3 things to watch in MLS: Week 8

Major League Soccer returns to action this weekend, with Toronto FC kicking things off Friday night against the Chicago Fire. While the battle in midfield between Michael Bradley and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be a treat, here's what else to keep an eye out for in Week 8:

Cascadia Cup, Round 2

• Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps - Providence Park (4 p.m. ET Saturday)

Last week, the Whitecaps kicked off the 2017 Cascadia Cup with a 2-1 win over Seattle. Just one week later, Vancouver is back at it with an away trip to the high-flying Timbers.

Fredy Montero made a big statement in last week's victory, scoring both goals at the expense of his former side. The on-loan Colombian striker will look to keep his feet hot as Vancouver remains desperate for a few wins after a tepid start to the 2017 season.

Victory will require a significant effort, however, as Caleb Porter's side sits top of the Western Conference (though Sporting Kansas City did manage to get the best of them last week with a 1-0 win away from home). That loss might serve the Whitecaps well, though Portland will look to avenge it sooner rather than later.

Are the Crew truly back?

• New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew - Red Bull Arena (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday)

The Columbus Crew struggled mightily last season, but have quietly righted the ship early in 2017, now sitting pretty atop the Eastern Conference. Captain Wil Trapp credits his team's resurgence to improved "mental toughness and the belief in the group to grind games out," which seems to be a fair assessment of this Columbus side.

But is Gregg Berhalter's team really back in business? Wins over Toronto FC, Orlando City, and Portland certainly suggest so. We'll know for certain after Saturday's clash against the New York Red Bulls, a match that should provide a good measure of Columbus' ability to "grind games out," as Trapp puts it.

For their part, the Red Bulls have started slowly away from home, losing four matches thus far this season on the road. But Jesse Marsch's side has been much better off at Red Bull Arena, and that's where Columbus is heading Saturday.

Western heavyweight bout

• LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders - StubHub Center (4:00 p.m. ET Sunday)

Two Western Conference heavyweights collide for the first time in 2017 on Sunday as the LA Galaxy host the Seattle Sounders, and all eyes will be on star men Romain Alessandrini and Nicolas Lodeiro.

The LA Galaxy could certainly use a win after a less-than-stellar start to their 2017 efforts, while the Sounders have a tough task on their hands as both Roman Torres and Brad Evans remain out with injury.

Though the Galaxy have the edge over the Sounders in overall meetings, this current Galaxy iteration is less sharp-fanged than its predecessors. Curt Onalfo's side isn't toothless, however, and if he can finally get Giovani Dos Santos to show up again, Seattle's MLS Cup-winning stars might have a rough day under the California sun.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)