Looking at the upcoming clash between Portland Timbers and FC Dallas, we have a spicy one lined up. Now if we take a peek back at how both these teams have been faring, they haven't exactly been lighting up the scoreboards with regularity.
In terms of top talent, boy oh boy does the Portland Timbers' lineup pack a punch, with their star man this season undoubtedly being Evander with a heady 8.30 rating, 3 goals and a solid 78.4% accurate pass rate. Jonathan Rodríguez has also been a lights out performer lately, racking up 3 goals and maintaining a 75.9% accurate pass rate.
Over on the Dallas side, we're watching Petar Musa and Alan Velasco spearhead their attack, with Musa posting a 7.10 rating and Velasco racking up two goals. But folks, let's not overlook that slick pass game by Sebastian Lletget, hitting an astonishing 91.8% accurate pass rate.
Switching gears to the goalkeepers, FC Dallas have put their faith in both Jimmy Maurer and Maarten Paes who've been holding the fort with respective ratings of 7.40 and 6.77. Portland's Maxime Crépeau hasn't been a slouch either with a respectable 6.92 rating.
But how can we forget their past skirmishes? The famous stalemate from 2023 and their most recent catfight which saw FC Dallas snatch a win? However, considering the overall win-draw-loss records, Portland Timbers take the slight edge with 12 wins versus FC Dallas' 10.
Y'see, recent performances also shadow a similar trend. FC Dallas has been on somewhat of a roller coaster ride with a mixture of sobs and victories. Meanwhile, Portland have had their fair share of ups and downs, but that powerhouse performance against LA Galaxy surely turned some heads.
Now as much as we'd all love to see another draw and high drama between these two, current form and past records suggest Portland Timbers will clinch this closely contested battle and add another feather to their cap.
Albert’s Prediction: Portland Timbers by 1