LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers: Preview and how to watch

The Portland Timbers have a new coach and some new ideas to work on this season. But all ideas mean attempting to roll over the LA Galaxy Sunday.

The LA Galaxy want to say they won’t finish badly this season, as in 2017. A win, or even draw, at home against the powerful Portland Timbers would state that loudly.

And with the roster assembled for this season, at worst the Galaxy should threaten a draw. Their talent stretches across the pitch.

The Galaxy reached to Norway for F Ola Kamara and D Jorgen Skjelvik. They’ve got from France M Romain Alessandrini, plus Mexican national team members Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos. They feature proven U.S. talents in the midfield, Chris Pontius and Perry Kitchen.

Related Story: LA Galaxy 2018 Season Preview

The Galaxy’s talent list goes on. Yet, unless every Timbers player gets the flu, that team will have a strong opposing statement to any asset claimed Sunday by the LA Galaxy.

Los Angeles Galaxy

2017 Record (W-L-D): 8-18-8. Finished 11^th (last) in Western Conference.

Last Time Out: Finished the season losing 5-1 to FC Dallas,

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Player to Watch For:. Pick one (or both) of the dos Santos brothers, Giovani and Jonathan. They’ll provide rich disruption in the midfield when they’re not on the attack. The brothers are respected national players. They have long, outstanding careers ahead of them.

Get on their bandwagon now!

Why They Win: They’ve improved just enough from the devastating 2017 season to put up a fight. They do more than put up a fight.

They get everything right and win at home.

Why They Won’t: They still have a lot to learn about winning. And they fail to finish their homework for this powerful opponent.

Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Portland Timbers

2017 Record (W-L-D): 15-11-8. 1^st in Western Conference

Last Time Out: Knocked out of the playoffs, losing 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo..

Player to Watch For: MLS MVP M Diego Valeri makes the quickest answer. And it’s the right one. He starts this season on the 2017 foundation he laid with 21 goals and 11 assists. He’ll make the difference in this and every game, ensuring plenty of scoring chances for himself and others.

Why They Win: The team doesn’t miss a beat with their new head coach. They get stronger, quicker.

Why They Won’t: The coaching change slows them down in this game and costs them an early win. Don’t get on this later in the season, however.

Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Predicted Score:

Next: Portland Timbers 2018 Season Preview

How to Watch:

Where: StubHub Center, Carson, CA

When: 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 4

Channel: FS1 (TSN in Canada).