San Jose Earthquakes play host to FC Dallas on Wednesday night looking for the win that would kick-start their Western Conference campaign.
The home side have dropped off in recent matches, registering just one win in their last six outings to now sit in eighth position in the standings.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas are on a worse run in MLS, recording four successive defeats to now sit nine points adrift of a place in the top seven.
How the bookies see it: Dallas form dictates short Earthquakes betting odds
San Jose Earthquakes may have posted draws in their last four outings at PayPal Park but Boylesports has priced them at 6/10 to prevail from this contest.
That is despite FC Dallas still possessing the fourth-best away record in the division, betting odds of 14/5 potentially giving punters the feeling that they are worth the risk.
The draw can be taken at odds of around 16/5.
Head to head: Draws the order of the day
Rather unusually, this is a fixture that has seen more draws than victories for either team by a considerable margin.
From 43 previous competitive matches, there have been an incredible 21 draws, with the Earthquakes winning 13 times and Dallas prevailing from the other nine.
That is despite there being a victor in each of the most recent three matches, the Earthquakes being on a two-match winning streak helped by the 4-2 away triumph that they earned as recently as June 26.
No team has kept a clean sheet in this head-to-head in the last 11 games, with a double-shutout in a goalless draw back in April 2019 being the last occurrence.
Players to watch: Acosta to step up for Dallas?
The Colombian duo of Cristian Arango and Josef Martinez are the two to watch for the Earthquakes having contributed 18 goals between them in this MLS campaign.
However, Arango, who has 10 strikes to his name, has failed to net in his last three MLS appearances, the same as his compatriot.
In his last nine outings, Martinez has scored just twice, the majority of his eight goals this season coming in April.
FC Dallas attacker Petar Musa would have come into this contest in marginally better form having contributed three goals and one assist – all in separate outings – in his most recent five appearances. However, he is suspended.
Instead, the onus is on Lucho Acosta to rediscover his touch in the final third having not scored in four matches.
Predicted lineups: Several changes for the Earthquakes?
Nick Lima could be presented with a start at right wing-back for the Earthquakes on the back of Benjamin Kikanovic needing to be withdrawn after 30 minutes last time out.
Bruno Wilson netted a consolation goal as a substitute versus Minnesota United and could return in defence, while Preston Judd is also pushing for a recall in attack.
Meanwhile, Acosta is expected to come back into the Dallas side as a straight alternative to Musa in what may prove to be the only alteration.
San Jose Earthquakes: Daniel; Rodrigues, Munie, Wilson; Lima, Leroux, Harkes, Costa; Bouda, Martinez, Arango
FC Dallas: Paes; Moore, Abubakar, Ibeagha, Farfan; Farrington, Delgado, Ramiro, Lletget; Pedrinho, Acosta
Anything else catch the eye?
In their last seven matches in all competitions, the Earthquakes have scored and conceded at least once, there being a total of 24 goals in those games.
During 11 MLS home fixtures for the Earthquakes, there have been a total of 46 goals, and they have prevailed on just the three occasions.
Although they sit down in eighth place in the table, the Earthquakes possess the second-best attacking record in the Western Conference.
Despite possessing the fourth-best away record in the Western Conference, FC Dallas have conceded three more goals than they have netted.
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