Another round of matches in the fledgling MLS 2024 season gets underway on Saturday when the majority of the competition are in action, although due to Champions Cup exploits some games are saved for Sunday.
In all, there are 11 matches over the course of Saturday night with a couple of particularly interesting ones among them. As ever all the games can be watched via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV or on the bookmaker live streams.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (00.30 unless stated)
New York City FC v Portland Timbers (19.00)
Toronto FC v Charlotte FC (19.00)
Atlanta United v New England Revolution
Columbus Crew v Chicago Fire FC
New York Red Bulls v FC Dallas
Orlando City SC v Minnesota United FC
Philadelphia Union v Seattle Sounders FC
Austin FC v St. Louis City SC (01.30)
Real Salt Lake v Colorado Rapids (02.30)
Los Angeles Football Club v Sporting Kansas City (03.30)
San Jose Earthquakes v Vancouver Whitecaps FC (03.30)
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Big Matches
The champions are in action on Saturday evening when Columbus Crew are at home to the Chicago Fire in what should be a decent watch between two teams who look like they will play the right way this season. We have the first meeting in the Rocky Mountain Cup for the new campaign as well on Saturday night as Real Salt Lake look to build on their win in the snow last week when the Colorado Rapids are the visitors to Rio Tinto Stadium. The other match of note comes from Subaru Park where the Philadelphia Union host the Seattle Sounders.
Best of the Rest
We are only two completed match days into the new season but incredibly no team has a 100% record which highlights the competitiveness of the MLS this term. One team who has made a decent start to their season are the Portland Timbers and they get the action underway when they head to the Big Apple to take on a poor looking New York City FC side. The other team in that city are at home later in the evening when the New York Red Bulls welcome FC Dallas for their home opener while Atlanta United go up against the New England Revolution. LAFC will look to bounce back from their defeat in the snow last week when Sporting Kansas City are the visitors to that part of California.
Betting
With the Champions Cup taking the attention of the better teams in the early stages of the MLS season I’m a little reluctant to get too involved in the competition until things settle down a little, especially having been bitten in the fifth minute of injury time last weekend, but there is one bet which I like and that comes in the form of Atlanta United to see off New England Revolution in one of the standout clashes fairly early in the evening.
I think Atlanta United will have a good campaign this term and they are usually exceptionally good at home. The big thing for Atlanta here is they have had two weeks to prepare for this match as they had their bye week last weekend. New England Revolution certainly haven’t had that luxury with them in action in the Champions Cup in midweek, their third successive midweek match in that competition. That has already impacted their MLS form and with Atlanta fresh as daisies I expect the home side to win this one and win it well.
Tips
Back Atlanta United (-0.75AH) to beat New England Revolution for a 3/10 stake at 1.88 with Bet365
