19.11.2020 - 17:00 | source: Transfermarkt | Reading Time: 4 mins
MLS Cup Playoffs
Brenden Aaronson
Kickoff on Friday 

MLS Cup Playoffs Preview - Philadelphia Union want to complete double

MLS Cup Playoffs Preview - Philadelphia Union want to complete double
©TM/IMAGO

On Friday, Nov. 20, Major League Soccer will head into the final stage of the 2020 season. The New England Revolution will host the Montreal Impact (kickoff 6:30 p.m. ET) and expansion sides Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF (9:00 p.m. ET) will face each other in the MLS Cup play-in round. Those four sides, however, will be outsiders when it comes to lifting the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy on Dec. 12. 


Market Value
Brenden Aaronson
B. Aaronson Attacking Midfield
14.00m


Instead, all eyes will be on Supporters' Shield winners Philadelphia Union and their emerging star Brenden Aaronson. The 20-year-old will leave the club in January and join Red Bull Salzburg in what has been a historic deal for the club and the league.


Staff
Ernst Tanner
E. Tanner Age: 57
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union


German sporting director Ernst Tanner has managed to build the best team in the league out of limited resources. Despite being ranked just 13th in terms of squad value, Philadelphia impressed during the regular season and are given a 24% chance to win the MLS Cup by the stats company FiveThirtyEight.com. The Union will kick off the playoffs on Nov. 24 against the lowest-seeded team to emerge from the play-ins. 


From the D.C United to Seattle Sounders All MLS Cup winners at a glance Click Here But winning the Supporters' Shield is far from being a guarantee to also win the MLS Cup. Of the 25 teams that have won the Supporters' Shield only nine have gone on to win the MLS Cup at the end of the season. The last team to win the double were Toronto FC in 2017. The Reds were also the club to push Philadelphia all the way during the regular season and could become the Union's biggest obstacle in the Eastern Conference to reach the MLS Cup final—the two teams meet in the Conference finals. 



Toronto might not be the only obstacle for the Union to overcome on their quest to win their first-ever MLS Cup. MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake might be out with a broken hand. Meanwhile, Designated Player Jamiro Monteiro could miss the first round after his international duty with Cape Verde—he will be required to quarantine. 


Western Conference - Early final between Sounders and LAFC


Both Toronto and Philadelphia are good bets to emerge victorious on Dec. 12. But they will be heavily challenged by whoever wins the Western Conference bracket. Here three clubs are the early favorites: last year's MLS Cup winners Seattle Sounders, Western Conference regular-season winners Sporting Kansas City, and the 2019 Supporters' Shield winners Los Angeles FC


Background Diego Rossi tests positive for Covid-19 To the article One of those three, however, will not make it past the first round as Seattle will host LAFC on Nov. 24 (10:30 p.m. ET). It is an early clash of giants. But recent developments have made the Sounders favorites to emerge victoriously. On Nov. 18 it was announced that LAFC will be without Diego Palacios, José Cifuentes, and star striker Diego Rossi, who have tested positive while on national team duty. Brian Rodríguez, in the meantime, has tested negative but his appearance will depend on quarantine protocols enacted by local health authorities. 



Rossi's absence, in particular, will hurt LAFC. The Uruguayan won the golden boot during the regular season and with a market value of $19.8 million is the most valuable player in the league. The Sounders, in the meantime, have no such worries. Their star striker Raúl Ruidíaz was also on national team duty but because he still carries antibodies from a previous infection will be allowed to play. 


Market Value
Raúl Ruidíaz
R. Ruidíaz Centre-Forward
2.50m


That should make the Sounders the favorites to win that particular tie. But a potential Conference semifinal against the Portland Timbers and then a potential Conference final against Sporting Kansas City means the Sounders will have a stony road towards becoming the first team to defend the title since the LA Galaxy won back to back titles in 2011 and 2012. 


Market Value
Alan Pulido
A. Pulido Centre-Forward
2.50m


Sporting KC, who will face the San Jose Earthquakes in round one, finished first in the West after the regular season and are certainly the favorites to emerge from the Western Conference bracket. Coached by veteran manager Peter Vermes, the two times MLS Cup winners had a fantastic regular season thanks to new signings Gadi Kinda, Alan Pulido, and the emergence of joker Erik Hurtado


MLS Cup Playoffs - Bracket 


MLS Cup Playoffs 2020 - Bracket

Additional news
Alan Pulido
Sporting Kansas City
Alan Pulido
Date of birth/Age:
Mar 8, 1991 (33)
Nat.:  Mexico
Current club:
Sporting Kansas City
Contract until:
Dec 31, 2026
Position:
Centre-Forward
Market Value:
€2.50m
Brenden Aaronson
1.FC Union Berlin
Brenden Aaronson
Date of birth/Age:
Oct 22, 2000 (23)
Nat.:  United States
Current club:
1.FC Union Berlin
Contract until:
Jun 30, 2024
Position:
Attacking Midfield
Market Value:
€14.00m
Diego Rossi
Columbus Crew
Diego Rossi
Date of birth/Age:
Mar 5, 1998 (26)
Nat.:  Uruguay Italy
Current club:
Columbus Crew
Contract until:
-
Position:
Left Winger
Market Value:
€7.00m