MLS preview, April 20-21

The MLS weekend begins with a clutch of games at half-past-midnight (BST) on Saturday, the most intriguing of which sees Columbus Crew face Portland Timbers at Lower.com Field. Timbers are a win short of a full set of 3 wins, draws, and defeats for the season, such is the odd trajectory of Phil Neville's time in charge, and could either go away with a surprise away win or a heavy defeat. Crew, meanwhile, welcome back Cucho Hernandez after his recent issues and will have an eye on Wednesday's CONCACAF Cup Semi-Final clash with Liga MX side Monterrey. Also of interest to neutrals will be FC Cincinnati's visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on an Atlanta United team that threw away a 2-0 lead at home to Philadelphia Union last week. The Garys were themselves beaten away at CF Montreal and so the game takes on something of a pride restoration job for both teams. Talking of the Canadiens of CF Montreal, their home clash with Orlando City looks, even at this stage, like a game between two sides who will be fighting it out for the final play-off places. Neither can find any momentum but both have sparkling qualities that can lift a game; expect either Josef Martinez and Nicolas Lodeiro to be behind anything magical in this game.

New York City managed a second win last week, but only over the woeful New England Revolution so I'm not sure that even counts. Their reserve side made it through to round four of the US Open Cup in midweek which should put added pressure on the first ahead of the visit of DC United to Citi Field. The Pigeons are getting a new stadium soon and it's about time they started to llok like they were worthy of it. Inter Miami probably wish they had a new stadium to fit in all those Lionel Messi fans, especially now he's returned from injury to spark them back to winning form. They face Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on Saturday, looking to consoldiate their position at the top of the Eastern Conference, with the visitors surprisingly one off the bottom. That said, the Coyotes have quality throughout and all it takes is for Hani Mukhtar to do something special for a real game to develop. The final 0.30am kick-off comes from BMO Field, where FC Toronto host New England Revolution. Both sides are under new head coaches this year and neither are probably where they'd like to be, although I'm sure Revs fans would trade with Toronto in a heartbeat right now. New England haven't exactly played badly this season, it just hasn't clicked, while the Reds have at least shown signs of what they can do when John herdman has them in full flight. A weirdly compelling clash, then.

The three games at 1.30am (BST) include the second Copa Tejas match of the season as Austin FC travel three hours west to Houston Dynamo for their spirited local derby. At this early stage, just four points separate Dynamo - sitting third and having a decent season so far - from Austin - ninth, disappointing - and so there's all to play for, not least of which is the spectacle of a three-peat for Los Verde in the three-way battle for Lone Star State supremacy. Chicago Fire are another of those Eastern Conference sides who've been all over the place, results and form wise, so far this season and there's little point in trying to predict how they'll do at home to Real Salt Lake on Saturday. The visitors are winning games by the odd goal and not conceding too many as they do so, and the vital factor would seem to be who scores first. If it's Real, they may shut up shop. As well as the Texas derby, there's also a Missouri derby in Kansas City as St Louis City visit Sporting Kansas City, back at Children's Mercy Park after their financially successful but ultimately pointless time out at Arrowhead Stadium. Just a point separates the sides at this juncture, although KC will have Johnny Russell in contention to start for the first time in a month and hope that will spur them on. However, City's Joao Klauss broke his season duck last week, which could be ominous for Sporting...

If you enjoy chaos and randomness, Colorado Rapids are the team for you this season as they have somehow risen above their expected place at the bottom of the Western Conference to sit fifth, with just two losses so far this season. A 2.30am (BST) kick-off sees FC Dallas come to Dick's Sporting Goods Park in dire need of a win or two to get their season on track for a play-off place in, ooh, five months' time. The final two Saturday games are 3.30am (BST) starts from the West Coast, the most interesting of which - and considering the other is a Cascadia Cup match, it feels weird to say it - is New York Red Bulls' visit to Los Angeles FC. The Red Bulls have played exciting, attacking soccer so far this season under new head coach Sandro Schwarz and with Emil Forsberg enjoying himself in the creative midfielder role. They'll fear nothing going to an LAFC side which are stuttered on too many occasions this season for Steve Cherundulo's liking, including last week at Portland Timbers. That Cascadia Cup affair is Seattle Sounders versus Vancouver Whitecaps at Lumen Field, the Caps first away game in a month. Seattle look to be slowly getting things together but Vancouver sit second for a reason, even if they did lose 3-1 at home to LA Galaxy last week.

The two games on Sunday are both available to watch free on AppleTV if you don't have a subscription to MLS Season Pass and start with the 11pm (BST) kick-off between Charlotte FC and Minnesota United. The Queen City's second side - Charlotte Independence - took the headlines in the week by knocking out higher division opposition in the US Open Cup and will travel to Atlanta United in the next round, so it's time for the Crown to bring the spotlight back on the Bank of America Stadium. Both they and Minnesota United have eleven points from their seven games so far and smart money would be on a draw, if one with goals as these Sunday games have been producing. The weekend's final game is the California Clasico from Carson, where Los Angeles Galaxy face San Jose Earthquakes. It's top versus bottom in the Western Conference and while form counts for little in derby matches, it would be difficult to see the Quakes getting anything out of their trip south, especially if Dejan Jovelic, Joseph Paintsil, and Riqui Puig are up for it.