Inter Miami vs Atlanta United
Inter Miami (10W-2L-4D) were able to extend their impressive streak in the early stages of the Major League Soccer season to 10 unbeaten games, the longest in club history, with a 1-2 away win over the Vancouver Whitecaps despite the absence of global superstars Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets.
“I feel comforted by the effort the boys made. I think it was a very valuable win… let’s celebrate in a fitting way, as it was a very difficult match. We had to run a lot and work hard, but these are three very valuable points for us,” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Thanks to their recent win, Inter Miami now boast the best record in the league with 34 points in 16 games, but their top spot on the table is still within striking distance of Cincinnati, who have 33 points in 15 games.
The Herons’ gamble of resting their big three paid off, but they’ll need every abled body against a convincing Atlanta United outfit, who are hungry to propel themselves up the league standings with a proper stretch of winning Major League Soccer 2024 results. They’d want to get as many more wins as they can before Messi joins Argentina in preparation for the Copa America.
After a humbling defeat against LAFC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium last weekend, Atlanta United now march to Chase Stadium in hopes of garnering their fourth win of the season at the expense of the conference leaders.
Despite the questionable availability of Messi, Suarez, and Busquets, the Herons are still the SBOTOP Major League Soccer 2024 betting odds favourites against the visiting Atlanta United.
Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders FC
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake have emerged as the top team thus far in the season with an 8W-5D-2L record and 29 points after 15 matches.
Their 3-3 draw with FC Dallas last weekend halted their chances of bolstering their lead in the standings, but they do have a chance of pulling further away with a win against the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.
Expect Real Salt Lake to lean on their ace, Chicho Arango, to get the job done on the offensive end. The 29-year-old Colombian boasts the most goals scored in MLS this season thus far with 13, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
The Seattle Sounders, on the other hand, also have reasons to give it their all during their Matchday 16 contest, as their play-off spot is currently in danger from the likes of Portland and St. Louis, who trail Seattle by just one point in the league standings.
Currently in ninth place, Seattle could catapult themselves as high as the seventh spot and inch closer to the title race as the season progresses.
“We mentioned it to the group,” said Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer. “We knew the position we were in in the standings. To me, it’s more important that the team starts to play a little better. Our performances have gotten a little better, there are still some dips, and we’re not as consistent as we’d like to be, but scoring two goals on the road gives you a good chance of winning.”
With a three-game unbeaten streak, Seattle have momentum as well as home advantage on their side during their clash with Real Salt Lake.
Cincinnati vs Nashville
Cincinnati pose as the only threatening adversary for Inter Miami at the moment. With just one point behind the Herons, Cincinnati can take the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a win against a struggling Nashville outfit at the TQL stadium later this week.
Luciano Acosta, Cincinnati’s leading goal scorer, has been playing his best football this season. The Argentinian recently became the first player in FC Cincinnati’s history to produce a goal contribution in nine straight regular-season matches, thanks to his assists against Toronto FC.
Just a few months ago, Acosta was awarded the MLS MVP award for 2023 with 14 goals and 14 assists, and he led his team to the Supporters’ Shield to boot. And by the looks of it, Acosta and Cincinnati can replicate their stellar 2023 season if they can get past the star-studded squad of Inter Miami.
Nashville, on the other hand, have been steady, to say the least, in the past few weeks. They’ve been beaten just once in their last five, but their struggles to close out games in the past two weeks have forced the capable squad to remain outside of the play-off picture.
However, a win against Cincinnati could possibly propel the Coyotes all the way to the eighth spot, garnering play-off contention to boot.
It’ll be interesting to see if they can get the job done this time around.
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