Preview: Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids - prediction, team news, lineups

Both teams have failed to record a win in their opening six matches of the new campaign, leading to unrest and worry among both sets of supporters.

Match preview

Sporting KC look set for another difficult season in the MLS after a winless start to the 2023 competition - a title they currently hold with only Saturday's visitors and Los Angeles Galaxy.

Kansas stopped a run of back-to-back defeats last weekend by grinding out a 0-0 draw at Philadelphia Union, but for the fourth time this season the strugglers failed to score in a match.

Peter Vermes's side are sitting in 13th in the Western Conference ahead of the visit of the only team below them in the standings - although a win could catapult the club to as high as eighth.

The Kansas-based club are second in terms of shots on target per match (six) but have been unable to convert those efforts on net into goals and ultimately points that will give a chance of qualifying for the MLS Cup.

Colorado come into this clash after recording a respectable point at the home of Los Angeles FC last weekend, becoming only the second side to hold Steve Cherundolo's men to a draw this season.

A goalless draw was also the scoreline when the Rapids hosted Sporting KC in their opening match of this campaign at the start of March - the hosts dominated possession that day, but William Yarbrough had to be at his very best to keep Kansas at bay.

A points tally of three from their opening six matches leaves Colorado rock bottom of the Western Conference ahead of this weekend's trip to Children's Mercy Park, and you have to go back to August for their last away win - a dramatic 5-4 success at New York Red Bulls.

Kevin Cabral made the off-season switch to Colorado from LA Galaxy, with the Frenchman being one of only two goalscorers for the Rapids so far this season - the 23-year-old will be hoping for some more assistance in attacking areas on Saturday.

Sporting Kansas City Major League Soccer form:

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D

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D

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:

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Team News

Sporting KC will be light in the right-back spot this weekend with Kayden Pierre sidelined due to a hamstring injury, meaning Graham Zusi will surely retain his place in the hosts' backline.

Kortne Ford is another defender who will miss the meeting with Colorado, with the 27-year-old out until next month because of an Achilles tendon injury.

Colorado suffered a massive injury blow before the international break as Jack Price suffered an Achilles injury nine minutes into a substitute appearance against Minnesota United - the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.

Iran international Steven Beitashour is also set to miss the trip to Kansas as he recovers from a hamstring injury, with the 36-year-old last featuring in the reverse fixture at the start of March.

Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:

Melia; Zusi, Rosero, Castellanos, Voloder; Walter, Radoja, Thommy; Russell, Agada, Salloi

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:

Yarbrough; Abubakar, Maxso, Wilson; Rosenberry, Acosta, Ronan, Nicholson; Rubio, Alves, Lewis

We say: Sporting Kansas City 1-0 Colorado Rapids

Sporting KC have struggled significantly at the start of this campaign but will view Saturday's meeting with the Western Conference's bottom side as a perfect opportunity to record their first maximum.

Colorado have been poor so far this term and their alarming away record stretches back to the middle of last season - we cannot see the Rapids changing their fortunes in Kansas in this one.

How to watch

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