Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles Galaxy 03/09/20

03 September 2020

A potentially high-scoring MLS contest at Providence Park pits out-of-form Portland Timbers against resurgent Los Angeles Galaxy. All four of their previous competitive H2H showdowns have produced over 2.5 goals.

After registering back-to-back wins at the beginning of the post-pandemic period, the hosts have failed to pick up all three points in three consecutive MLS fixtures (D2, L1). But, the ‘Timbers’ must be confident of returning to winning ways now, as they take on a side they’ve beaten in all three of their previous competitive H2Hs. Curiously, two of those triumphs have yielded the identical 4-0 scoreline, which is in line with Portland’s tendency to produce some high-scoring affairs lately. Indeed, all five of their MLS games since the resumption of football have contained over 2.5 goals, with four seeing both teams on the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, the visitors have overseen an upturn in form going into this encounter. They’ve gone from three consecutive MLS matches without a win (D1, L2) to back-to-back victories, both of which have seen them score in both halves. Also, all three of Galaxy’s top-flight trips this term have featured goals in both halves, with five of those six halves of top-tier football producing at least one goal in the opening 15 minutes. But, Providence Park has been somewhat a fortress for Guillermo Schelotto’s side lately, as they’ve failed to beat Portland in all five of their previous competitive H2H meetings held at this venue (D1, L4).