Power Rankings Round Up: Portland back in action after time off

Last week was an unusual one for the Portland Timbers. In a 2020 season where clubs have had to get used to playing multiple matches over the course of just a few days, Portland had 10 days to rest thanks to the postponement of their matchup against the Colorado Rapids. They should be well-rested heading into their match tomorrow against LA Galaxy.

Even with the Timbers not playing at all last week, did media outlets rank them any higher or lower? Let’s dive into it.

Starting with mlssoccer.com, Jonathan Sigal did not drop or move up the Timbers from their sixth place ranking. Sigal noted that the extra rest should be helpful against the Galaxy on Wednesday and that depth will be important this month.

When Portland return to action Wednesday at LA, they’ll have gone 10 days without competing. Given the hectic nature of the 2020 season, that extra time to rest and recover should leave Gio Savarese’s group ready to go. It also kicks off a stretch of four games in 12 days, so the Timbers’ depth will be seriously tested.

ESPN did the same as Sigal, with Jeff Carlisle and Austin Lindberg keeping Portland at the bottom of their top five. The big question for them is just who starts in the number nine spot?

With Colorado sidelined by a COVID-19 outbreak, the Timbers got the weekend off. Jeremy Ebobisse, Felipe Mora and Jarosław Niezgoda have all contributed up top. Who will be Gio Savarese’s go-to striker when the playoffs start?

And finally, Bleacher Report was the only outlet surveyed that moved the Timbers up in their rankings, with Joe Tansey having the Timbers third among all MLS teams. For Tansey, how Portland compares to the Seattle Sounders will be the key moving forward.

Here come the Portland Timbers.

The MLS is Back champion owns a three-game winning streak that includes back-to-back 1-0 victories.

Portland is three points back of Seattle in the West, but it must finish with more points than its pacific northwest rival.

Seattle has a 16-goal advantage in goal differential and has scored on five more occasions than the Timbers.

The rivals meet once more on October 22 in Portland, and before that match, the Timbers have to face the Galaxy, Quakes, RSL and LAFC.

Agree or disagree with these rankings? Let us know below.