The opening weekend of the CONCACAF Leagues Cup 2024 competition concludes on Sunday evening when another three matches take place in the tournament which pits the MLS and Liga MX teams in against each other.
There are two matches with a team from each league along with one all-MLS battle to enjoy on Sunday evening and if you want to watch any of these games you’ll need the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV or one of the bookmaker live streams.
New York City FC vs Queretaro (01.00)
The first of the three matches to kick off does so at the Yankee Stadium where New York City FC will be looking to open up their campaign with a win when they play host to the Liga MX outfit Queretaro who are probably looking at this competition to spark their season into life.
The Mexicans have played four matches in the new leg of the Liga MX term and have lost the lot so they will be looking for a bit of a confidence boost in this match. New York City have been going pretty well in the MLS this term and are the sort of technical side who should be able to deal with the Mexican challenge here, and the cramped surroundings of Yankee Stadium might serve them well too but the bookmakers are clearly all over the respective form of these two sides because they have NYC bordering a 1.25 Asian handicap line and while I wouldn’t be massively surprised if it gets covered it is slightly too high for me to get involved with.
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Sporting Kansas City vs Chicago Fire (02.00)
The only match between two MLS teams on Sunday evening comes from Children’s Mercy Park where Sporting Kansas City take on the Chicago Fire in a battle between two teams who have flattered to deceive in league play this term.
This competition is probably more important for the Chicago Fire given that Sporting Kansas City are two wins away from silverware in the US Open Cup but with the playoffs looking like a bit of a dream for SKC they might choose to give this a good go in the hope of having two ways into the Champions Cup next season. Chicago can still reach the postseason in the Eastern Conference as they are only three points adrift in what is a logjam of a race for the last spots but at the very least they will want a confidence boost during this event. These are two of the most inconsistent teams in the MLS and it is the guess of anyone what they will bring to this particular party. I’m happy to leave this match alone.
Leon vs Portland Timbers (03.30)
The late game on Sunday night comes from Providence Park even though it is an away game for the Portland Timbers when they go up against one of the best in Liga MX in Leon, although they haven’t started the latest campaign particularly well it has to be said.
Leon were the champions of this region as recently as last year and should never be written off although they have undergone something of an exodus of players since then so while they are not quite a skeleton of that side, it is a much different one which the Portland Timbers will be going up against here, although Club Leon never change their philosophies so it will be an identical style. While Leon might be struggling to impose themselves under transition on Liga MX this term, the Timbers are in decent form having won eight of their last 13 matches. Many of them were high scoring making the Timbers one of the joint third highest scorers in MLS this season. Portland’s MLS matches are averaging 3.68 goals per game this term and when you consider that in just four matches in the new Liga MX campaign Leon have had a 2-2 and a 1-4 there is every reason to think this will be high scoring too. I’d rather take over 2.75 goals here as I don’t trust the Portland defence but with the attacking brand of football both these teams play we should get at least three goals in this one.
Tips
Back Leon vs Portland Timbers – Over 2.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
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