Seattle Sounders v Portland Timbers
Monday 22nd July 0230hrs
Football – USA– MLS
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 11/10 (odds taken 13.00 GMT, Sunday 21st July)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93/100 | 53/20 | 53/20 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on July 21st, 2019 at 13.00)
Seattle versus Portland is one of the biggest rivalries in the Western Conference and we get the next installment of this Pacific-Northwest derby in the early hours of Monday morning at CenturyLink Field.
Seattle Sounders Preview – Can Seattle sound a warning to rivals and find the win to move second?
Seattle are one of the most successful franchises in MLS history and this current group have their eyes on adding to that success this season. The Sounders are currently placed third in the Western Conference, situated behind both LA clubs. A win against their arch rivals Portland this weekend would see them move into second, though. Head coach Brian Schmetzer has been in charge for three years and having been assistant before that, the club have benefited from real continuity over a prolonged period. Schmetzer will be hoping that his team are coming through what was a difficult stage of their season. Seattle had lost four in five games between May and June to see them slip behind Los Angeles FC. Two wins in a row against Eastern Conference teams look to have them back on track now.
As is traditionally the case, Seattle have been very strong at home and are unbeaten this season with eight wins from 10. Champions in 2016, runners up in 2017 and eliminated at the semi-final stage last season show how consistent this team have been in recent times. It’s also the standard that has been set and they will be expected to maintain that throughout this campaign. It looks likely on the evidence we have seen so far.
Portland Timbers Preview – Are Portland going to continue good recent form and move closer to the playoffs?
It could certainly be argued that Portland are in something of a false position at the moment. The Timbers have had to play the majority of their games away from home this season due to expansion works at their own stadium. Currently in ninth spot, Portland are beginning to climb the ladder and find themselves five points outside the playoffs. Their recent form has been good and it’s now just one defeat in six league games, winning three of them. Head coach Giovanni Savarese will be slightly disappointed that his team have drawn their last two games, both of which were at home. It places more emphasis on them getting results on their travels as a consequence of that, but they are more than capable of doing so.
Fourteen of Timbers’ first 19 have been on the road so they will be well drilled for their trip to Seattle. They have coped admirably with all of that traveling winning five and drawing a couple of them. Picking up wins away from home in this league is notoriously difficult due to the distances involved. This will be one of the shorter trips they make and they hope it will be a productive visit.
Key-Facts – Seattle Sounders v Portland Timbers
- Seattle are well placed in third at the moment and have won their last two games following a run of four losses in five
- Portland’s season has been lopsided with away games due to the expansion works of their stadium but they are creeping towards the playoffs
- Both teams have found the net in 18 of the last 23 meetings between these two clubs
Seattle Sounders v Portland Timbers Betting Advice
These are two of the biggest teams in the Western Conference and MLS as a whole. Their rivalry has grown year on year as well due to the relative success of both franchises. That was no more evident in last year’s Conference semi-final which Portland edged on penalties after a incredible 4-4 aggregate score. This may just be a regular season encounter and not as much meaning in comparison, but it still have plenty riding on it. A home win sends Seattle second again whilst a win for Portland would continue the Timbers’ revival.
A clear trend from games between these two clubs is the goals that occur. In the last 23 meetings across league and cup, 18 of them have seen both teams scoring. More recently, seven of Seattle’s last nine have also went this way. One of those was the previous meeting between the clubs in the US Open Cup back in June. Portland won 2-1 on that occasion and both teams can find the net again.
