Phil Neville insisted that only the Portland Timbers' A game would be enough to get their MLS season back on track against Real Salt Lake this weekend. 

Portland are 10th in the Western Conference after taking 10 points from their opening 11 matches, though they did beat San Diego FC 2-1 in their last league outing. 

The Timbers' trip to America First Field is the last in a three-game road stretch, which started with a defeat to Minnesota United before their victory over San Diego. 

Neville's men return to Providence Park on May 9 to face a struggling Sporting Kansas City side, before two more road encounters against CF Montreal and Inter Miami. 

But the Portland boss had full focus on RSL, and he believes his team should be full of confidence heading into the game, following their stoppage-time victory against San Diego. 

"We have to continue the momentum from the game at the weekend," Neville said. "We're playing against a really good side that have got speed.

"It's also a midday kick-off, which is something we have to get used to. We played a similar style, and they are a very good team with some very good young players. 

"It's another test. We looked at April with Minnesota, LAFC, San Diego and now RSL, so it's the last game in May where we're playing the top teams, and against the top teams you have to bring your A game and on Saturday we will aim to do that."

RSL, meanwhile, are out for a return to winning ways in MLS play, after losing back-to-back league matches against Miami and the Los Angeles Galaxy. 

Marco Reus scored twice, including an 85th-minute penalty, to seal the win for the Galaxy, leaving RSL down in sixth and 11 points behind the leaders, the San Jose Earthquakes. 

Pablo Mastroeni's side face FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids and Minnesota ahead of the break for the World Cup, and the RSL boss has urged his team to battle past their recent blip to keep their playoff push intact. 

"We've got to overcome and own what we can control," Mastroeni said.

"As a group we need to own everything and put our best foot forward to do our best in this next match against Portland."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RSL – Zavier Gozo

Gozo leads Real Salt Lake in both shots (28) and chances created (17) this season, and he will be keen to continue his fast start to the campaign here.

The 19-year-old's 45 shot involvements so far this season are 17 more than any other teenager in MLS in 2026 (Julian Hall – 28).

Portland Timbers – Kristoffer Velde

In what has been a slow start to Portland's season, Velde has led the way for the Timbers, posting a team-high total for goal contributions (three, level with Kevin Kelsy). 

Velde has also created more chances (10) for Portland in the MLS this season than any other player, and his creative spark will be needed against RSL. 

MATCH PREDICTION: RSL WIN

RSL's 1-0 win at Portland last July was just their third win in 17 regular-season meetings with the Timbers dating back to 2018 (D5 L9). RSL's only set of consecutive wins over this weekend's opponents in the last 13 years was a pair of victories during the 2017 season.

But their six-match home winning streak ended on April 22 with a defeat to Miami. RSL have lost consecutive home matches in all competitions just once in the last three years, doing so in March 2025 against San Diego and FC Dallas.

Portland, meanwhile, snapped a 12-match away winless run (D3 L9) with victory at San Diego, the club's first road win since a 1-0 victory at Los Angeles FC last July. The Timbers have just one set of back-to-back road wins in all competitions since the start of the 2022 season, though, doing so in April 2025.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

RSL – 47.5%

Draw – 26.1%

Portland Timbers – 26.3%