Minnesota Stars v Austin

Minnesota United vs Austin FC Preview

Minnesota United registered a resounding and comprehensive 4-1 thrashing of Portland Timbers last weekend at their Allianz Field and the hosts will be looking for more of the same this Saturday evening when they play host to Austin FC as the race for a top nine finish in the Western Conference continues.

Minnesota United had previously had to endure a five-match winless run in the MLS which included defeats at the hands of Austin FC and Montreal, both of which were away from home but the hosts had also picked up points in draws with Real Salt Lake (home and away) and Toronto, which have kept Minnesota in touch with the teams above them.

Indeed, just one point separates Minnesota United from ninth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps heading into this weekend's MLS action and having lost just once in their last 10 home games, Minnesota United will be confident they can get the job done here this Saturday.

Austin FC currently occupy eighth place on the Western Conference table and will head into this Saturday's clash with Minnesota United on the back of a three-match unbeaten sequence in the MLS which includes recent wins against Dallas and Houston Dynamo, both in local derbies but also both on home soil at their Q2 Stadium.

Although these recent wins have helped keep Austin in the top nine pack of the Western Conference, the bigger picture shows that Austin had managed to collect just three wins from their preceding 14 games overall in the MLS so there are certainly no guarantees of success for Austin in this upcoming clash despite already being in the top nine places.

This appears to be the case even more when looking at Austin FC's results away from home as the visitors have really struggled to hold their own on the road for some period of time now as Josh Wolff's side have recorded just two wins out of their last 14 outings on the road whilst slipping to a total of 10 defeats in the process.

Perhaps even more telling is the statistic that states Austin have conceded 2 goals or more in 11 of these last 14 away games which does not bode well for the visitors at Allianz Field on Saturday night.

Minnesota United v Austin FC Verdict

The bigger picture shows Minnesota United have lost just twice in their previous 17 home games at Allianz Field and this solid sequence of results in their own backyard also include a 2-1 win against Austin FC in the last meeting on home turf.

Minnesota United have won each of their previous two meetings at home against Austin and a third looks set to be just around the corner.

Therefore, our main bet will be Minnesota United win @ 1.83

Other side bets worth considering:

Under 2.5 goals @ 2.15

Correct score: Minnesota United 2-0 @ 10.00