Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: How to watch, preview, match chat [8:00]

Tonight the Portland Timbers play their fourth home match in a row, taking on the Vancouver Whitecaps in a bid to break their own record for matches unbeaten and to move within striking distance of FC Dallas at the top of the Western Conference.

The Timbers are coming off an eventful summer transfer window that saw Fanendo Adi and Vytas depart, while Lucas Melano and Jorge Villafana returned to the club. However, Melano has only been back with the club for two days and Villafana will not arrive back in Portland until after the weekend, so the Timbers remain without reinforcements for tonight’s match.

Coming up against an injury depleted Vancouver side looks like a good chance for the Timbers to earn three points, but the side have repeatedly shown an ability to play up or down to their opposition this season. Even in the absences of their dynamic, Bayern Munich-bound youngster Alphonso Davies, the Whitecaps are a team that like to sit back and hit out on the counter — a style of play that the Timbers have struggled to deal with this season. While the Timbers have risen up the ranks of the Western Conference by minimizing risks and putting defense first, this match might just be time for the side to show a different approach.

Preview

Storylines: “The Whitecaps will most likely come out in a 4-4-2. Even though they’ve used several formations over the course of the season, it seems that Robinson has stuck with the tried and true 4-4-2. Usually Kei Kamara and Yordy Reyna are up top in the formation, but with the short rest, I’m not too sure that’s going to be the pairing. If it is those two starting, then the center backs need to keep both of them in check.”

Stop by the Rose City Forecast before kickoff to make your predictions about today’s match.

Match Information

Watch it on: ROOT Sports

Where: Providence Park in Portland, OR

When: Saturday, August 11th at 8:00 p.m. PT

Portland Timbers: 10-3-7, 2nd place in the Western Conference, beat Philadelphia Union 3-0

Vancouver Whitecaps: 8-9-6, 7th place in the Western Conference, drew 2-2 at New York City FC