October 12, 2019 / By mobanmarket
The MLS Cup will come to a dramatic conclusion when Atlanta United face Portland Timbers on Saturday evening
Atlanta United will host the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup final showdown at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Eastern and Western Conference champions will fight it out in a winner-takes-all battle, the culmination of a season that started in early March – with favourites Atlanta making their first MLS Cup appearance in just their second year of being a club, while Timbers will be eager to repeat history after winning the MLS Cup in their first appearance in the competition in 2015.
The Five Stripes have flown in the lead-up to the final, scoring three goals in each of their two home games to eliminate both New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls to claim their spot in the final.
| Game | Atlanta United vs Portland Timbers |
| Date | Saturday, December 8 |
| Time | 1am GMT / 8pm ET |
| Stream (US) | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Univision NOW | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on Sky Sports Football and livestreamed on SKY GO Extra.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports Football | SKY GO Extra |
| Position | Atlanta United players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Guzan, Hildebrandt, Kann |
| Defenders | Escobar, Larentowicz, Parkhurst, Pirez, Garza, Bello, Hernandez, Robinson |
| Midfielders | Nagbe, Remedi, Gressel, Barco, Carleton, Goslin, Gressel, Kratz, Shannon, Wheeler-Omiunu |
| Forwards | Martinez, Almiron, Gallagher, Kunga, Okonkwo, Villalba, Wild, Williams |
The likes of Sal Zizzo (knee injury), Mikey Ambrose (right knee), Brandon Vazquez (foot) and Chris McCann (left quad strain) have all been excluded from the final showdown against Portland.
Potential Atlanta United XI: Guzan; Escobar, Larentowicz, Parkhurst, Pirez, Garza; Nagbe, Remedi, Gressel; Martinez, Almiron.
| Position | Portland Timbers players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Attinella, Clark, McIntosh |
| Defenders | Valentin, Tuiloma, Ridgewell, Villafana, Barmby, Cascante, Farfan, Jadama, Mabiala, Olum, Powell, Tuiloma |
| Midfielders | Chara, Guzman, Arboleda, Asprilla, Conechny, Flores, Guzman, Paredes, Polo, Valeri, Williamson |
| Forwards | Polo, Valeri, Blanco, Ebobisse, Langsdorf, Melano |
Roy Miller (right thigh) and Jake Gleeson (bilateral tibial stress facture) will miss out with injury, while Samuel Armenteros (thigh) remains a doubt.
Potential Portland Timbers XI: Attinella; Valentin, Tuiloma, Ridgewell, Villafana; Chara, Guzman; Polo, Valeri, Blanco; Ebobisse.
Atlanta are favoured at odds of winning the final 1/4 according to bet 365, while a win for underdogs Portland is priced at 11/5.
Click here to see all of bet 365’s offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.
Atlanta United managed to equal the record for most points ever won in a regular MLS season, though were eventually topped on the final day by New York Red Bulls.
They were able to bounce back with three straight wins, however, registering a 3-0 lead over the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals and then defending the victory.
Atlanta limited the Red Bulls to a stoppage time goal in a 1-0 loss at Red Bull Arena on Thursday in the second leg, allowing ATLUTD to the MLS Cup 3-1 on aggregate.
The away side were forced to see out the remainder of the game through parking the bus, which frustrated the Red Bulls who were limited in their offensive play.
“It wasn’t our prettiest performance tonight, but it was practical in our approach,” Atlanta manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino told reporters after the game.
“I think that’s important as a team to be able to adjust to different situations and overcome different situations, especially in the playoffs.”
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The Timbers have been in fine form away from home during the Playoffs, managing to defeat FC Dallas in the knockouts and winning 4-2 in a penalty shootout against Seattle Sounders – which saw them advance to the Conference Championship, beating Sporting Kansas City 3-2 to reach the MLS Cup.
Both teams have met just once in the regular season at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the Timbers digging deep to earn a 1-1 draw in June.
Larrys Mabiala netted from a rebound to put Portland in front in the 32nd minute, before Julian Gressel levelled early in the second half.
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