Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers Betting Odds, Preview, Picks, Predictions: Can Chicharito, Host Side Cut Down Timbers? (June 18)
Shaun Clark/Getty Images. Pictured: Los Angeles Galaxy star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.
LA Galaxy vs. Portland Odds
| LA Galaxy Odds | -145 |
| Portland Odds | +340 |
| Draw | +290 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-175 / +120) |
| Day | Time | Saturday | 5 p.m. ET |
| How To Watch | ESPN | fuboTV |
| Odds updated via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute soccer odds here. | |
Returning to Major League Soccer action following the international break, the Los Angeles Galaxy welcome the Portland Timbers to Diginity Health Sports Park on Saturday in a game where goals should be on the menu.
The hosts enter the match in fifth place in the Western Conference with 23 points, pushing to qualify for the postseason for the first time since the 2019 campaign.
Meanwhile, the Timbers have really struggled after making the MLS Cup final last year, sitting in 12th place in the West with just three victories.
Both teams found the back of the net and combined for four goals in their first meeting back in March, and I’m expecting a similar situation this time around.
Los Angeles Seeking Earlier Form
The Galaxy got off to a great start, winning four of their first six matches to open the season. However, head coach Greg Vanney’s team has only picked up three victories in the last eight fixtures following the initial run.
If the club plans to get back to its early form, the Los Angeles side will need star striker Javier Hernández to get out of his scoring drought, as he only has one goal in the last eight outings.
The Galaxy has strong attacking talent, but Chicharito will need to lead the team from the front to secure a spot in the postseason.
By The Numbers
- 1.62 — Los Angeles’ 1.62 expected goals per 90 minutes average is good for sixth in the MLS, according to fbref.com.
- +3.9 — With a +3.9 xGDiff, the Galaxy sits top eight in the league in the advanced metric.
Road Woes Haunting Sluggish Portland
There was a lot of promise coming into the season following the great run to the league championship last year, but things haven’t gone to plan this year for the Timbers.
If there’s one reason to have hope, Portland did have a slow start to its previous campaign as well and the league runner-up is only four points off the final playoff place.
However, manager Giovanni Savarese’s team has struggled on the road, claiming just one win in eight games away from Providence Park this season.
By The Numbers
- -6.4 — To expand on their horrible away from, the Timbers own a -6.4 xGDiff in road games.
- 1.74 — Portland has allowed an average of 1.738 expected goals per road match.
Betting Analysis & Pick
There is a clear advantage with the offenses, which leads me to the Single Game Parlay combining Both Teams To Score (Yes) with the total sailing over 2.5 goals at -115 odds via BetMGM as my top pick.
Starting with the visitor, Portland road games have averaged three goals per match, plus Both Teams To Score bet has cashed in six of eight fixtures.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy have only kept two clean sheets in seven home games, which bodes well for us to get to the window with this featured selection.
The Pick: Single Game Parlay — Both Teams to Score (Yes) & Total Over 2.5 Goals (-115)
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