There are three matches left in the opening weekend of the new MLS season and after two high scoring days to open up the competition, we would probably be foolish if we were to expect anything different here.
All three matches are live on TV here in the UK and just as useful is the fact that the first two of them come at extremely watchable times over here too. The final one will be purely for the night owls but all three should be worth a watch.
Inter Miami vs LA Galaxy (20.00 – Sky Football)
The opening match of the evening sees David Beckham’s Inter Miami side host the team he raised the profile for MLS with when he played for them in terms of LA Galaxy in a game between two teams who will have huge ambitions of the play-offs this term.
This match sees the coaching stint of Phil Neville begin for Inter Miami but they are not the only side under new leadership this term as LA Galaxy start life under former Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney here and it will be interesting to see how the two teams shape up. Neville has an embarrassment of riches to call upon with the likes of Rodolfo Pizarro, Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi all likely to be too good for this league but in Javier Hernandez, Vanney isn’t exactly without a leading marksman and having got Sebastian Giovinco to dominate this league north of the border, he’ll be expecting to do something similar with the Mexican.
This is another game where I am expecting to see some goals scored. LA Galaxy are going to need to score goals to be prominent in the Western Conference this season and just looking at Inter Miami they have to be freer scoring than they were last season, particularly with a more settled start to the campaign than the one they had last term where their home stadium wasn’t ready then the pandemic cut them in their stride. The goal line here is over 2.75 goals and with the attacking players on the pitch I expect that line to be covered.
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Columbus Crew vs Philadelphia Union (23.00 – Sky Main Event & Sky Football)
The second match of the evening stands out an absolute mile as the MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew begin their title defence against the current holders of the Supporters’ Shield in the form of Philadelphia Union.
The Crew looked the best team in MLS on paper last term and in the end that was how it transpired on the grass as well. They look no weaker here although the injury picked up to Aidan Morris in the Champions League in midweek is a huge blow. The Union were also in action in the Champions League in the week but suffered no major issues. Their biggest blow came in the close season when Brendon Aaronsen headed off to Salzburg, although that deal was done pretty early. In normal circumstances I’d expect the Crew to win this match but that injury to Morris might have thrown enough plans out of sync to avoid betting on this one.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Portland Timbers (03.00 – Free Sports)
We head to the Western Conference for the final match of the weekend as the Vancouver Whitecaps take on the Portland Timbers in the opening Cascadia Cup clash of the campaign at the home of Real Salt Lake, Rio Tinto Stadium, with Canadian sides still not able to play at home in this competition.
That in itself is an immediate negative for the Whitecaps, in a fixture where they already looked second best, so it will be interesting to see how they cope with that. Of course it isn’t completely new because they had this problem last season as well but I’m sure they would like more home advantage than they have. The other thing which is unlikely to help the Canadian outfit here is the fact that Portland Timbers have played a couple of competitive matches in the Champions League and may well be more up to speed as a result. The Timbers have been inconsistent on the road for a while though and while I would expect them to win, it isn’t a confidence enough thought to merit a bet.
Tips
WON – Back Inter Miami vs LA Galaxy – Over 2.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with BetVictor
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