The third and final set of matches in Rivalry Week in the MLS 2024 season takes place on Saturday night when we have a full fixture list which involves some very tasty looking games as we head towards the halfway point of the regular season.
As always this season, all of the matches will be available to view via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV with a couple of the games free for all to watch. The bookmakers that offer live streaming will cover the game too.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (00.30 BST unless stated)
Nashville SC vs Atlanta United (18.45)
Charlotte FC v Los Angeles Galaxy
FC Cincinnati v St. Louis City SC
Inter Miami CF v D.C. United
New England Revolution v Philadelphia Union
New York City FC v New York Red Bulls
Toronto FC v CF Montréal
Austin FC v Sporting Kansas City (01.30)
Chicago Fire v Columbus Crew (01.30)
Houston Dynamo v FC Dallas (01.30)
Minnesota United FC v Portland Timbers (01.30)
Real Salt Lake v Colorado Rapids (02.30)
San Jose Earthquakes v Orlando City SC (03.30)
Seattle Sounders FC v Vancouver Whitecaps (03.30)
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Big Matches
There are four big derby matches for us to enjoy over the course of Saturday evening with the first of them being the Hudson River derby as New York City FC play host to the New York Red Bulls in a game where two sides in decent form meet. We also have the Canadian Classique as Toronto FC host CF Montreal with both teams looking to end losing runs. The attention then moves to the Rocky Mountain Cup where Real Salt Lake host the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto before the big rivalries conclude with the Cascadia Cup clash between Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps at Lumen Field.
Best of the Rest
Inter Miami are back at home on Saturday evening looking to extend their lead in the race for the Supporters’ Shield. DC United are the team heading into the lions den. The champions are also on show as Columbus Crew make the trip up to Chicago Fire while there is another Texan tussle as the Houston Dynamo host FC Dallas. FC Cincinnati are looking like they are moving into a nice groove and they will hope to continue that when they welcome St Louis City SC to TQL Stadium while the San Jose Earthquakes will take on Orlando City SC.
Betting
I like a few bets over the course of the night on Saturday with the first of them coming with Nashville SC to beat Atlanta United. It will be a weird day for Nashville with them coached by someone other than Gary Smith for the first time since they came into the MLS but the change might just free them up to perform. To be fair to Nashville, they have won their last two matches at home and might just be slipping into gear. The same can’t be said of Atlanta United who have lost four of their last five and are without a win in seven overall. Worse still for Atlanta, they are without their chief creator Thiago Almada and main goal threat Giorgos Giakoumakis for this match as well and given that this is a Five Stripes side who have scored once in five games on their travels that certainly isn’t ideal. I think this is a good spot for Nashville to pick up another win.
The second bet comes from across the border where Toronto FC can get back to winning ways against a CF Montreal outfit who are carrying too many injuries for my liking. Toronto get Sean Johnson, Federico Bernardeschi and Prince Owusu back for this match so bringing a couple of fresh outfield players into the mix after a busy week is certainly no bad thing. Montreal look a much better outfit this term than they did last one but the injuries are beginning to bite and a third game in a week could be a real issue. They have conceded 10 goals in their last three games and now face the Italian pair of Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne looking to do some derby damage. Toronto have won four of their six home matches and while Montreal have won two of eight away from home, they are conceded more than two goals a game on their travels. I expect the home side to have too much here.
Another home side I expect to have too much are Austin FC when they host a Sporting Kansas City side who are coming apart at the seams once again. SKC started the season looking decent enough with one defeat in their opening six matches but they haven’t won any of their last six and are beginning to worry me, especially defensively. Austin FC have gone the other way. They took six games to get their first win on the board but they have won five of their last eight including the last four at Q2 Stadium and look to have found their groove now. These two sides look to be going the opposite direction and with Austin a juicy enough price that we can have some draw cover on our side at the end of a busy week I like them here, especially with them having won every MLS match between these two at this stadium in the past.
The last bet comes from California where the San Jose Earthquakes host Orlando City SC in a match where I am expecting a few goals. Just quietly this San Jose side are really clicking into gear in attack with Hernan Lopez immediately looking like a very good signing. They still haven’t sorted out their issues at the back though and that will offer up hope for Orlando City, who have had a couple of good results this week in beating Philadelphia and holding Miami. They did lose the shield in front of their defence in midweek though when Cesar Araujo picked up a fifth booking of the season and that isn’t ideal when coming up against this lively San Jose attack. San Jose have conceded more goals than anyone in MLS and the 20 that Orlando have conceded shows they can be got after. I don’t think we’re going to see too many more 2.75 goal lines in San Jose games so I’ll take advantage while we can and back the over.
Tips
Back Nashville SC to beat Atlanta United for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
Back Toronto FC to beat CF Montreal for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Betway
Back Austin FC (-0.25AH) to beat Sporting Kansas City for a 3/10 stake at 1.98 with Bet365
Back San Jose Earthquakes vs Orlando City – Over 2.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.88 with Bet365
