An MLS 2023 season which has suddenly grown massively in profile with the impending arrival of the greatest player on the planet continues on Saturday evening when another full round of matches begin in America and Canada.
We are a month or so away from the break for the Leagues Cup so every game is beginning to carry that bit more significance, particularly for those who are not where they would want to be in the tables. As ever all matches are live on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and with the bookmaker live streams.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (00.30 unless stated)
Atlanta United v D.C. United
CF Montréal v Minnesota United FC
Charlotte FC v Seattle Sounders FC
New England Revolution v Inter Miami CF
Orlando City SC v Colorado Rapids
Toronto FC v Nashville SC
Chicago Fire FC v Columbus Crew (01.30)
Houston Dynamo FC v Los Angeles Football Club (01.30)
Sporting Kansas City v Austin FC (01.30)
Real Salt Lake v New York City FC (02.30)
San Jose Earthquakes v Philadelphia Union (03.30)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v FC Cincinnati (03.30)
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Big Matches
They might be bottom of the Eastern Conference but clearly the biggest focus on Saturday evening will be on Inter Miami when they head to Gillette Stadium to take on New England Revolution. We are a month or so away from Lionel Messi making his debut for the Florida outfit but it will be interesting to see if his impending arrival sparks them into life. One team who don’t need sparking into life are FC Cincinnati. They are still on course for the domestic treble and put their credentials on the line away to Vancouver Whitecaps. The champions Los Angeles FC are also in action on Saturday evening. They head to Houston Dynamo looking to put a tough week behind them.
Best of the Rest
The Western Conference leaders St Louis City SC aren’t in action until Sunday so second placed Seattle Sounders have the chance to restore their position at the top of that table when they make the trip to Charlotte FC. Nashville FC are the closest challengers to FC Cincinnati in the race for the Supporters’ Shield and they will look to keep pace with the team from Ohio when they cross the border to take on Toronto FC. Philadelphia Union have found some huge form in recent weeks and they will look to continue that when they go to the San Jose Earthquakes. Two potentially entertaining teams who are underachieving meet when Sporting Kansas City host Austin FC while you would think goals will come naturally when Atlanta United and DC United meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Betting
I’ll go with a couple of bets over the course of the night and they come in the form of goals. I intimated above that we are likely to see goals when Atlanta United host DC United. Only the Columbus Crew have scored more goals than Atlanta United this season and that is no surprise when you consider that the Five Stripes have the likes of Thiago Almada pulling the strings and Giorgos Giakoumakis banging them in. DC United have their own goalscoring talisman though in Christian Benteke and with Atlanta defenders not being the most physical known to man it would be no surprise if the Belgian gets some joy in this match. These two are better going forward than they are defensively and I think that can equate to more than 2.75 goals.
The other bet that I like on Saturday evening comes from Soldier Field where I am expecting goals as well when the Chicago Fire take on the top scorers in the competition in Columbus Crew. We have seen in recent weeks how Columbus are happy to take risks defensively to set up their attacking combinations but at the same time when they get those attacking players in the right positions they can be devastating in front of goal and against a potentially leggy Chicago defence which conceded four goals to a weak Houston attack in the US Open Cup in midweek, the Crew could easily run riot here. Chicago are improving as an attacking force under their new coaching setup though. They are still to lose at home and have scored in seven of their eight home games. I like this one to have more than 2.75 goals as well.
Tips
Back Atlanta United vs DC United – Over 2.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
Back Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew – Over 2.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.95 with Bet365
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