The Leagues Cup continues on Wednesday night when another half a dozen games get played as we remain in the group stage where spots in the knockout part of the competition are on the line for all those involved.
As will be the case throughout the tournament, you need to have access to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass for full coverage of these games but if you don’t have that option then you can watch the games via the bookmaker live streams.
Wednesday’s fixtures are as follows: (UK kick off in brackets)
Charlotte FC vs Cruz Azul (01.00)
Santos Laguna vs DC United (01.00)
FC Dallas vs Juarez (02.00)
Nashville SC vs Mazatlan FC (02.00)
Tigres vs Puebla (02.30)
San Jose Earthquakes vs LA Galaxy (03.30)
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Preview
The big match of the night comes from the Bank of America Stadium where Charlotte FC are fighting for their Leagues Cup life when they go up against the Liga MX leaders Cruz Azul who we see for the first time in the competition. Two other MLS teams who are fighting for their tournament existence against Liga MX sides are DC United and FC Dallas. DC beat Atlanta United in their opening match but it was only on penalties so they need to get some sort of result from their clash with Santos Laguna while FC Dallas lost at St Louis at the weekend and have to beat Juarez to stay in the competition.
The beaten finalists of last year get their 2024 campaign underway on Wednesday night when Nashville SC play their first match under new coach B.J. Callahan when they host Mazatlan FC with the Liga MX side out of the competition if they lose. We have the first all-Liga MX clash of the competition as well when the fancied Tigres, who have started the new campaign very well, take on Puebla who never really landed a blow on Inter Miami at the weekend. The other match is the latest Cali-Clasico as San Jose Earthquakes look to secure their spot in the knockout stages when they host LA Galaxy who open up their campaign here.
Betting
Cruz Azul have started the Liga MX season like a house on fire and they could very well turn out to be the best Mexican side in this competition and they have the first chance to lay a bit of a marker down when they take on a Charlotte FC team who are potential candidates as dark horses for this tournament in the way that Nashville SC was last season. They are solid at home but you would imagine they will have their work cut out here, not least because they really have to win to stay in the competition.
Cruz Azul invested a lot of money ahead of the new season on a pair of midfielders and Giorgos Giakoumakis and the message from them is simple. They have to win trophies so they’ll be looking to get their qualification sewn up with a win here and they can head to Philadelphia at the weekend looking to win the group. Charlotte have to go for this which is risky but they have nothing to lose I would imagine at some point Cruz Azul will start picking them off but Charlotte are an awkward side to defend against and over 2.5 goals appeals here.
Tips
Back Charlotte FC vs Cruz Azul – Over 2.5 goals (Asian line) for a 3/10 stake at 1.81 with William Hill
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