In just their second season in the MLS, Atlanta United are out to prove that they are the best team in the East. Atlanta is sitting at the top of the table four months into the season and is looking like the favorite to win it all. They have one of the best home crowds in the MLS, and they would be able to use it to their full benefit if they were to finish the season No. 1 in the East.
Meanwhile, Orlando City are just looking to be competitive once more. The Lions won six straight from the end of March to the beginning of May, but things have completely gone off the rails since then. They are outside of the playoff picture for now and are looking to claw their way back into the thick of things.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 30, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Orlando City +617
Atlanta United -263
Draw +435
Over/Under 3.5
Odds Analysis
Atlanta United have not lost an MLS match in over a month at this point. Their last loss came against the New York Red Bulls back on May 20, and they are 2-3-0 since that point.
Orlando City are sitting on a seven-match losing streak coming into this game. They have allowed at least two goals in each of their last seven matches and the defensive collapse has been most of the reason behind their woes. Each of their last four losses have been by multiple goals.
Last Match
Interestingly enough, it was Atlanta United that set Orlando City off on this path. Atlanta United was the team that broke Orlando City’s six-match winning streak back in May with a 2-1 win in Orlando.
In that match, Josef Martinez drew first blood for Atlanta on a penalty kick. He scored in the 10th minute to ensure that the visitors were off to a good start. A little over 20 minutes later, Ezequiel Barco doubled the lead after a nice pass from Greg Garza. Justin Meram pulled one back for Orlando City after the break, but that was all the home side could muster.
The big story after this match though involved the two clubs’ supporters. Atlanta United stripped away Orlando City’s group privileges for four matches last year, and Orlando City responded in kind following some bad behavior from a few visiting fans in May. There is some bad blood between the fans of these teams.
Key Absences
Orlando City has no new injuries to report. However, Atlanta United will be without some of their key players for this match.
Greg Garza underwent shoulder surgery at the end of May and might be out for the rest of the year. Garza was the team’s best player in their first match against Orlando City, drawing the penalty that Martinez scored on and setting up Barco for the second goal. Not having him will sting.
Additionally, this will be the club’s first match without superstar midfielder Darlington Nagbe. Nagbe was one of Atlanta’s big offseason additions, but he will be out for the next 2-3 months as he recovers from a right adductor injury. Either Kevin Kratz or Julian Gressel is likely to replace him in the lineup. Chris McCann has also been declared out.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Atlanta United are big favorites coming into this match based on both teams’ recent performances. However, Atlanta is going to struggle a bit without Nagbe, who did a lot of the little things that don’t necessarily show up in the stat sheet. They will be able to get the win, but it will be closer than expected in a match that goes under the total.
Major League Soccer Odds: Atlanta United 2, Orlando City 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!
