The latest round of matches in the MLS 2023 season concludes on Sunday evening when two Eastern Conference teams meet at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Atlanta United take on the Chicago Fire.
Both teams have made much improved starts to the season after a campaign of woe last term and a win for either here would have them nicely placed in the competition as we go through the first quarter of the regular term.
Where to watch
As with all MLS matches this season, the match will be shown on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass however this is a free offering so there is no need to be a subscriber to watch. It is also available via the bookmakers.
Atlanta United
I don’t think too many people would have expected Atlanta United to be worse than they were last season but the turnaround might have surprised a few people. They have gone from missing out on the playoffs and looking an absolute mess to just one defeat in their opening eight matches and looking like outside challengers for the title if they can keep hold of all of their key players. Time will tell if that happens but they are in good shape currently.
The key to it all has been Thiago Almada and the ‘Five Stripes’ fans will be quick to point out that the only match they have lost this term has been when was on international duty. One concern for Atlanta might be defensively with goalkeeper Brad Guzan out for three months but they are generally very good on their own patch and look to be moving back towards the style of the title winning team when Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron were doing their thing.
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Chicago Fire
It would have been difficult for the Chicago Fire to have a poorer season than the last couple but much like their opponents in this match the extent of the turnaround has been quite remarkable and something all involved at Soldier Field deserves a lot of credit for. Chicago head into this match with just one defeat in their opening seven matches and even that was away to the current Eastern Conference champions Philadelphia Union.
If there is an issue for the Fire to solve before they become a side who will be very assured for the postseason this term, it comes in the form of pacing themselves in matches. They have thrown a couple of late leads away this season otherwise they would have been higher up the table than they already are. The good thing for Chicago is they are scoring goals and they still have Xherdan Shaqiri to bring back from injury as well.
Betting
Atlanta United are a very tough nut to crack and at home when things are going well. They have three wins and a draw from their four matches on their home patch this season and I expect them to win here too, but quotes around the 8/13 mark are a little on the short side to me so I’m looking for a bit of extra value in the game and given the attacking players that the ‘Five Stripes’ have I quite like the 10/11 on an Atlanta win and over 1.5 goals.
Atlanta have won four matches this season and three of them have had two goals in those games. The one which didn’t came against the New York Red Bulls who are as intent on stopping the opposition as they are dominating matches so I fancy that particular win will be looked at as an anomaly when we look back on the Atlanta campaign at the end of it. Chicago don’t really have the talent to stifle the game and actually have the confidence to impose themselves on teams. The only clean sheet they have kept came against a pretty average DC United side. When Atlanta get on a roll at home they can open anyone up so adding in the over 1.5 goals factor bumps the Atlanta win up to an acceptable price.
Tips
Back Atlanta United to win and over 1.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Boylesports
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