After coming oh-so-close to the opening day win their play deserved last Saturday night, the Portland Timbers suit up for round two of their 2015 MLS season, when the defending champions LA Galaxy come calling at Providence Park (4 pm, TV on Fox Sports 1, Radio on 750 AM the Game).

Opening day was big, but this game is, by many measures, bigger. The opponent is better. The stage (this is the Timbers' first national TV game of the year) is bigger as well. This is a game both teams—and coaches (hit the jump for a hilarious example)—want very badly to win.

This fixture has never disappointed. It won't disappoint on Sunday.

LINEUP AND MY PREDICTIONS AFTER THE JUMP.

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The History

Timbers-LA games in Portland are awesome. Even the games that aren't awesome are awesome. And the awesome games that are awesome are beyond awesome.

Take Andrew Jean-Baptiste's 94th minute winner for the Timbers in July 2013, or John Spencer's greatest moment, a 3-0 thrashing of Beckham, Donovan and Co. in LA's first trip to Portland in 2011. Beckham and LA rung in the Gavin Wilkinson era in 2012 by smashing five past Troy Perkins, and last year, there were two goals in stoppage time on Mothers' Day.

This is one of the best match-ups in MLS — historically seeing the more-talented Galaxy frustrated against Portland's crazy home-field advantage and their upstart team. That narrative has taken a few twists over the last two years as the Timbers' fortunes have risen and fallen, but the gist is the same. Bottom line, LA has always been the better team. But in Portland, they just can't figure out how to beat the Timbers.

The Tactics

Portland's eleven against Real Salt Lake last weekend were fantastic, and they all deserve to keep their places. The one change we will see is Diego Chara return to make his 2015 debut in place of George Fochive, who will never forget his first MLS game.

Bruce Arena made some interesting lineup decisions in LA's season-opening home win against Chicago, including dropping Jaime Penado, AJ DeLaGarza and Baggio Husidic, all stalwarts from the MLS Cup winning side of last year.

Expect all three to be back on Sunday. Bruce won't mess around with his team for this game. Robbie Keane will lead the line, escaping punishment for his goal celebration against Chicago last Friday that was as vulgar as it was surprising, until you remember that Robbie Keane is an angry, angry man who remains angry long after scoring.

LA doesn't have the star-power that their accustomed to having, with Landon Donovan — speaking of someone who loved Portland — retired and Steven Gerrard yet to arrive. But the Galaxy's attack is still five times that of RSL's, and this will be the first real test of the Ridgewell-Borchers era. It should be fantastic to watch.

The Lineup

12 - Kwarasey
19 - Villafaña
7 - Borchers
24 - Ridgewell (C)
2 - Powell
13 - Jewsbury
21 - Chara
22 - Wallace
6 - Nagbe
11 - Asprilla
9 - Adi

The Pick

While they are still waiting and wondering where their goals are going to come from, there's a growing confidence around the Timbers. A repeat of the performance Jack Jewsbury had against RSL will be crucial, as will Diego Chara's health. The Timbers won't be blown away, but LA is still the better team. Expect a 1-1 draw.