The Portland Timbers travel from smoky Soccer City USA to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes. Tonight’s match marks the 24th regular-season meeting between the Timbers and the San Jose Earthquakes since the 2011 season. The Timbers lead the all-time regular season series against the Earthquakes with a record of 11-5-7. The 11 wins are tied for the most by the Timbers against a single opponent in MLS regular-season play.

The last time the two sides met, the Timbers defeated San Jose 3-1 at Providence Park on Oct. 6, 2019. In 14 league appearances against San Jose, Diego Valeri has tallied six goals and eight assists.

With a tight turnaround the Timbers will be again going to look to their bench players to get things done out on the pitch. I don’t think he’ll do a full rotation like last time, but I expect some form of rotation because of the limited number of day’s off.

With fires raging up and down the western coast, the air quality hasn’t been the best in the world, especially in the Portland Metro. With the team traveling to another state fighting fires, I thought I’d look at the AQI or Air Quality Index. It currently sits at 44, so that’s a good thing, though it was forecasted to possibly get up to 115 which is unhealthy to sensitive groups.

Game Day Reading

Timbers focused on competing the full 90 minutes by Kyle Garcia

How do you put together a complete 90 minutes? The Timbers have given up 15 goals since returning from Orlando — an average of three goals a game. The two goals from RSL that proved to be the equalizers came in extra time in the second half. The LAFC goals came just a few minutes apart. Portland created opportunities for themselves to get back in the LAFC match (the Dario Zuparic header, Diego Valeri’s free kick off the post), but preventing those situations from occurring in the first place is the best way to counter that.

Six Degrees: Good and Bad by C.I. DeMann

5) Some random thoughts.

Remember what I said at the start? We were missing three of our best players. With Blanco, Chara, and Mabiala, maybe this is a very different game.

Chris Duvall played right back in the first half but was replaced by Pablo Bonilla at halftime. Was it a planned sub to give both players equal time? Was Gio unhappy with Duvall? Was Duvall injured? I have no idea who’s leading the race for that position. I’m not even sure who I prefer.

Steve Clark saved a shot outside the box. With his face. Hook that shit straight into my veins.

Power Rankings Roundup: Timbers slide as they enter Phase 2 by Kyle Garcia

On the other hand, Portland has been a mess defensively, gone a measly 1-1-3 after their MLS is Back Tournament win, and lost Sebastian Blanco for the rest of the season with an ACL tear. Admittedly, it definitely feels like there’s been more bad in these first few weeks than good, and the Timbers are currently stuck. So knowing where this team stands, how do different outlets rank them among their peers? Here’s where some power rankings have the Timbers.

Starting Lineups

San Jose Earthquakes

Portland Timbers

Location: Earthquakes Stadium, San Jose CA
Kick-off time: 6:30 Pacific / 9:30 Eastern
TV broadcast: FS1
Rival SB Nation site: Centerline Soccer
Radio broadcast: 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish)

Join us in the match thread! Rose City ‘til I Die!