Minnesota United (Home)
- Minnesota United will open their 2026 MLS season at home for the first time in club history when they welcome FC Cincinnati to Allianz Field on Saturday.
- Minnesota’s 2025 season ended with momentum as the Loons added big name James Rodríguez and others to build on the promise of 2024.
- New head coach Cameron Knowles, who was brought in to improve Minnesota’s development and structure, has set up a pragmatic but fluid system that allows his team to transition smoothly from defence to offense with the help of his wingbacks.
- Knowles’ men looked good at times in their 2-2 away draw with Austin FC in the opening game of MLS 2026, but they need to mesh together as a unit in time for Saturday’s home opener if they want to give themselves a chance of victory.
FC Cincinnati (Away)
- The visitors are very strong in the transition zones, both forwards and backwards, and they’ve got some real pace on the outside of their defense with their wing-backs.
- In Kévin Denkey, they have the focal point to their attack, a man who was on the scoresheet against Atlanta United and has already scored 20 goals for the Ohio club in all competitions.
- Ayoub Jabbari has been a dangerous player from the bench, scoring a pair late on in the 4 - 0 O&M win in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
- The fixture congestion for Noonan’s men means they will have to rotate the squad for this game after their midweek tie and that could have a bearing on the result.
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Recent results:
- Beat Atlanta United 2-0 at home.
- Beat O&M FC 4-0 away.
Head-to-Head
Minnesota have won four of the six all-time MLS meetings, but Cincinnati have won the last two, including a 2-1 victory at Allianz Field in September 2024.
Key Players
- Minnesota’s 2025 season ended with momentum as the Loons added big name James Rodríguez and others to build on the promise of 2024.
- For Minnesota, new boy Kelvin Yeboah, who was their hero with the equalizer in the 2-2 draw in Texas, looks to be a focal point in their attack, while Morris Duggan adds to the threat from set-pieces and late runs into the box.
- In Kévin Denkey, they have the focal point to their attack, a man who was on the scoresheet against Atlanta United and has already scored 20 goals for the Ohio club in all competitions.
- Ayoub Jabbari has been a dangerous player from the bench, scoring a pair late on in the 4 - 0 O&M win in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Betting Insights
Minnesota are 2.12 favorites against Cincinnati at 3.0 , which is a very tough number for the visiting team that can play a good game of possession soccer and has been in strong form so far this year.
Prediction
A 1-1 draw is the most likely score, although a 2-1 win for the visitors could be on the cards if Noonan can get close to his first-choice team out for this one.
