The Seattle Sounders are actively trying to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Seattle fired long-time coach Sigi Schmid over the All-Star Break and this will be the Sounders’ first game ever without him. Assistant Brian Schmetzer will be replacing him and he has an uphill battle ahead. The Sounders need to make up 10 points in the second half of the season and their first game back, against the third-place LA Galaxy, is a tough one.
MLS Odds at BookMaker.eu
Seattle Sounders +145
LA Galaxy +197
Draw +251
Over/Under 2.5 (Over -116)
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Galaxy have already beaten the Sounders twice this month. LA first scored a nice regular-season win, but tallied an even more crucial win later in the month by knocking the Sounders out of the U.S. Open Cup. LA has dominated Seattle as of late and will try to continue that trend.
LA has the best goal differential in the league and is one of the toughest teams to beat. Still, the public has faith in the Sounders and that makes them a slight favorite.
KEY PLAYERS
The Sounders have made some big splashes to try to change their fortunes. Nicolas Lodeiro is coming to the MLS from Boca Juniors and has the talent to give Seattle what it desperately needs, a creative attacking midfielder. Lodeiro was signed as a designated player which means that Seattle is confident he can give them that touch. Pairing him with Clint Dempsey should make Seattle extremely dangerous on the offensive end.
Seattle also made another big signing by bringing Alvaro Fernandez back into the fold. Fernandez was on the Sounders’ roster from 2010-2012 and was a frequent goal scorer for a midfielder, tallying 13 goals in 55 matches with Seattle. Adding him along with Lodeiro suddenly bolsters the Sounders into one of the top tier offenses in the league.
LA is stocked with both domestic and international talent that has blended together to form a frightening attack. The Galaxy are averaging a Western Conference best 1.7 goals per game and Steven Gerrard has been a big reason why. Gerrard has notched seven assists and is instrumental in setting up the attack that allows forwards like Giovani dos Santos, Robbie Keane, and Gyasi Zardes to score.
The Galaxy also have by far the best defense in the league, allowing a league-lowest 0.7 goals per game. Goalkeeper Brian Rowe has been a large part of that and has pitched six shutouts to date this year with the club. His defenders have also done an awesome job of limiting the shots he has faced, making his life easier.
LIVE BETTING
This game should play more like the regular season game earlier this month rather than the US Open match. The Galaxy only defeated the Sounders 1-0 in the regular season, but bested them 4-2 in the knockout round.
QUICK PICK
The Sounders should be much better with their recent additions, but it is going to take at least a game or two to get the players to gel. Seattle is immensely talented and those midfielders sending through balls to Dempsey should be a fun thing to watch, but there will be some learning pains as these talented athletes learn each others’ skills and weaknesses.
LA will be happy to get a draw out of this and look for that to happen. Seattle needs wins in a big way, but the Galaxy defense will hold firm and the two sides will settle for a point each.
MLS Odds: Seattle 1, LA Galaxy 1
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