Atlanta United are looking to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the Eastern Conference when they face Toronto FC this week. The second-year club has continued to reach stratospheric heights in a relatively short amount of time, and they are looking to follow up their playoff appearance in their inaugural season with a regular season first-place finish in 2018.
Meanwhile, Toronto FC need to start making moves if they are going to repeat as champions. It’s incredible how far this club has fallen in the span of one season. They finished with the most points in MLS history in 2017, and now they are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table and six points out of the playoff race.
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MLS Betting at BookMaker.eu
Toronto FC +381
Atlanta United -166
Draw +357
Over/Under 3.5
Odds Analysis
Atlanta has looked incredible throughout the season, and they have lost just once over the last two months. The club is 6-4-1 over their last 11 matches, and the defense has been incredible during this stretch. They have conceded multiple goals just once during that time, in their lone loss to FC Dallas, and that has kept them getting results no matter whether they are at home or on the road.
This team has two players that are MVP candidates at this point of the season, and they are the team’s leaders. Josef Martinez is widely acclaimed as the best forward in the MLS, and he was outstanding during the month of July. He notched an incredible nine goals during July making him a lock to be named Player of the Month. Martinez now has 24 goals on the year, nine more than the next closest player.
Martinez hasn’t done it all on his own though. Miguel Almiron has been able to pull the strings to set up a number of those goals, and he is one of the top offensive midfielders in the game. This is likely to be Almiron’s last season in the MLS, as he is being hotly pursued by a number of European clubs, and he is looking to make it count. Almiron has eight goals and 11 assists this season.
Toronto has been able to win their last two outings, beating Chicago in back-to-back weeks in order to make up ground on the rest of the Eastern Conference. The defense played well in both matches, allowing just one goal over the two games, while Sebastian Giovinco and Jonathan Osorio were able to score in each match.
However, let’s not forget that just three weeks ago, Toronto gave Orlando City their first win in almost three months. It’s been a season of ups and downs for the reigning MLS champions, and it would fit their M.O. to lose to Atlanta after winning two straight games.
Key Absences
Atlanta United will be without four players for this match. Defender Greg Garza and midfielder Darlington Nagbe are both long-term injuries at this point, and neither player will return before September. The club will be thin in the back though, as both Sal Zizzo and Mikey Ambrose are out with knee injuries. Atlanta has done a good job of having players step up to fill holes all season, but not having three defenders is a bit of a worry.
Toronto is going to be without two defenders of their own. Drew Moor has been ruled out of this match with a strained quad, while Auro will not play due to a strained hamstring.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
With all the defensive injuries, I’m expecting a wild match in this one. Toronto is going to want to prove they are not ready to pass the torch to Atlanta just yet, and Atlanta will be more than happy to play a very open game. I think the over is a great play in this case, and both Toronto on the goal line and the draw are good options too.
Major League Soccer Odds: Atlanta United 3, Toronto FC 3
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