Another big and busy week in the MLS 2024 season begins on Saturday night when we have a full slate of matches to start a three game week for most teams as we move towards the break for Leagues Cup.
It is the free round of matches on Apple TV this weekend so you don’t need to be a subscriber to the MLS Season Pass to be able to watch these matches. If you don’t have Apple TV then the bookmaker live streams will also show the games.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (00.30 unless stated)
CF Montréal v Atlanta United FC
D.C. United v Nashville SC
FC Cincinnati v Charlotte FC
New England Revolution v Orlando City SC
Toronto FC v Philadelphia Union
Austin FC v Seattle Sounders FC (01.30)
Chicago Fire v New York City FC (01.30)
FC Dallas v Los Angeles Galaxy (01.30)
Houston Dynamo v Minnesota United FC (01.30)
St. Louis City SC v Vancouver Whitecaps (01.30)
Colorado Rapids v New York Red Bulls (02.30)
Portland Timbers v Real Salt Lake (03.25)
Los Angeles Football Club v Columbus Crew (03.30)
San Jose Earthquakes v Sporting Kansas City (03.30)
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Big Matches
When we look down the Saturday schedule there is one match which completely jumps off the page and that is the repeat of the 2023 MLS Cup final between the last two MLS champions as Los Angeles FC plays host to Columbus Crew in what has the makings of being a cracking contest. Both of those sides are in the race for the Supporters’ Shield but the leaders in that chase are FC Cincinnati who welcome Charlotte FC to TQL Stadium. With Inter Miami not in action this weekend, Cincinnati have the chance to open up a four point lead at the top of the MLS standings. Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy are the other teams in the mix. Both are on the road on Saturday with the former at Portland Timbers and the latter going to FC Dallas.
Best of the Rest
New York Red Bulls are going well in the Eastern Conference and they head to the Colorado Rapids who themselves are in decent touch. Atlanta United are beginning a transition phase and they cross the border to take on CF Montreal while New England Revolution will be looking to continue their improved form when they host Orlando City SC. Seattle Sounders are another team who have found form in recent times and they will be looking to maintain that when they go to Austin FC while New York City FC make the trip to Soldier Field to take on Chicago Fire. Two sides in desperate need for a win meet north of the border when Toronto FC host Philadelphia Union.
Betting
Three bets look pretty obvious on Saturday evening with the first one coming in the form of FC Cincinnati to cover a -1 Asian line at home to Charlotte FC. Charlotte are having a better season under Dean Smith but they still haven’t cracked the code on their travels yet and will be without the focal point of their attack in Patrick Agyemang after he was sent off last time out so that isn’t ideal. Cincinnati showed everyone that they are the best team in MLS right now when they absolutely demolished Inter Miami 6-1 last week. Whether they can get to that level again remains to be seen but they won’t need to be at that level to see off Charlotte. Luciano Acosta looks in pristine form right now and the Cincy attack is responding as a result of that. Cincinnati have won 12 of their last 14 matches and I expect them to win this one too.
It is goals all the way for the rest of the night with the 3.5 line high in the match between Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake but not high enough to put me off taking the over. Only Inter Miami have scored more goals in MLS than this pair this season and while they are both scoring goals, they are leaking them too. The 39 that Portland have conceded this term are among the highest in MLS while RSL have conceded two or more in three of their last four matches. Real Salt Lake failed to score in one of their last four and still have 12 goals in that time while Portland have scored 11 in their last four matches, conceding six in that time. The last three Portland matches have had over 3.5 goals as have six of the last nine RSL games. The over looks good even on this 3.5 line.
I can’t let the pick of the matches for this round go by without backing the over either. Los Angeles FC against Columbus Crew just looks like a magic match which could easily become something quite special and I’m a little surprised that the goal line is only 3 for this one. In Denis Bouanga and Cucho Hernandez we have two of the best marksmen in MLS on show while there are other plots to this one. LAFC will want revenge for losing to the Crew in the MLS Cup final last term while Diego Rossi will be out to show his former club what they are missing. Columbus have a style of play which they don’t change while LAFC are devastating on the counter. These are two of the best teams in MLS who could easily battle it out in the MLS Cup final at the end of the season. I think they’ll show why by scoring at least three goals between them here if not more. Columbus have 15 goals in their last four games and LAFC have 12 in their last four. Goals have to flow here.
Tips
Back FC Cincinnati (-1AH) to beat Charlotte FC for a 3/10 stake at 2.05 with Bet365
Back Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake – Over 3.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.98 with Unibet
Back Los Angeles FC vs Columbus Crew – Over 3 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
