Before the Round – MLS Round 18 (26/06/2022)

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MLS offers up a full slate of 14 matches this weekend. Los Angeles FC top the MLS overall standings with 30 points, but Real Salt Lake are hot on their heels. Meanwhile, teams are jockeying for position in the race to make the playoffs.

Inter Miami CF - Minnesota United

Inter Miami will host Minnesota United in a cross-conference fixture. Inter Miami are outside of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference following a 2-0 loss to Atlanta United. Minnesota United are also outside the playoff places in the Western Conference.

Minnesota United are bottom of the West’s form table with four points from the last 18 points on offer. They are on a two-game losing streak in which three goals were conceded and just one scored.

Inter Miami go into the weekend having taken eight points from the last 18 points on offer in the league. Phil Neville’s team scored six goals and conceded six in the last six games.

• A run of 3 straight home wins at half time was achieved in their latest Major League Soccer matches by Inter Miami CF.
• In their last 7 games in Major League Soccer, Minnesota United have recorded only 1 win.
• Inter Miami CF are undefeated in their last 6 home encounters in the MLS
• Minnesota United scored an average of 0.86 goals in their away Major League Soccer matches.
• Prediction: Inter Miami CF @ 2.05

Austin FC - FC Dallas

It is a Texas derby as Austin FC host FC Dallas. Last season was the first time these nearby rivals met. FC Dallas won all three matches, outscoring Austin FC by a count of 9-4.

Austin go into the game having taken seven points from the last 18 points on offer. They were outscored 10-7 across the last six games. Austin are unbeaten in five of their last six home games.

FC Dallas are in slightly better form. They picked up nine points from the last 18 points on offer in MLS. The Hoops scored 10 goals and conceded eight times.

• Austin FC haven't lost in 8 of their last 9 home games in Major League Soccer.
• FC Dallas have outplayed Austin FC in their last 3 matches (Major League Soccer).
• The average number of goals scored by Austin FC is 2.43 for their home matches in Major League Soccer.
• FC Dallas's form hasn't been good, as the team has won only 4 of their last 24 away matches (Major League Soccer).
• Prediction: FC Dallas @ 3.30

Real Salt Lake - Columbus Crew

Real Salt Lake host Columbus Crew in another cross-conference fixture. Three of the teams’ six meetings in all competitions finished as draws. The Crew picked up two wins while Real Salt Lake won once in the teams’ last six encounters.

Columbus Crew took eight points from the last six matches in the MLS. They scored eight times and conceded eight goals to opponents. Columbus have been poor away from home with a record of 1W-4D-2L.

Real Salt Lake are MLS’s second-best home team with 19 points from seven games at home. They have scored 13 times and conceded four goals on their own turf.

• In their last 7 consecutive home matches of Major League Soccer, there have been no losses for Real Salt Lake.
• Columbus Crew are on a poor run of just 4 wins in 24 away matches (Major League Soccer.
• Real Salt Lake are undefeated in 19 of their last 22 home league games.
• We have seen 4 straight home Major League Soccer wins in a row for Real Salt Lake.
• Prediction: Real Salt Lake @ 1.83

Portland Timbers - Colorado Rapids

Portland Timbers host Colorado Rapids in a Western Conference match-up. The Timbers won just one of the last six games versus Colorado Rapids. The Rapids have a record of 3W-2D-1L against Portland in the last six matches between them.

Colorado Rapids are winless in their last two games. They picked up seven points from the last 18 points available to them. The Rapids were outscored 7-6 in the last six matches.

Portland Timbers are winless in five straight MLS games. Last season’s MLS Cup runners-up have not rebounded well from the final defeat a season ago. The Timbers took five points from the last six games, conceding 11 goals and scoring 12.

• Portland Timbers haven't lost in 10 of their last 12 home games in Major League Soccer.
• For Colorado Rapids there have been a series of 5 away Major League Soccer draws at half time.
• Portland Timbers's performance has been disappointing of late, as they have won just 1 of their 9 most recent Major League Soccer clashes.
• Colorado Rapids have been scoring 0.71 goals on average in their away games in Major League Soccer.
• Prediction: Portland Timbers @ 2.20