FC Dallas and San Jose meet with three points separating them in the provisional West

The table question in Frisco

FC Dallas and San Jose Earthquakes meet in MLS Regular Season - 31 on Sunday, October 25, with three points separating them in the supplied provisional Western Conference standings. Dallas are ranked #3 with 51 points from 30 games; San Jose are #4 with 48. Vancouver Whitecaps lead with 55 points, leaving Dallas four points behind and San Jose seven behind.

The immediate form contrast is notable but narrow. Dallas’s listed 30-match sequence begins Win, Draw, Loss, while San Jose’s begins Win, Win, Win. That describes the latest part of the supplied sample, not a forecast. The central kickoff question is whether Dallas’s home record can withstand San Jose’s away consistency.

Home strength meets away resilience

Dallas are 7W 5D 2L at home this season, scoring 26 goals and conceding 20, with four clean sheets. San Jose are 7W 5D 3L away, also scoring 26 goals while conceding 19, with three clean sheets. The records are closely matched, making the defensive absences especially relevant.

S. Sarver is missing for Dallas through a red card. L. Farrington, Geovane Jesus, A. A. Julio Santos and Kaick are questionable. San Jose are without N. Adimabua, D. Jones and P. Judd, while J. A. Gonzalez Mendoza, D. Johnson, B. Kikanovic, J. Skahan and N. Tsakiris are questionable.

Dallas most often recorded a 3-4-2-1, while San Jose most often recorded a 4-2-3-1; those preferences do not establish the match plan. At Toyota Stadium, the key question is: which side’s available defenders protect its stronger home-or-away record?