Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the MLS regular season clashes between San Diego and Houston Dynamo will take place on July 6 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. I’m offering a pick on the outcome of this matchup with a solid value.
- See also: Portland Timbers vs New England Revolution prediction, H2H and probable lineups - July 6, 2025
Match preview
San Diego’s debut season in MLS can already be called a triumph — the team has not only firmly established itself among the Western Conference leaders, but also displays a maturity usually seen in seasoned clubs. Under the guidance of Mikey Varas, the squad has racked up eight wins in their last ten matches, losing only once. Their away form deserves special praise — three consecutive victories, including a thrilling 3-2 win over Dallas last weekend.
The defense isn’t always flawless, but their attacking line is among the league’s best. With 41 goals scored, San Diego boasts the most potent offense in the West, even though the squad is not without absences: Lozano, Ingvartsen, and Reyes remain sidelined. Still, with Iloski, Dreyer, and Valakari in the lineup, the team keeps up the pace and delivers results even in the most dramatic endings.
Houston Dynamo finally snapped their losing streak by edging St. Louis 1-0, but overall impressions of their season remain mixed. Ben Olsen’s side continues to stumble — in half a year, they’ve only managed one stretch with back-to-back wins, and have lost three of their last six matches. Despite Ponce regaining form and valuable contributions from Bassey and Lingr, the team’s attacking efficiency remains questionable.
This is especially evident on the road: just two wins in nine away games, and Houston hasn’t celebrated an away victory since early June. Poor finishing and issues transitioning from defense to attack make them vulnerable, particularly against teams that can dictate the tempo and press high. Visiting the conference leaders, their chances of taking points look slim.
Probable lineups
- San Diego: Santos; Vergouwen, McVey, Pilcher, Bombino; Tverskov, Boateng, Valakari; Dreyer, Iloski, Maitan
- Houston Dynamo: Bond; Andrade, Sviatchenko, Ortiz, Escobar; Reigns, Artur; Lingr, Bassey, Holmes; Ponce
Match facts and head-to-head
- This will be the first ever meeting between San Diego and Houston in MLS.
- San Diego are unbeaten in their last 5 home matches (4 wins, 1 draw).
- Houston have lost 3 of their last 5 away games, scoring just 3 goals in that span.
Prediction
San Diego right now means confidence, aggression, and consistent results. The team is on a roll, especially at home, where fans have already grown accustomed to victories. Houston are inconsistent, particularly away from home, and are unlikely to cope with the conference’s best attack. Given the form and stats, backing the hosts to win at odds of 1.73 looks justified.
