5️⃣ must-watch matches this weekend in MLS
After midweek action across the US Open Cup, MLS returns once again this weekend with a bevy of intriguing fixtures to please the footballing palate.
Headlined by a pair of massive Eastern Conference clashes, let's take a look at five must-watch matches this weekend during matchday 15.We start in Southern California and inaugural MLS side San Diego FC, who look to continue their impressive first season under Mikey Varas when they host bottom-dwelling LA Galaxy at Snapdragon Stadium.
The two sides could not be any more different in 2025, with SDFC boasting an outside chance of challenging for the top spot in the West, while the Galaxy will be lucky to even make the post-season despite being the current MLS Cup holders.
Six goals. Six assists. 14 matches. 😤Anders Dreyer is having a fairytale start with @sandiegofc.📰: https://t.co/Gne3g43e1P pic.twitter.com/d6MjEADk21
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 22, 2025
Headlined by budding league star Anders Dreyer, San Diego has been one of the feel-good stories of the season. But if there was ever a time for Greg Vanney and company to bag a much-needed result, it's this one.Next, we swap coasts and head to Subaru Park as a hot Philadelphia Union outfit welcomes Lionel Messi and a faltering Inter Miami side to the City of Brotherly Love.
Sitting atop the pile in the East, the Union are the form side across MLS, banking four wins and a draw in their last five league outings while currently boasting the highest rate of return in the final third to the tune of 27 goals scored.
As for Javier Mascherano's troops, the Herons have secured all three points in just one of their previous five MLS fixtures while falling well off the pace in a season where many expected them to once again be in the Supporters' Shield conversation.
Preparation in the works 💪⚽ pic.twitter.com/mOpI8gaZWh
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 23, 2025
Should Philly win, it would be hard to argue that Bradley Carnell's side would not cement their place as favorites to top the Conference come the end of the season, while even greater questions will be asked regarding what has happened in South Florida.Further down south, Orlando City is set for a tricky test in front of home support when Phil Neville's Portland Timbers rock up to Inter&Co Stadium, in a clash of two sides looking to close the gap to the top positions in their respective Conferences.
Óscar Pareja's outfit is one of the toughest clubs to beat this season, having booked three wins in two draws in their previous five outings, with the Lions putting themselves in striking distance of climbing into third in the East.
Portland, who sit fourth in the West, are no slouches either and could climb as high as second should they win on the road. However, back-to-back draws against Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders that featured just one goal scored, highlight an inconsistency in the final third which could be their undoing against a free-scoring Orlando.Bank of America Stadium is the venue for the fourth of five must-watch matches this weekend when a free-falling Charlotte FC plays host to a dangerous Columbus Crew side under Wilfried Nancy.
After a phenomenal start to 2025 with Dean Smith at the helm and the arrival of Wilfried Zaha, the Crown has hit a wall while rapidly plummeting down the table on the back of five straight losses in MLS and the possibility of crashing out of the post-season conversation this weekend.
As for Columbus, three consecutive draws have put the Crew off the scent of the top spot in the Conference temporarily while only sitting just two points adrift of the aforementioned Philly and FC Cincinnati respectively.
Masters of garnering results away from home, they will no doubt fancy their chances this weekend.Finally, we close out our preview at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the tall task of Atlanta United finding points against an elite FC Cincinnati side who are joint-top in the Supporters' Shield race.
One of the biggest disappointments across the 2025 season at the halfway marker, the Five Stripes are languishing just one place off the basement in the East while failing to win any of their previous five fixtures despite a high-powered attack, at least on paper.
While it's all gone wrong in Georgia, Cincy has enjoyed the season on the back of the arrivals of Evander and Kévin Denkey, who have helped propel Patrick Noonan's team into a position of potential hegemony in the Conference.
Kindness goes a long way. 🫶Take a behind the scenes look at Kévin giving back in the newest episode of Juncta Juvant. 🎥 https://t.co/SZHlosP2Jz pic.twitter.com/sLlnThxIph
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) May 22, 2025
On paper, this looks to only go one way, but Atlanta is capable of banking a shock result if they can get it right on the pitch across 90 minutes.
📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Albert Cesare/The En | 2025 May 10-Imagn Images
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