- Miami is 10th in the MLS East
- Portland is 10th in the MLS West
- Both teams are coming off losses
The Portland Timbers will hit the road to take on Inter Miami CF in a matchup between two Major League Soccer teams looking to gain some momentum heading into the meat of the regular-season schedule.
Only the top seven teams in each conference advance to the postseason, a knockout-style bracket, so teams need to start gathering as many points as they can or risk facing an early vacation.
Inter Miami vs Timbers odds
MLS odds have Miami at +130 odds of winning the upcoming match, while Portland is just behind at +180. There are +230 odds on a draw occurring in the fixture.
Neither team has been in spectacular form lately, but Miami has been better at picking up points, which could be why they have been given the advantage in the eyes of the oddsmakers.
Inter Miami vs Timbers Information
The match is set to kick off inside DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET. It will be streamed live on ESPN+, where viewers can tune in.
Portland Timbers information
The Portland Timbers are in a down year from where they usually are, having only managed to secure 15 points in their 14 matches via a 3-6-5 record.
It is a decent sign that they have more draws than anything; at least, as of they were losses, the team would be much worse off— still, fans will surely be wondering why their team cannot turn those draws into wins, especially considering they made it all the way to the MLS Cup Playoffs Final before losing to New York City FC on penalties in 2021.
The Timbers’ recent fixtures have not inspired any confidence that they can turn their season around, having lost three of their last five with a win and a draw sprinkled in. Their most recent outing ended 2-0 in favor of the Philadelphia Union, the Eastern Conference’s top dog.
Bill Tuiloma leads the team with four goals in 13 matches, while Yimmi Chara and Jaroslaw Niezgoda are next in line with three goals to their name.
The team as a whole has managed 20 goals, which is actually the fifth-highest total in the Western Conference; however, they have conceded 23 goals, giving them a negative goal differential and the joint-third-worst defensive record in the West.
Portland tends to structure itself in a 4-3-3 formation which prioritizes attacking strength but leaves them vulnerable in transition. They usually do well with possession and can create chances but are also frequently caught out of position when turning the ball over, which has been a major contributor to them conceding so many goals in the campaign.
Here’s how they lined up in their last match: Aljaz Ivacic, Bill Tuiloma, Dario Zuparic, Justin Rasmussen, Jose Van Rankin, Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson, Cristhian Paredes, Nathan Uiliam Ugaca, Sebastian Blanco, Yimmi Chara.
Felipe Mora and Diego Gutierrez are both injured, while Pablo Bonilla is having visa issues.
Inter Miami CF information
Miami has the same amount of points as Portland, 15, but has accumulated them through a 4-3-6 record, showing they are more volatile. They have two wins, two draws, and one loss, their most recent outing, in their last five games, giving them a more favorable recent precedent than their upcoming opponent.
Leonardo Campana has been on the mark for Miami, scoring six goals in 13 matches and being one of the leading faces in goal-scoring MLS stats, while Gonzalo Higuain has two goals in his account.
Nobody else on the team has scored more than one goal, which is a contributing factor to the team only scoring 13 times, the third-lowest amount in the East; even worse, they have let in 21 goals, the joint-fourth-most in the conference.
Miami tends to utilize a 4-2-3-1, although they have pivoted to a 4-3-3 depending on the opponent. The 4-2-3-1 offers the most balance and connects the defense to the midfield, which is surprising for a team that has conceded so many goals.
They do well with maintaining possession and creating chances, but lapses in concentration and a poor defensive structure have been their downfall many times.
Here’s how the team lined up in its last league match: Drake Callender, Ryan Sailor, Damion Loe, Christopher McVey, DeAndre Yedlin, Bryce Duke, Gregore, Jean Mota, Leonardo Campana, Ariel Lassiter, Indiana Vassilev
Gregory Costa remains out for the team with a longstanding issue.
Inter Miami vs Timbers Betting Prediction
Neither one of these teams is a great long-term investment, but if any team is capable of turning it around, it is Portland.
Miami’s spotty goal-scoring record and terrible defense make them an absentee in the list of favorite MLS predictions and is why Portland, despite being the underdog, is poised to pull off the upset this weekend.
Ride with the visitors to head to Florida and come out with three points.
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