labored through 24 games, but I think you see a team now that's competing home and away and generating goals.

"We're coming into good form, but we need to maintain that."

Meanwhile, Vancouver sit three places and four points above their opponents, with their form on the road particularly eye-catching in MLS this season, going unbeaten in the last three.

They return to league action after an extended break due to their Canadian Championship semi-final, and head coach Vanni Sartini aims to get his team back up and running in the competition as soon as possible.

"We need to go there knowing that we need to make points because that's the only curse when you're doing well," he said.

"We want to stay in the high position. We've done well on the road this season, and we need to keep doing it by being smart."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Jon Gallagher

Jon Gallagher scored his 12th goal for Austin in their win over Nashville last time out.

Only Sebastian Driussi (43) and Diego Fagundez (15) have scored more in regular-season play for the Verde.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

Brian White has scored a goal in each of his last three regular season away matches.

White had a four-match road scoring streak in 2023 and could become the first Whitecaps player to score in four straight MLS road games more than once.

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

Vancouver have lost only one of their seven all-time meetings with Austin (winning four, drawing two), though Austin have managed draws in two of the last three meetings, including a scoreless match in Vancouver on May 4.

The Whitecaps are unbeaten in five straight road matches in all competitions (three wins, two draws) for the second time in 2024 (also in March-May). This is the first time since the club joined MLS in 2011 that they have had multiple five-match road unbeaten runs in a single year.

However, Austin have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Nashville (lost one). Austin had managed just two wins in their previous 11 matches beforehand (three draws, six losses).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 30.8%

Draw – 25.1%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 44.1%

D.C. United coach Troy Lesesne has called on his team to seize their opportunity to close the gap to fellow playoff hopefuls Toronto FC when they visit BMO Field on Saturday.

D.C. prop up the Eastern Conference standings with 26 points from as many games this term, but the congested nature of the table means they are within two points of a wild-card place.

Toronto currently occupy the first of those places, sitting five points clear of D.C. having played one additional game, and Lesesne knows that fact gives Saturday's matchup additional importance.

"We're all well aware of the table and we do try to bring that into view for the players," Lesesne said.

"But also, with eight games left, there's a lot still to be played for. This week, we have another opportunity right in front of us.

"We have to stick to what we want to do as a team. We have Toronto this week, they're in eighth place and a few points ahead of us, so closing that gap has to be our focus right now."

Toronto have won both of their matches since returning from the Leagues Cup break, beating the Houston Dynamo 1-0 in MLS last week then triumphing 1-0 versus Forge in the Canadian Championship semi-finals on Wednesday.

Youngster Kosi Thompson has impressed in central midfield for the Reds lately despite coming through the ranks as a winger, and he now has one eye on making it on the international scene.

"I've learned that it's a man's game," Thompson said. "I was born in Toronto, and it's one of the biggest hotspots in Canada for football, so I would love to represent the national team. 

"It's just about being patient and putting the work in to get there."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Toronto FC – Federico Bernardeschi 

Bernardeschi (eight goals, eight assists) is the fourth player in Toronto's MLS history to record at least eight goals and eight assists in a single regular-season campaign, after Sebastian Giovinco (four times), Alejandro Pozuelo and Victor Vazquez (twice apiece).

D.C. United – Christian Benteke 

Benteke headed home D.C. United's opening goal as they lost 4-3 to FC Dallas last week, his 11th headed goal in regular-season play, more than any other D.C. player over the last 15 MLS seasons.

MATCH PREDICTION – TORONTO FC WIN

Toronto have only lost one of their last seven home matches against D.C. (four wins, two draws, including playoffs), including winning the last two in a row. 

Toronto have never won three straight home matches against D.C. United, but after recording two straight shutout wins in regular-season play for the second time this term, could they achieve that feat here?

D.C. won 3-2 at Minnesota United on their last away outing in MLS, but that is their only road win in the competition since early May, losing four and drawing one of their last six.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Toronto FC – 43.5%

D.C. United – 29.7%

Draw – 26.8%

Oscar Pareja is keen to ensure Orlando City's positive momentum does not dissipate after one poor result, as they look to return to winning ways against Nashville SC.

Orlando occupy the final automatic playoff place in the Eastern Conference, but their five-match unbeaten run in MLS play was halted by a 3-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City last week.

With struggling Nashville the visitors to Inter&Co Stadium this week, Pareja is not worried about that defeat being a turning point.

"We recognise that we didn't have our best game in Kansas," Pareja said. 

"We tried to get our energy back during this week, understanding that we have had a good time with good results and good football. 

"We want to continue with that momentum, we feel it. We are just ready to play the next games here.

"We agreed with the players that we lost energy at Kansas, but it's not something that is common for our team."

Nashville, meanwhile, sit 14th in the standings, eight points adrift of Orlando, after losing seven straight regular-season games.

The last of those was their first MLS outing under B.J. Callaghan as they went down 2-0 to Austin FC, but the new head coach saw positive signs in their performance. 

"I think we played a game where the performance was good enough to win," he said. "We had a few moments that we lapsed. 

"That's unacceptable, we have to learn from it, we have to improve it. You have to give credit to Austin, they were able to capitalise on those moments.

"We just need to continue to sort of pound repetitions to get the timing right, get the technique right, get the service right."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Orlando City – Nicolas Lodeiro 

Six different Orlando City players have recorded at least four assists this season, led by Lodeiro's eight. 

Only Inter Miami (seven) have more players with at least four assists this MLS season, but Lodeiro is certainly the creative fulcrum for the hosts.

Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar

Mukhtar has scored six goals against Orlando City in MLS play (including playoffs), tied for his most against any opponent (also six versus Atlanta and Chicago), though he has not scored in any of his last four meetings with the Lions.

MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN

Orlando have won four straight matches against Nashville, including in last season's playoffs, keeping clean sheets in all four matches.

The Lions saw their five-match regular-season unbeaten run (four wins, one draw) halted by a 3-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City last time out, conceding as many goals in that defeat as in their previous five outings combined.

However, they should bounce back here. Nashville's club-record regular-season losing streak extended to seven matches with a 2-0 loss at Austin last Saturday, and they have lost their last four on the road in MLS.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 58.7%

Nashville SC – 19.8%

Draw – 21.5%

Caleb Porter believes the New England Revolution are only "scratching the surface" of their true potential, with several key players back in form ahead of their visit to Real Salt Lake.

The Revs trounced CF Montreal 5-0 on the road last time out in a triumphant return to MLS action after the Leagues Cup break, moving within two points of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Former league MVP Carles Gil and winger Dylan Borrero both returned to action in that game after dealing with injury problems, and Porter senses his team have turned a corner at an ideal time.

"I don't think it is a coincidence when [Borrero] and Carles left, we were not quite as fluid," Porter said. 

"We hung in, we hung around, we did it in different ways, we got a few draws and a win in the Leagues Cup. But you can see our level. 

"That's what we want it to look like, and better. We are just scratching the surface. We’ve got to keep pushing and stay really hungry. 

"We've got to go back to work and work even harder next week. We've got a very difficult game against Salt Lake on the road."

Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, sit third in the West but were beaten 2-0 by the struggling San Jose Earthquakes on their return to MLS action last week.

Coach Pablo Mastroeni believes his side tried to force the issue too much in that match, saying: "There are two sides of the coin, we looked like a side that hadn't played for a few weeks, and what that does to the psyche is it doesn't allow us to reset.

"That was the story. We weren't sharp with the ball and we tried to force it. You have to build confidence in your attack."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango 

Arango (17 goals) and the since-departed Andres Gomez (13 goals) are the first pair of Real Salt Lake team-mates to combine for 30 goals in a single regular season in club history.

With Gomez now in France with Rennes, it is now up to Arango to fire RSL to the postseason.

New England Revolution – Emmanuel Boateng

Six of Boateng's 19 career MLS goals (including playoffs) have been scored against Real Salt Lake. The only other opponent he’s scored against more than once is FC Cincinnati (also three goals).

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

This will be the first meeting between New England and Real Salt Lake in Utah since October 2018. RSL have not lost any of their last eight home matches against New England (six wins, two draws) dating back to 2008.

That may not change this weekend. RSL have only lost one of their last 24 home matches against Eastern Conference opponents (14 wins, nine draws), including going unbeaten through their last six (four wins, two draws).

New England have lost two of their last three MLS road games, with their last two ending in a 5-1 defeat (to the Philadelphia Union) and a 5-0 victory (at Montreal).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 51.4%

New England Revolution – 23.9%

Draw – 24.7%