Another Major League Soccer season concludes on Saturday night when Atlanta United host the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup Final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in what should be a thrilling ending to a really strong campaign.
Atlanta are looking for their first MLS title here while Portland are eyeing up a second national title in four seasons. These are two of the better sides in the league to watch so we should get a great final.
Atlanta United
There is a lot of pressure on the Five Stripes here. Tata Martino leaves after this match with the likes of Miguel Almiron and possibly Josef Martinez playing their last game for the club before moving onto bigger things. Throw in the fact they are at home and expected to win the encounter and it is set up to be a pressurised evening.
On the flip side of that, they are expected to win because they are so strong at home, because they are the best team in the league to watch and because they are free flowing with goals galore in their ranks. That gets all the attention but what doesn’t get as much of the spotlight is a defence that doesn’t leak too many goals, as evidenced by their play-off run so far where they have conceded one goal in four matches.
Portland Timbers
Given the path that they have had through to this final you would be forgiven for thinking that the Portland Timbers have their name back on this trophy. They began the postseason with a comfortable win at FC Dallas and then came through an epic tie with the Seattle Sounders on penalties before a thrilling see-saw two legs against Sporting Kansas City saw them come out on top to take their place in this showdown.
When we look back to the regular season, the Timbers were indifferent on the road but they have come alive away from Providence Park in this play-off run. Wins in Kansas City and Dallas were particularly eyecatching and they will head to Georgia full of faith that they can win this title. When they were crowned champions in 2015 they won in Columbus so they have history of winning this competition away from home.
Team News
Atlanta United appear to have a fully fit squad to choose from for this match. Miguel Almiron has been carrying a knock in the play-offs but the nine days since booking their spot in this final has been long enough for him to regain full fitness.
Portland Timbers are expected to be without Larrys Mabiala with injury which means that Bill Tuiloma is likely to get the spot at the heart of the defence. Alvas Powell could be picked at right-back to attempt to contain the threat of Almiron.
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Betting
I’m expecting a really entertaining final here and if there is an early goal this one should spark into life nicely. We’ve not seen a high scoring final in the last few seasons but that has not been because the matches haven’t been wide open. They have but the pressure of the occasion has meant many chances have been missed.
I’m not sure they will be spurned here though because there are some accomplished attacking players on show in this match in the form of Josef Martinez, Miguel Almiron and Diego Valeri among others, players who display a clinical edge in front of goal. This stadium is used to seeing goals and I think they will flow in this final too.
Tips
Back Over 2.75 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.75 with BetVictor
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