Minnesota United vs. St. Louis City

When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 60 degrees, cloudy, 5 mph east wind
Betting line: MNUFC minus-210; draw plus-370; St. Louis plus-425

Form: MNUFC (14-12-7, 49 points) is unbeaten in four matches, including a 1-0 win Oct. 5 over Vancouver, before resting during the international window. St. Louis (8-12-13, 37 points) has won three of four after effectively being knocked out of the playoffs with Minnesota’s 3-1 win in Missouri on Sept. 14.

Main scenario: The currently seventh-seeded Loons can avoid the one-off wild card match between seeds 8-9 if: 1. Beat St. Louis; 2. Eight-seed Vancouver losses or draws vs. Real Salt Lake; 3. Minnesota draw and Vancouver win and Loons are in good position in tiebreaker over Whitecaps.

Secondary scenarios: Loons can’t drop lower than eighth regardless of results on Decision Day. However, they can climb up to as high as fifth, if Colorado (at Austin) and Houston (vs. L.A. Galaxy) stumble. Rapids are at 50 points, Houston 51.

News: Loons head coach Eric Ramsay said the first team’s seven international players came back in good shape this week. The seven included Robin Lod, Joseph Rosales, Michael Boxall, Dayne St. Clair, Tani Oluwaseyi, Carlos Havey and Teemu Pukki.

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Note: Valentin announced his retirement after a 14-year career this week. The second-year Loons player has built a lot of connections with the club and might remain on board in another role next year.

“He’s retired from the pitch, but certainly not retired from his involvement with the club,” Ramsay said. “Someone that, even between now and the end of the year, willl play a big part of any success we have.”

Quote: MLS commentator Matt Doyle said on Apple TV that MNUFC can be a real contender in the MLS Cup Playoffs — the 2025 iteration — if they add a few midfielders. For this year, however, he said: “But 2024, get your win this weekend, end up in the 2-7 game and enjoy your very brief stay in the playoffs.”

Another quote: Doyle’s quote reached Ramsay. His response: “I take it with a pinch of salt. It’s also very difficult for those guys — seemingly to me, anyway — to stay on top of the fortunes of all 29 teams. I think sometimes we have gone well under the radar as to how good our form as been going into the playoffs, how stark a contrast it has been in that middle period and this period.

“I don’t read into that in any way whatsoever and I don’t even give it enough weight to be something that I throw in front of the players.”

Absences: Zarek Valentin (Achilles) out; DJ Taylor (hamstring) questionable.

Projected XI: In a 5-2-3 formation, FW Joaquin Pereyra; FW Kelvin Yeboah, FW Robin Lod; MF Hassani Dotson, MF Wil Trapp; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Jefferson Diaz, CB Michael Boxall, CB Carlos Harvey, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.

Scouting report: St. Louis midfielder Cedric Teuchert was the most dangerous player for Loons in the September matchup, scoring one goal on five shots, and six progressive passes. He has remained a threat with two goals and three assist in the four games since.

Prediction: St. Louis has shown they can be professional despite being knocked out of the playoffs, but an early MNUFC goal will have they thinking of vacation destinations. Loons win 2-0.