LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers | 2017 MLS Match Preview

Andrew Wiebe

LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers
2017 MLS Regular Season
StubHub Center – Carson, California
Sunday, March 12 – 7 pm ET
WATCH: FS1 (USA) | MLS LIVE (Canada)

Can a LA Galaxy squad depleted by injury and suspension bounce back from an opening weekend loss? Is the Timbers' front six, some say the best in MLS, explosive enough to capture just the third regular-season win at StubHub Center by an opposing team since Oct. 2015?

After a 2-1 defeat to FC Dallas, the defending Supporters' Shield champions, the Galaxy face the uneasy prospect of starting the season with two Ls at home as the Timbers roll down the coast buzzing from a 5-1 demolition of Minnesota United FC to kick off the 2017 MLS season. Could the balance of power be shifting in the Western Conference? Portland are out to prove they should be an MLS Cup favorite, while first-year head coach Curt Onalfo and LA prepare to protect home turf.

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE GAME GUIDE (PDF)

LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers | 2017 MLS Match Preview - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/fb-live-tmp.png

Watch MLS Matchday Live

Join us at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT on facebook.com/mls for MLS Matchday Live, our fun, informative, and interactive live matchday show. We'll have highlights and analysis of the weekend's action plus check in with our reporters around the league and answer your questions.

LA Galaxy

With so many injuries and suspensions to starters, Onalfo has some shuffling to do. And though it's early in the season, the stakes are high. Two home losses to start 2017 after years of dominance in Carson would ratchet up the pressure before the season really has time to get underway.

Suspended: Jermaine Jones (MLS Disciplinary Committee), Dave Romney (MLS Disciplinary Committee
Int’l Duty:N/A
Injury Report: DF Robbie Rogers (out - ankle); DF Ashley Cole (out - calf strain); FWD Gyasi Zardes (out - knee surgery)

Projected Starting XI (4-4-2, left to right): Brian Rowe — Nathan Smith, Jelle Van Damme, Daniel Steres, Rafael Garcia — Romain Alessandrini, Baggio Husidic, Joao Pedro, Sebastian Lletget — Giovani dos Santos, Jack McBean

Notes: LA has lost two of their last three regular-season home MLS matches after a 15-match home unbeaten run (8W-7D). They've averaged 2.4 goals per home game across their last 27 regular-season games at home.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers turned it on late to blow out the expansion Loons, but the signs were there the whole game. This team has the talent to be among the league's best attacking teams. However, they're not without flaws. With Liam Ridgewell questionable, Caleb Porter could be forced to go deep down the depth chart to fill out the center of defense.

One to watch: Homegrown left back Marco Farfan who could start in the place of the injured Vytas.

Suspended:N/A
Int’l Duty:N/A
Injury Report: DF Gbenga Arokoyo (out - Achilles tear); DF Vytas (out - calf strain); DF Liam Ridgewell (questionable - foot); DF Alvas Powell (questionable - ankle)

Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, left to right): Jake Gleeson — Marco Farfan, Liam Ridgewell, Lawrence Olum, Alvas Powell — Diego Chara, David Guzman — Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco — Fanendo Adi

Notes: Fanendo Adi’s brace against Minnesota marked his eighth game in MLS regular-season action with two or more goals since the start of the 2015 season. Only Bradley Wright-Phillips (10), David Villa (10) and Sebastian Giovinco (9) have more multi-goal regular-season games in the same time span.

All-Time Series

The Galaxy lead the series, as you might expect, but it's tight at 7-4-5 considering Portland's expansion status. It hasn't been tight at the StubHub Center, though, with LA losing just once in nine matches:

LA-POR All-Time MLS Meetings (16 games)