Last year’s MLS Cup champions and this year’s favorite to win the MLS Cup will meet for the lone time in the regular season this Friday night when LAFC host Atlanta United. LAFC are on pace to score even more goals than Atlanta did when they set the league on fire last season, and they are looking for revenge here. The Five Stripes dealt LAFC their worst loss of the year in 2018, winning 5-0 with three goals coming in the last ten minutes of the match.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, July 26, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
LAFC -200
Atlanta United FC +432
Draw +364
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
Odds Analysis
LAFC fell to rivals Los Angeles Galaxy in El Trafico last weekend in what was probably the best game to date this season. Carlos Vela and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were both electric, with Vela scoring the first and last goals of the game, but Ibra’s hat trick gave the Galaxy a 3-2 win.
It was just the third loss of the season for LAFC, and they are still nine points up on the Galaxy for the top spot in the Western Conference. LAFC have scored an incredible 55 goals this season, and the club has yet to lose at home. They are 8-0-1 in Los Angeles with a +19 goal differential.
Playing away from Atlanta has proved to be difficult for the Five Stripes. Atlanta United are 3-0-7 on the road this season, and the club has lost five straight road games heading into this tilt.
At least Atlanta United were able to pick up two wins last week though. Atlanta crushed the Houston Dynamo 5-0 after going up a man in the first handful of minutes, but they needed a little fortune to best DC United on Sunday. The match was scoreless until the 89th minute when Pity Martinez finally broke open the deadlock, and Josef Martinez sealed it in extra time.
Key Absences
Atlanta’s back line stands to be a problem going forward. Defenders continue to go down due to injury, and that puts the club in a precarious position heading into this match. Brek Shea is out for the year, while George Bello is a long-term injury, and Florentin Pogba is expected to miss the match as well. Mikey Ambrose is questionable with spasms in his left thigh.
That’s not all though. Forward Hector Villalba, and midfielder Kevin Kratz are also out for Atlanta. They are hopeful that Ezequiel Barco will finally be able to return from a knee injury, but he has already been out longer than expected.
Midfielder Javi Perez tore his ACL in late May and will miss the rest of the season for LAFC. Midfielder Alejandro Guido and defender Danilo Silva are both questionable for this match.
Player to Watch
Pity Martinez finally had a solid performance last week. A lot was expected from the young Argentinian after he was acquired from River Plate to replace Miguel Almiron this season, but he has largely disappointing.
Atlanta hopes that he might have rediscovered his form last week. Pity was used as a substitute against DC United and scored the game-winning goal and set up Josef Martinez’s tally too. With Barco still out, someone needs to emerge in the midfield.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This should be a high-scoring match even though Frank de Boer favors a more conservative style than former Atlanta coach Tata Martino. LAFC will be able to pick apart an Atlanta back line that has been snakebitten by injuries with Carlos Vela continuing his assault on Josef Martinez’s single-season goal record.
Major League Soccer Odds: LAFC 3, Atlanta United FC 1
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