Welcome to the MLS, Los Angeles FC! There is plenty of buzz about LA’s second team, especially because they will eventually be playing their games within city limits. LAFC hired a veteran coach in Bob Bradley, and there is enough talent on the roster to ensure that this is not an ordinary expansion team.
LAFC will open their season on the road in the toughest place to play in the MLS. The Seattle Sounders have had the highest attendance in the league since joining back in 2009, and they have a raucous home atmosphere that is second-to-none. Seattle has the best home record of any team in the MLS since joining the league, and it will be tough for LAFC to get a result in its first match.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from CenturyLink Field at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Los Angeles FC +488
Seattle -213
Draw +333
Over/Under 2.5, Over -143
Odds Analysis
Seattle is one of the biggest favorites of opening weekend. The Sounders were an incredible 11-5-1 last year at home, with the one loss coming to the best team in the league, Toronto FC. That was a big reason why Seattle finished second in the Western Conference last season.
Matchup to Watch
The Sounders have one of the best attacks in the MLS and probably the best one in the Western Conference. Seattle can create offense from anywhere with this lineup.
Clint Dempsey is getting older, but he is still one of the most dangerous forwards in the league. Dempsey led the team with 12 goals and was fantastic in the postseason too. He found the back of the net three times in three games, showing that he still has it despite being nearly 35.
Midfielders Osvaldo Alonso and Nicolas Lodeiro are two of the best in the MLS too. Alonso and Lodeiro are two of the top playmakers around and are great at springing the Sounders on the attack.
LAFC’s back line is a concern for the team. It’s never easy for expansion teams to find that initial chemistry, and the team spent most of its time hunting for talented forwards and midfielders. That could be an issue in this game.
Key Injuries
Even though this is the first game of the year for both teams, there are still injuries to discuss.
Seattle suffered a big loss during its CONCACAF Champions League game against Santa Tecla last week. Forward Jordan Morris tore his ACL near the end of the game and he is lost for the year as a result. Morris was one of the team’s main offensive weapons, and he was supposed to play more of a role as Dempsey rested more this year. Not having him will hurt, particularly as the season wears on.
As for LAFC, the team looks like it will have star player Carlos Vela available for this one. Vela limped off during the team’s final preseason game, but Bradley said he should be available for this game. However, Laurent Ciman and Omar Gaber are not going to be able to play as they recover from training ground injuries.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This is a great situation in which to take Seattle. The Sounders are an older team and may struggle later in the season, but early in the year they will be fresh. Seattle is one of the toughest teams to defeat in the league at home, and this LAFC team is going to have some early growing pains as they learn to play together.
That being said, there will be some goals in this one too. LAFC can score and will be able to break through Seattle’s back line for at least one goal. Play the over and the Sounders here.
Major League Soccer Odds: Seattle 3, Los Angeles FC 1
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