With MLS All-Star festivities in the rearview mirror, all 22 MLS clubs will be in action this weekend as the calendar turns to August. Supporters will be treated to a delightful Soccer Sunday, highlighted by three nationally televised matches that boast compelling storylines and elite talent. Sporting Kansas City's inaugural showdown with Atlanta United FC rounds out the tripleheader following a pair of rivalry matches on the West and East coasts, respectively.
Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy| 1 p.m. CT Sunday, ESPN & ESPN Deportes
The Sigi Schmid era is underway in LA, where the Galaxy (6-10-5, 23 points) find themselves seven points below the red line and winless in six straight games. Their turnaround task won't get any easier on Sunday when they visit Providence Park to face the Timbers (8-8-7, 31 points), another club that has slumbered through the summer with just one win to show from their last eight matches. LA will hope the addition of Mexican international Jonathan dos Santos — the younger brother of Galaxy playmaker Giovani — makes a palpable impact down the stretch.
New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls | 5 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1 & FOX Deportes
The eighth edition of the Hudson River Derby will take place Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, pitting two teams who will bring plenty of confidence into the fixture. The visiting Red Bulls (11-8-2, 35 points) have risen to fourth place in the East behind a torrid four-game winning streak in which Jesse Marsch's men have scored 15 goals. On the opposite side of the Hudson, New York City FC (11-7-4, 37 points) is 5-2-1 since the start of June — a stretch that includes a 2-0 win at Red Bull Arena on June 24. Whoever wins this one will make a big step in keeping pace with Toronto FC and the Chicago near the top of the conference.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Atlanta United FC | 7 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1 & FOX Deportes
It's a classic matchup of high-octane offense versus stingy defense when Atlanta United FC (10-7-4, 34 points) visits Children's Mercy Park for the first time. Sporting Kansas City has conceded 17 goals this season — five fewer than any other team — while Atlanta leads the league with 1.95 goals scored per game. Both sides will put impressive unbeaten runs on the line: Sporting KC has gone eight straight league games without a loss, while Atlanta is 4-0-1 in its last five. Head coach Tata Martino's men have four road wins to their name in 2017, but no visiting team has emerged from Kansas City with a regular season win since May 2016.
