The MLS is back, 11 days after the last day of the regular season. The top North American league is not stopping despite the fact that the spotlight in the United States is currently entirely on the Club World Cup, whose group stage is now coming to an end. The tournament continues, waiting for the three teams involved in the international event revolutionized by FIFA to return. Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders have already been eliminated, with Leo Messi and Suarez’s Inter Miami the only team to qualify for the round of 16.
Vancouver Whitecaps remain at the top of the Western Conference, but the Canadians seem to have lost some of their sparkle from previous months. They have only won two of their last six games and now risk being overtaken by San Diego, who will visit Jesper Sorensen’s men in this exciting midweek fixture. The Californians are coming off two straight wins and have lost only once since May. The stage is set for a balanced match with at least one goal per side, in which the Whitecaps will manage to avoid defeat this time around.
In the Eastern Conference, meanwhile, the duel is between Philadelphia Union, in first place with 37 points, and Cincinnati, four points behind Bedoya and his teammates. Philadelphia has not lost since mid-April but will have to be wary of the unpredictable Chicago Fire, a team that, despite being very inconsistent, boasts one of the most prolific attacks in MLS: there should be no shortage of entertainment in Illinois.
Cincinnati, on the other hand, after ending their winless streak with a narrow 1-0 victory at New England, will look to extend their winning streak in Montreal against the Eastern Conference’s bottom side. The Canadians, however, are coming off their second win, a 3-1 victory that could have brought enthusiasm back to the team, and they will not give up easily.
Predictions for other matches
Columbus Crew are looking for confirmation after their impressive win against Vancouver, the leading team in the West: the match against a struggling Atlanta side – six goals conceded and none scored in their last two games – seems to have come at the right time. Victory is also within reach for Minnesota against Houston Dynamo. It’s a difficult time for the Texans, who have lost twice in a row in front of their home crowd and are currently out of the playoff zone.
Fifth in the Eastern Conference, Orlando City has a good chance of taking home points from their trip to St. Louis, taking advantage of the “crisis” of a team that has only beaten San Jose since mid-March.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, will be busy in Dallas in a match that promises fireworks, but in terms of spectacle and excitement, the clash between Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Galaxy will not disappoint either. Finally, the total number of goals could be less than three in Toronto-New York Red Bulls: the Canadians, probably still without Bernardeschi, have not shone in attack in their last few outings.
MLS: possible winners
Columbus Crew (in Columbus Crew-Atlanta United)
Cincinnati or draw (in Montreal-Cincinnati)
Minnesota United (in Minnesota United-Houston Dynamo)
Orlando City or draw (in St. Louis City-Orlando City)
Matches with at least three goals in total
Columbus Crew-Atlanta United
Dallas-San Jose Earthquakes
Colorado Rapids-Los Angeles Galaxy
MLS: matches with at least one goal per team
Chicago Fire-Philadelphia Union
Sporting Kansas City-Charlotte
Vancouver Whitecaps-San Diego
The match with less than three goals in total
Toronto FC-New York Red Bulls
Odds comparison
Minnesota’s victory is priced at 1.85 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.83 on Snai. The “Goal” sign in Chicago Fire-Philadelphia Union is priced at 1.48 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.47 on Snai.
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