Los Angeles Football Club vs Portland Timbers Picks and Predictions July 25th 2025

LAFC Eye Perfect July Run as They Host Portland Timbers

Los Angeles FC will aim to cap off an unbeaten July in MLS play when they welcome the Portland Timbers to BMO Stadium on Friday night in a Western Conference showdown with playoff implications.

Want the sharpest betting insights for this matchup? Check out our top MLS expert picks before kickoff.

LAFC Rolling Into Key Stretch

LAFC (10-5-6, 36 points) are in fifth place in the West, just one point behind Seattle for home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs — and with two games in hand.

They’ve been red-hot in July, going 3-0-1, including a thrilling 3-3 draw with LA Galaxy last weekend in El Trafico. Star forward Denis Bouanga delivered another standout performance, scoring twice against the Galaxy to bring his season tally to 13 goals, with five in the last four matches.

Bouanga also shined midweek, assisting on the opening goal in the MLS All-Stars’ 3-1 win over Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday in Austin.

With Leagues Cup action starting Tuesday against Mazatlán FC, LAFC want to stay sharp heading into the tournament. Midfielder Mark Delgado stressed the importance of securing all three points at home.

“They’re a difficult team to break down for sure,” Delgado said of Portland. “A team that can surprise you if you’re not ready for it. It’s an important three points to take heading into Leagues Cup.”

Looking to back Bouanga and LAFC? Check the latest MLS Predictions and Picks for updated insights.

Timbers Fighting to Stay in the Race

Portland (9-7-7, 34 points) enter the match sixth in the West, two points behind LAFC but having played two more games. The Timbers are winless in their last three (0-2-1) but managed to salvage a 1-1 draw against Minnesota United on Saturday thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer from Omir Fernandez, assisted by Juan Mosquera.

Coach Phil Neville praised his team’s resilience despite only earning a point.

“It was a draw and only one point, but it felt more than that at the time because of the way we played … because of the fight that the team showed,” Neville said. “And we’re going to have that fight again on Friday.”

The last meeting between these sides in April ended in a 3-3 thriller in Portland, with Bouanga scoring a 90th-minute penalty to level the match. Felipe Mora bagged a brace for the Timbers in what Neville called a showcase for MLS.

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“I thought the game at Providence Park was probably one of the best advertisements for MLS in a long time,” Neville said. “It was a high-level game. Felt like a playoff game … and Friday will be no different in L.A.”

Can LAFC stay unbeaten in July, or will the Timbers pull off a much-needed road upset? Get the best betting angles with our free MLS betting guide.

With both clubs battling for playoff positioning, this showdown has the feel of a postseason preview. Find updated projections, key trends, and best bets with our latest MLS Predictions and Picks.