Timbers finally at home to open renovated arena vs. LAFC

Nomads no more, the Portland Timbers finally return to familiar surroundings Saturday at a renovated Providence Park and will get an immediate challenge in their first home game of the season from MLS's best team, Los Angeles FC.

So much for easing into things as the Timbers' downtown Portland venue received an $85 million facelift that spilled into the start of the 2019 season, adding 4,000 more seats for the team's rabid fanbase to fill.

That extra bit of vocal support will do its best for a Timbers side that has figured out things the hard way. They are 4-6-2 (14 points) and below the playoff line, showing their need to finally get home.

But what that overall record does not show is that the Timbers have gone 4-1-1 over the tail end of a mammoth 12-game road trip, including a three-game winning streak that started in late April. Then there was a 3-1 victory Saturday over a Philadelphia Union team whose six-game unbeaten streak came to an end.

So while Portland has momentum heading into the clash with LAFC (10-1-4, 34 points), what it really appreciates is the chance to finally get some crowd support.

"It's going to be rocking, I think everyone knows that," defender Zarek Valentin said, according to the Portland Oregonian. "It's going to feel like a playoff game, probably. LAFC is obviously a great opponent and we've had some pretty intense games with them throughout the past two years, and I think everyone's just excited."

No stranger to home-field intensity, LAFC will now get a chance to see what that feels like for opponents in their own building. The second-year side enters on a seven-game unbeaten streak, having just dismantled the Montreal Impact 4-2 on May 24.

LAFC are 3-1-3 on the road, with that lone defeat a 1-0 victory by the Whitecaps at Vancouver on April 17.

"I think that anybody who has been to Portland knows that the atmosphere is fantastic," LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. "And if you take into account that it is their home opener after 12 games, you can multiply by 10 or 20 and know that we are going into a tough place."

While Portland's offense is led by forward Jeremy Ebobisse (four goals) and midfielder Diego Valeri (three goals, seven assists), LAFC are powered by MLS goals leader Carlos Vela, whose 15 tallies are five more than anybody in the league. Teammate Diego Rossi is tied for fifth on that list with seven goals.

LAFC will be without defender Steven Beitashour (hamstring), while midfielder Alejandro Guido (quad) is questionable. Portland will be without goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic (leg), while goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh (thigh) and midfielder Cristhian Paredes (thigh) are questionable.

--Field Level Media