Mayra Madrigal
Portland Timbers vs Sporting Kansas City will debut this Saturday, February 25, in the 2023 MLS season. Four months have passed since the last league games these teams played, as neither team advanced to the playoffs.
In the Western Conference standings for the 2022 season, there were six points between them. They had the same number of wins (11), but the team from Kansas finished as the team with the third-highest number of losses, and therefore lower in the ranking. This will be a new beginning where they will be obliged to do better.
As promised, JefeBet has the best preview information for Portland Timbers vs Sporting Kansas City and the rest of the MLS Matchday 1 fixtures. Check the odds and the prediction!
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the Portland Timbers vs Sporting Kansas City MLS Matchday 1 Game on February 25, 2023
- Where: Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
- When: Saturday, February 25, 2023, 10:30 PM ET
- BetMGM Moneyline: Portland Timbers (-105) / Draw (+260) / Sporting KC (+260)
- DraftKings Asian Handicap: Portland Timbers (AH -0.75, +120) / Sporting KC (AH +0.75, -175)
- Over/Under (2.5): Over (-155) / Under (+110)
- Both teams score: Yes (-175) / No (+120)
Odds provided by BetMGM and DraftKings.
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Betting on Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers fell one point short of a playoff berth in the 2022 season with 46 points after a record of 11 wins, 13 draws, and 10 losses. What prevented them from joining the select group was the fact that they closed the regular stage with three games without a win, as they only managed to earn one point during that period.
Now, in 2023, the Oregon team has the obligation to do better and return to the finals. Prior to the start of this campaign, it was working in friendly matches and did not lose any of the four it faced, which could be a good omen for this season.
Possible Lineup (4-4-2): David Bingham; Pablo Bonilla, Zac McGraw, Justin Rasmussen, Dario Zuparic; Diego Chará, Yimmi Chará, Evander, Eryk Williamson; Marvin Loria, Jaroslaw Niezgoda.
Betting on Sporting Kansas City
Sporting KC did not have a good year in 2022 either, and the best thing that could have happened to them is that the season ended in October and not in December as usual. Kansas recorded 11 wins, seven ties, and 16 losses, making it the third-worst team in the Western Conference.
During the preseason, the team played in four friendly matches in which it went from strength to strength, starting with a loss, drawing the next two, and closing with a win. They have not won a match against Portland in Oregon since 2017, so this will be a significant challenge. Since then, five clashes have occurred, with the Timbers winning three of them.
Possible Lineup (4-4-3): John Pulskamp; Robert Voloder, Tim Leibold, Andreu Fontás, Graham Zusi; Roger Espinoza, Jake Davis, Rémi Walter; Dániel Salloi, Johnny Russell, William Agada.
JefeBet Prediction
Giovanni Savarese remains the Portland Timbers’ head coach and is confident that the team will do well this season. However, he will not be counting on one of his offensive weapons, as Dairon Asprilla will be out for at least the first four games after undergoing surgery.
The Venezuelan coach has been able to minimize this opponent in the last three MLS encounters and will not hesitate to put all his resources to good use to continue his supremacy, taking advantage of the fact that he opens the season at home.
Prediction: Portland Timbers wins by a score of 2-1.
