We’re entering the final two months of the regular season, and it’s time for contenders to separate themselves from the pack. Atlanta United and the Los Angeles Galaxy have been two of the best teams in the league this season, and they are looking to put some distance between themselves and their conference foes. Both teams are currently set to be hosts in the first round of the playoffs, and both are looking to erase tough losses last week.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 3, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on FOX.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atlanta United -256
Los Angeles Galaxy +567
Draw +404
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
Odds Analysis
Atlanta United put up more of a struggle than most teams do when taking on Los Angeles FC. LAFC have run roughshod over much of the league this season, but Atlanta opened the scoring in the second minute with a Mo Adams goal, and they roared back to make it a game after LAFC scored four goals in the span of 12 minutes. They ended up losing 4-3 in a thriller.
Playing at home in front of a raucous crowd has been a huge boon for the Five Stripes this year. Atlanta are 8-1-3 at home, and they have won eight of their last nine games in the ATL.
The Galaxy continue to alternate wins and losses. It’s a trend that started in late May, and it has led to rivals in the Western Conference gaining ground on the club.
They were hammered 4-0 by Portland last week in a game where they never had a chance. Worse still, two of their players picked up red cards, and they will now be serving suspensions this week. The Galaxy are a respectable 4-5-1 on the road, but they have lost their last two road games by a combined score of 7-0.
Key Absences
The hosts will be without a number of players for this match. Defenders George Bello and Brek Shea are long-term injuries, while forward Hector Villalba is still sidelined with a knee injury and midfielder Kevin Kratz continues to deal with a calf issue. Mikey Ambrose and Florentin Pogba are both questionable, further clouding the picture in the back line.
Midfielder Romain Alessandrini is out one more month for the Galaxy, and fellow midfielders Chris Pontius, Perry Kitchen, and Juninho are all questionable for this match. To make matters worse, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be suspended due to yellow card accumulation, while Diego Polenta and Efrain Alvarez are going to be out for the aforementioned red cards.
Player to Watch
The return of Ezequiel Barco came at the right time for Atlanta United. The Five Stripes have been desperate to bring back one of their stars to complement Josef Martinez, and he finally saw action against LAFC after strained knee ligaments saw him sidelined for over a month. Barco came on as a substitute last weekend, but he is expected to be in the Starting XI on Saturday.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
The Galaxy are without so many players entering this match, that it’s hard to see a path to victory for the visitors. Ibra has been responsible for a large chunk of their scoring, and the attrition at midfielder has been dire.
With the best home field crowd at their backs, Atlanta will set the tone early on. Martinez will score at least once in a big win for the Five Stripes over the Galaxy.
Major League Soccer Odds: Atlanta United 3, Los Angeles Galaxy 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!