MLS, among the five recoveries scheduled for tonight, the Los Angeles extracurrency stands out: news and predictions.
Major League Soccer gets right back on track after a whirlwind weekend. On the Italian night between Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 July there are five matches on the schedule.
It’s not really a ‘week’, but it’s some catch-ups, spread out over the next two days. One of the first teams to take the field is Inter Miami: Leo Messi’s next club will face a healthy opponent, the Columbus Crew. In Florida, they now eagerly await the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has turned down Saudi petrodollars to go and play in the States. Inter Miami’s season so far cannot but be described as disastrous: in the overall standings they are third-last and at the moment the chances of reaching the playoffs seem very slim indeed. On Messi’s ‘advice’ – the Pulce will not land in Miami before the end of the month – the club has recently enlisted one of the Pulce’s so-called mentors, the Argentine coach ‘Tata’ Martino, who has also been with Barcelona. Inter Miami only put an end to the haemorrhaging of defeats last Sunday, drawing 1-1 with the Austin Texans, but they have not managed to win a game since last May.
The feeling is that, at least until Messi’s arrival, it will be difficult to see a turnaround: Columbus, one of the league’s most in-form teams (5 wins and 1 draw in their last six games) should be able to avoid defeat in a game with at least 3 goals total.
The predictions for the other matches
Bernardeschi and Insigne’s Toronto’s negative moment continues unabated, last weekend also beaten by Real Salt Lake (0-1).
Chiellini with Los Angeles FC teammates
The Canadians have failed to win since 28 May, picking up just three points in their last six matches. They have never won away from home and have only scored seven goals away from home. The lack of success away from home should continue in Orlando, against a team that has not lost in front of its fans since April and is in a good moment. Wayne Rooney’s DC United also struggles on the road: the Capitols, coached by the former England national team and Manchester United striker, have won only once in their last seven matches, and on Sunday came another clear knockout against Nashville. In all likelihood, Rooney and his men will have to postpone the appointment with the three points in the challenge against FC Dallas, who after two defeats ‘on the road’ last weekend beat Los Angeles FC 2-0. We expect at least one goal on each side in the match between Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers: a draw would not be surprising. Finally, eyes will be on El Trafico, the Los Angeles derby between Galaxy and FC. The two Angelina teams are not going through a positive period.
FC, the team in which Giorgio Chiellini plays, is coming from two consecutive defeats while the Galaxy have not won at home since May. Better to focus on the number of goals scored, which should not be low: three months ago FC won in a dramatic 3-2 victory.
MLS, possible winners
- Columbus Crew or draw (in Inter Miami-Columbus Crew, 01:30)
- Orlando City (in Orlando City-Toronto FC, 01:30)
- FC Dallas (in FC Dallas-DC United, 02:30)
The matches with at least one goal per team
- Colorado Rapids-Portland Timbers, 03:30
- Los Angeles Galaxy-Los Angeles FC, 04:30
