Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders FC: Forecast, Odds and Bets
On May 18, 2025, the Portland Timbers will host Seattle Sounders FC at Providence Park in what promises to be a compelling MLS Western Conference showdown. Kick-off is set for 03:30 CEST in Italy, Germany, France and Spain, and 02:30 BST in the UK.
This fixture sees two Pacific Northwest rivals battling for valuable points in a tight playoff race. With both sides eager to climb the table, fans can expect a passionate atmosphere under the lights at Providence Park.
How are both teams coming into this?
The Timbers have been in solid form of late, unbeaten in their last three matches across all competitions. In their previous ten outings they picked up five wins, four draws and suffered just one defeat, a 4-1 setback at San Jose Earthquakes. Back-to-back clean sheets against Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake have bolstered their confidence and defensive solidity.
Sitting fourth in the Western Conference with 22 points, a victory on Sunday could see Portland leapfrog into the top two, depending on other results. Conversely, Seattle arrive off the back of a 4-0 reverse to LAFC, which ended their five-game unbeaten streak. That loss dropped the Sounders to sixth, three points adrift of their hosts.
Despite the heavy defeat, Brian Schmetzer’s side still boasts attacking firepower, having netted 12 goals in their last six league games. However, conceding seven goals in the last four matches highlights a defensive vulnerability the Timbers will look to exploit.
Our forecast
We expect a tightly contested affair but lean towards a home success. The Timbers’ recent form at Providence Park has been impressive, and their back-to-back clean sheets suggest they’ve found defensive balance. Portland’s attacking duo of Moreno and Antony could be the difference-makers on the day.
Seattle undoubtedly possess quality in forward areas, yet their leaky defence has been exposed too often this season. Given the home side’s momentum, we predict a 2-1 victory for Portland Timbers, with both teams finding the net but the hosts edging this Pacific Northwest derby.
