Every year since 2020, the venerable American soccer statistics website American Soccer Analytics has ranked the analytics departments of MLS teams.

And for the first four years, Minnesota United always landed in the bottom tier — as did Saturday afternoon’s opponent, the LA Galaxy. And what’s the original title of that tier, referring to the apparent attitude of teams at the bottom?

“The game’s not played on a spreadsheet, mate.”

Read more: Minnesota United faces LA Galaxy while increasing focus on MLS analytics

Everyone around Minnesota United is excited about Inter Miami’s visit on May 10, coming as it does with the possibility of seeing the greatest soccer player in history play at Allianz Field.

The key word there: possibility.

For all his greatness, Lionel Messi is neither ageless nor indefatigable, nor is he required to play in every one of Miami’s games. And so some teams — Vancouver last season, Houston a few weeks ago — have planned big events when Miami was on their home schedule, only to see the guest of honor fail to show up.

Read more: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami scheduled to play Minnesota United May 10

Through 64 minutes Saturday, Minnesota United was cruising against Sporting Kansas City. The Loons led 3-0. SKC was getting booed by its own fans. It was cold and snowing and the home team was headed for an 11th consecutive loss. You could have excused SKC for looking like, as a team, it simply wanted to dig a hole and hide.

Then the Loons made two substitutions.

“It’s very difficult to look past the before and after point today, around the point at which we change,” coach Eric Ramsay said.

Read more: Loons are unreserved about frustration after flop at Kansas City

GAME STORY: Minnesota United turns a lead into a draw at Sporting Kansas City

FRIDAY ADVANCE:

Minnesota United doesn’t have a natural rival in Major League Soccer. Sporting Kansas City, which hosts Minnesota United on Saturday night, has traditionally been the choice — almost by default.

SKC fans, for their part, much prefer their own rivalry with St. Louis City. But thanks to (relative) geographical proximity, plus a history of U.S. Open Cup matchups dating back to Minnesota’s days in the second division, there have been spots of bad blood between Minnesota and Sporting KC through the years.

And so it’s unlikely you’ll find a lot of Loons fans who are bemoaning the current state of affairs: Sporting Kansas City is awful.

Read more: Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City and Peter Vermes

Hassani Dotson is still with Minnesota United — but he’s still not exactly happy.

In late January, the Loons midfielder — whose contract is up at the end of this year — made his unhappiness with the front office known, and publicly demanded a trade.

It was certainly an uncommon outcome for an MLS contract negotiation, but perhaps even less common is that it hasn’t changed his status with the team at all. Dotson is still with the Loons, and has started all three of Minnesota’s games this year — once at each of the three spots in the team’s midfield.

Read more: Minnesota United midfielder Hassani Dotson addresses trade demand

It’s an axiom that getting a point on the road in soccer is always a good thing. Minnesota United took not one but three points at San Jose on Saturday night, so in the end, no one is going to be that disappointed with the result.

That said, the Loons had plenty of chances to ease the blood pressure of fans who stayed awake for the West Coast encounter, instead of making everyone involved sweat out a 1-0 victory.

Read more: Minnesota United still left looking for more controlled movement on offense

GAME STORY: Minnesota United scores on the road again, defeating San Jose

If you want to know how Minnesota United’s attack is shaping up heading into Saturday night’s game at San Jose just look at the shooting numbers.

Kelvin Yeboah has attempted 14 shots in two games, five more than anyone else in MLS. Tani Oluwaseyi has four attempts of his own. And the entire rest of the Loons squad … has a grand total of eight.

Read more: Minnesota United faces San Jose Earthquakes in MLS action

Two games into 2025, you would have to say the Minnesota United defense is in midseason form. The Loons held CF Montreal without a shot on target Saturday in a 1-0 victory at Allianz Field and to a reads-like-a-typo total of 0.17 expected goals (according to the stat provider for MLS).

Going back to last season, it’s Minnesota’s sixth clean sheet in its past 10 games, and it’s clear defense has become this team’s calling card.

Read more: Analysis: Minnesota United is making defense its linchpin

GAME STORY: Minnesota United overcomes CF Montreal

Even with all the newfound stability at Minnesota United, for fans who only know the biggest names on the roster, it’s been a year of upheaval.

Emanuel Reynoso? Gone. Teemu Pukki? Gone. And both within the first 15 months of the new Loons regime. And yet, as Minnesota gets set for its 2025 home opener on Saturday against Montreal, its roster is in a better place overall.

Read more: Minnesota United faces CF Montreal in MLS home opener at Allianz Field

By the time former Minnesota United defender Zarek Valentin retired at the end of 2024, he’d already begun the transition into his post-playing life. Injuries and age limited him all season; he played just five times for the first team and four for the second team, and not at all after August.

Which is not to say that he faded away — indeed, he was seemingly ever-present: doing color on the team’s radio broadcasts, exhorting teammates from the sidelines. Every day at training, limping around and trying to help in whatever way he could.

Read more: Minnesota United keeps Zarek Valentin in multi-faceted role

Game Story

Minnesota tied for the best road record in the Western Conference in 2024, with eight victories in 17 games — but in Los Angeles, they lost three times in three trips.

Saturday they started the 2025 season the way they finished the 2024 season: with a loss in Los Angeles.

Read more: Minnesota United opens with a familiar result: a loss in Los Angeles

Analysis

Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay has spoken about how his team needs to evolve to be a bit less defensive and a bit more successful in trying to control the ball.

A season-opening game at LAFC, though, isn’t really the time to try to make that change.

Read more: Minnesota United exits satisfied with strategy against LAFC