Anderson Julio sees clashes against two of MLS' best teams as an ideal chance for FC Dallas to get back on track after a poor run.

Dallas have not won in four league games and went down 1-0 to the Seattle Sounders last time out.

However, a quick turnaround in fixtures gives Dallas an instant chance to remedy their recent run of form.

They take on the top two in the Eastern Conference in their upcoming matches this week, facing FC Cincinnati before going up against the Philadelphia Union.

And Julio is upbeat about using these matches against top opponents as a way for Dallas to rediscover their touch.

"We have two matches this week against two very good Eastern Conference opponents, so there is no time to waste and we have to start preparing for our match in Cincinnati and our home match versus the Union," he said, as reported by Big D Soccer.

"The team needs to be ready to fight for the entirety of 90 minutes."

Dallas coach Eric Quill was disappointed with the manner in which his team lost to the Sounders.

He said: "[I] feel disappointed for our guys that fought. They fought, and to lose like that is hard to swallow. Proud of their fight, and we've got to look at it, and we got to become better for it.

"Work at the margins that we're losing on right now and that's all we can do, is not accept it. We can't feel sorry for ourselves and blame.

"We gotta stand up to this, and we gotta understand how the margins work in this league, and where the margins lie. And it's finding a way.

"We gotta find a way to be better in certain moments that we can punish the opponent and better, some decision making, but the effort and the fight was there. Just to lose on that goal, on the penalty, it is hard to swallow."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Cincinnati - Evander

Evander assisted both of Cincinnati’s goals on Sunday in their defeat to Atlanta United.

It marked the 14th time since the start of last season Evander contributed to multiple goals in a regular-season match, two more than any other player in MLS in that time (Lionel Messi – 12).

FC Dallas - Lucho Acosta

Acosta will be going up against his former team on Wednesday.

The Argentine was named the league's MVP when he starred for Cincinnati in 2023. In his time at the club, he scored 54 goals and provided 72 assists.

MATCH PREDICTION: CINCINNATI WIN

Dallas have failed to score in five of its last seven regular-season matches after being shut out only five times in its previous 34 league games. They have failed to score in their last two league matches, and last went three regular-season games in a row without a goal in August 2020.

After going unbeaten in their first six away games of the regular season (W3 D3), Dallas have lost back-to-back road league matches.

Dallas' only win in their last five road league games was a 4-3 victory over Inter Miami on April 27 (D2 L2).

Cincinnati are unbeaten in 10 straight home matches in all competitions (W6 D4), including winning the last three in a row. 

This will be Cincinnati’s 101st regular-season home match since joining MLS in 2019, but their first against Dallas. The first two meetings, both in Dallas, were split with each team winning once.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Cincinnati - 58%

FC Dallas - 20.2%

Draw - 21.8%