St. Louis CITY SC vs. Portland Timbers Prediction & Best Bets (July 13, 2025)
The St. Louis CITY SC is playing the Portland Timbers this Sunday. St. Louis has a home pitch advantage, and from the looks of how they’ve been playing? They’ll need it.
CITY SC has only three wins this season and just lost their third straight. They’re turning the ball over in really bad spots, the press isn’t landing, and nothing in the final third looks like it’s in any way connected.
Portland already beat St. Louis 2–1 this season and comes into this match hoping to solidify their hold on fourth place in the West. David da Costa has been defending wide, and the midfield is pushing higher lines, so the Timbers could very possibly make this another one-way match and lock down that fourth seed in the Western Conference.
Keep scrolling to read the head-to-head history, lineups, club news, tactical stats, betting odds, and our picks for the four best bets on this MLS game!
Match Details
- Matchup:St. Louis CITY FC (3‑6‑12, 15 pts; 14th in Western Conference) vs. Portland Timbers (9‑6‑5, 33 pts; 4th in West)
- Date & Time: Sunday, July 13, kickoff at 6:00 pm CT (7:00 pm ET)
- Venue: Energizer Park, St. Louis, MO (capacity ~22,423)
- How To Watch: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV); local coverage on regional TV
Head‑to‑Head & History
The all-time series is level at 2–2–2, but Portland has had the advantage in away fixtures; they’re undefeated in St. Louis and conceded only twice during three regular-season visits. They’ve controlled midfield in those matches, limiting CITY’s ability to press high or create from central areas.
- Last meeting: Portland won 2–1 at home, breaking a late deadlock with a near-post header off a corner. St. Louis had a really hard time defending set pieces and were outshot 13–7.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
St. Louis and Portland are both dealing with availability issues that will influence how they line up in this one! St. Louis are still thinned out in their defense, and Portland’s forward rotation will be limited by injuries. Below is the latest on who’s playing and who’s most likely to start.
St. Louis CITY SC (Interim coach: Ben Critchley)
- Defensive depth is stretched: Nilsson and Durkin are still sidelined; Morales and Alm haven’t looked so great when they’ve been called to the field.
- Boost in attack: Jimer Fory is back and brings hold-up play and an aerial threat in midfield; expect him to start, likely in a 3-5-2 setup to cover gaps in defense and add presence up front.
Predicted St. Louis lineup (3-5-2)
- GK: Diop
- CBs: Penilla, Fagúndez, Da Costa
- Wingbacks: Neuhaus (R), McGuire (L)
- Midfield: Budapest, Fory, Larentowicz
- Attack: Dzurjevic, Minadeo
Portland Timbers
- Injury notes: Antony, Lassiter, Rodriguez, and McGraw are all out, and this disrupts their depth and rotation options.
- Stable at the back: Goalkeeper Crepeau and central defenders are all scheduled to start, and that bolsters a back four that’s only 2 goals shy of clean sheets in four of five matches.
Predicted Portland lineup (4-3-3)
- GK: Crepeau
- Defense: Powell (R), Collins, Bouanga, Ajeti (L)
- Midfield: Chara, Nagbe, Asprilla
- Attack: Da Costa, Nunez, Moffat
Tactical Battles
- St. Louis back line under pressure: CITY’s defensive unit has been exposed lately. There’s been slow recovery, poor set-piece marking, and miscommunication between center backs. Portland’s system under Phil Neville has relied on coordinated movement and timely third-man runs, and that could exploit the instability.
- Goalkeeper matchup: Roman Bürki has faced more shots than any goalie in the West, and he’s usually bailing out defensive breakdowns. Maxime Crépeau’s distribution and control in the net give Portland an advantage in buildup and restarts.
- In-form strikers: João Klauss has found the net 5 times in his last 7, and it’s been off limited service. Kelsy’s movement and pace have created good chances in recent matches, and he’s starting to finish with a lot more consistency.
Betting Odds & Stats
If you’re betting on this MLS match, here are the latest odds and lines that are up on DraftKings:
- Moneyline: St. Louis (+110), Portland (+200), Draw (+275)
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 (-215), Under 2.5 (+170)
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (-235), No (+185)
St. Louis CITY SC: 27.8 xG vs. 33.7 xGA; 34 goals conceded across 21 matches (1.6 per 90)
Head-to-head trend: 5 of the last 6 meetings between them have ended with over 2.5 goals
Our Best Bets
We’ve looked at all of the available info, and here are the four best bets based on the stats!
Over 2.5 Total Goals
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
Why do we like it?
Five of the last six meetings have cleared this number, and both teams are trending that way again. St. Louis has conceded 34 goals and ranks in the bottom tier in defensive metrics. Portland has scored 2+ in four of their last five and aren’t afraid to open up matches, even when they’re on the road.
- Stat Support: CITY’s xGA sits at 33.7. Portland is averaging about 2 goals per game over their last five.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS – Yes)
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (7/10)
Why do we like it?
CITY doesn’t keep teams out, but they usually don’t go scoreless at home. Klauss and Vassilev keep producing chances, and Portland’s best moments come in transition. Since neither defense is in form, both teams finding the net feels like the most stable angle.
- Trend Note: BTTS has landed in 4 of the last 5 meetings.
João Klauss Anytime Goalscorer (St. Louis)
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)
Why do we like it?
Klauss is CITY’s most reliable finisher and is always involved on set pieces. He’s scored in 5 matches this season and is central to anything they create inside 18 yards. Portland has allowed goals in 8 straight road games and given up space on second balls.
Draw – Full Time Result (Possible 2–2 or 1–1)
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/10)
Why do we like it?
St. Louis performs better at home but hasn’t shown that they can manage leads or close games. Portland creates chances on the road but has dropped points in winnable spots because of breakdowns in their back line. Since both teams are dealing with form and lineup changes, a level result is in play!
- Value Angle: Draw odds range from +280 to +320—solid value in a match where neither side has a clear edge for the full 90.
Our Match Prediction & Betting Wrap-Up
Final Score Prediction: St. Louis CITY FC 2 – 2 Portland Timbers
St. Louis is coming in on a three-match slide and still has lots of unresolved issues in their back line. Portland has been the better club overall, but keeps dropping points when they’re on the road. Neither team stays in control for long periods, and that puts most of the weight on finishing and set-piece moments.
Best Bets Recap
- Over 2.5 Goals (8/10)
- BTTS – Yes (7/10)
- João Klauss Anytime Goalscorer (6/10)
- Full-Time Draw (5/10)
If the first goal happens early, totals and player props become more playable! Side markets carry more risk, so most of the betting value sits with goal-based angles.
