GOAL takes a look at some key storylines heading into this week's MLS action
Matchday 10 of the MLS season is here, and with more than a quarter of the campaign now complete, the table is beginning to take real shape – with a clear hierarchy emerging across both conferences.
Atop both the Supporters’ Shield standings and the Western Conference sit the Vancouver Whitecaps, who face arguably their toughest test of the season on Sunday. They’ll travel to take on third-place Minnesota United, a team unbeaten at home so far in 2024. The showdown comes just days after Vancouver’s CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Inter Miami. Can they deliver another statement result, or will stay strong on their home turf?
Elsewhere in the West, a familiar contender is showing signs of life after a rocky start. The Seattle Sounders are beginning to climb the table and will look to keep that momentum going with a road win against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. A victory would mark their fifth result in their last six and continue what’s shaping up to be a midseason revival.
Over in the Eastern Conference, a 2024 playoff rematch is on deck as Orlando City host a struggling Atlanta United side. Orlando is unbeaten in their last six but have played to three straight scoreless draws, leaving questions about their attacking form. Atlanta, meanwhile, boasts a star-studded lineup but has just two wins this season. Can its big-money Designated Player trio finally spark a turnaround and deliver three points?
GOAL dives into all that and more in , a weekly preview of each MLS Matchday.
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The Whitecaps and the Loons are both coming off of scoreless draws on Matchday 9, but arguably, they are two of MLS' finest squads at the moment – and this Sunday is lining up to be a blockbuster.
Vancouver, which sits first in the West, and Minnesota – which sits third – will clash at Allianz Field in a massive test. Each squad has only one loss this season on its books, and Minnesota is riding an eight-match unbeaten streak. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, are also in the midst of a CONCACAF Champions Cup run and are coming off a stunning upset against Inter Miami Thursday evening. They'll only have three days to recover before they play again, and roughly 1800 miles to travel ahead of the clash against the Loons. Some big questions around rotation, resiliency, and fitness will surround Vancouver between the two games, while MNUFC could really prove themselves with a result on Sunday.
Minnesota has not scored for two-straight games, but it has had a fantastic start to the season, and are looking to return to winning ways at home – where they are 2-0-2 this season – while Vancouver have to choose what to prioritize: the Champions Cup, or their spot atop the West and potentially the Supporters' Shield. Can they go full-strength for both games? It's tough to tell, but one thing is certain, and it's that this Western Conference clash will be an exciting one.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportAtlanta's search for identity
It's become a shocking start to 2025 for Atlanta United. The sit 12th in the Eastern Conference on just nine points through nine matches played, and a record of 2-4-3 (WLD). It's been nowhere near good enough, considering they've spent nearly $45M on three different Designated Players dating back to August 2024, in the form of Alexey Miranchuk, Miguel Almiron, and Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Winless in three-straight, Atlanta returns to the pitch this weekend against an Orlando side that knocked them out of the 2024 MLS playoffs in the Eastern Conference semifinals last November. The game this weekend presents them with a chance at revenge, but more importantly, an opportunity to get their season on track.
Latte Lath, a $22M MLS record striker, is goalless in his last three matches and really needs to find his footing in front of net – after a strong start to the season where he scored four in his first five games. Almiron, meanwhile, has two goals in his last four appearances, but has just four total goal contributions this season. Miranchuk, too, has struggled with just one goal and zero assists in nine appearances.
They have to turn things around, and although Orlando is no easy foe, this setting presents them with the perfect moment to strike – and they need to take advantage of it.
Getty Images SportSeattle look to continue early-season turnaround
Pedro De La Vega, finally healthy, looks to finally be the influential player that the Seattle faithful had hoped when they signed him ahead of 2024. He scored his first MLS goal of the year, and third across all competitions, last weekend and it helped the Sounders to their second-straight win and their fourth result in their past five matches.
By all accounts, Seattle has underwhelmed to begin the campaign, but the team has been plagued by injuries and has had a rough go of it as a result. The addition of former Rangers man Ryan Kent, who made his debut on Matchday 9, could be an influential one as the season goes on, too.
However, right now, all Seattle needs to worry about is continuing what has become an early-season turnaround. They are on 12 points, sitting eighth in the Western Conference with a record of 3-3-3 on the season, and are right in the thick of a bottom-end Western Conference playoff spot race. This weekend, they clash with fifth-place conference foe Colorado, who sit just three points ahead of them in the table. A win on Saturday would bring it level on points, while Seattle is already ahead of them in goal differential.
Thin margins often define seasons come the end of the campaign, and finding a result on the road in Colorado this weekend would be massive for them in the race to compete with the best in the West.
Getty Images SportWhat's trending
+ With a goal contribution this weekend against D.C. United, Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan will pass former forward Jack McInerney for the most goal contributions by a Union player before turning 22 years old. He currently sits at 29 total across his Union career, and has one goal and five assists so far this season.
+ With a Matchday 10 victory over the New England Revolution, Charlotte FC will become the first MLS team since FC Cincinnati in 2023 to win nine-straight home matches. Their current streak of eight dates back to September 2024. In 2023, the FCC won the MLS Supporters' Shield after winning 10-straight at home.
+ With a clean sheet on Saturday, Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake will become the second-fastest MLS goalkeeper to reach 80 career shutouts – and the ninth all-time to achieve such a feat.
+ Odds and predictions for key MLS games this weekend.