MLS preview, April 27

The MLS weekend kicks off in Texas where Austin FC take on 2024's surprise package Los Angeles Galaxy at Q2 Stadium. It kicks-off at 6.45pm (all times BST) and it's available for free on AppleTV if you don't have an MLS Season Pass. After a shaky start, Austin have won three out of their last four matches but are still short some quality up front, while the arrival of Joseph Paintsil at Galaxy has proved to be a catalyst for some exciting, attacking soccer that is impressing neutrals everywhere. The TV game is followed at 0.30am by an octet of games that also features the weekend's other free TV game, the visit of CF Montreal to Columbus Crew. Crew, the last MLS club standing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, won in that competition in midweek and have looked solid so far this season, as they have ever since head coach Wilfred Nancy arrived at the start of last season. The visit of his former club will add a little spice to the encounter but it's hard to see past a home win here. Like LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls have surprised people with some good form this season under new head coach Sandro Schwarz. They host Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, who are fresh off a 2-0 win in the Cascadia Cup clash away at Seattle Sounders last week. Both sides sit second in their respective conferences, and this could be a tease for a possible MLS Cup, although it's very early days, of course. 

Red Bulls' local rivals New York City have begun to turn their season around after a terrible start and saw off a handy DC United side last week. This week sees Charlotte FC come to Yankee Stadium on the back of a middling season so far, although new signing Liel Abada has provided some excitement for Crown fans. Possibly the most intriguing match in this section of games is Real Salt Lake's visit to Philadelphia Union, a clash of two sides who can be relied upon to score goals when given the slightest window. Union had last week off and are still unbeaten, albeit with four draws from seven games, but Real absolutely demolished Chicago Fire at Soldier Field last week and in Cristian Arango have one of those very special players that can create something out of nothing. It says something about how poorly San Jose Earthquakes have started that New England Revolution's four points from eight games isn't the worst record this season but there's no pretending that things are going badly for new head coach Caleb Porter in Foxborough. Luckily for them, it's only Inter Miami who are the visitors to Gillette Stadium this week and they didn't look at all like potential MLS Cup winners like week, honest. 

2023 Supporters' Shield winners FC Cincinnati currently sit third in the Eastern Conference and have generally looked like one of this season's better sides, with Corey Baird, Miles Robinson, and DeAndre Yedlin slotting in alongside last year's over-performers. They welcome Colorado Rapids to TQL Stadium this week with the visitors on a run of form that has taken many by surprise. Put simply, along with Portland Timbers, Rapids are the league's most unpredictable side, and no result would be a surprise here. Orlando City have just two wins to show for their efforts so far this season, both coming thanks to the creative impetus provided by a fit and motivated Nicolas Lodeiro. Unfortunately, Lodeiro isn't always fit and motivated, and Toronto FC will hope to catch him on an off day when they travel to Florida on Saturday, buoyed by a 5-0 win in the Canadian Championship in midweek, albeit against semi-professional opposition. That's probably the sort of break Seattle Sounders wish they could get to restore some confidence after their 2-0 defeat at home to Vancouver Whitecaps last week that saw a catalogue of defensive blunders and two players red-carded. This is Brian Schmetzer's eighth year in charge of the Sounders and it might be that his time is coming to an end. They're on the road to DC United this week, who also lost 2-0 last time out but have been playing some good soccer in spurts this season.

The central time zone provides four games with a BST kick-off of 1.30am this week, with the Copa Tejas clash between FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo in Frisco the most eye-catching. Houston were unlucky to lose at home to Austin last week, have generally been playing well this season, and will look to kick on now Hector Herrera is getting back near full fitness, while Dallas just don't seem at the races, a single win over basement club San Jose Earthquakes to show for their efforts this season. Talking of the Quakes, they visit Nashville SC on Saturday to face a Coyotes' side who haven't won in almost six weeks, hopeful - as always - of turning around their woeful form so far this season. They should have new signing Hernan Lopez available for the trip, which will at least give them some more options going forward, although the 24 goals they've conceded in nine games is possibly more cause for concern. Also conceding plenty of goals are Chicago Fire, who shipped four at home to Real Salt Lake last week and have the second-worst defence this season. They welcome Atlanta United to Soldier Field on Saturday with the Five Stripes having one of those so-so seasons thus far and, to be honest, it's hard to imagine too many outside the Chicago and Atlanta areas being too bothered by this one.

Tani Oluwaseyi has been one of the bright spots of an overall decent season for Minnesota United so far, scoring some important goals on his return from loan at USL Championship San Antonio FC last season, and he should keep his starting place for the visit of Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, even if that did relegate DP Teemu Pukki to the bench last week. Sporting now have Alan Pulido and Johnny Russell back to full fitness, and with Erik Thommy in prolific goalscoring form from midfield, they will prove an attacking threat to the Loons' defence. The weekend's final game is the sole match from the West Coast, where Los Angeles FC - fresh off announcing the impending arrival of Olivier Giroud - take on Phil Neville's Portland Timbers. As mentioned, how the Timbers will perform just cannot be predicted this season and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them steal a win at BMO Stadium, although you'd think LAFC would have enough to see them off and continue their no doubt inevitable march towards the play-offs.