After a somewhat slow start to the campaign, Atlanta United has really gotten into its stride. It could become the first of the new MLS expansion teams to crack into the playoffs and have a real chance to win the MLS Cup. This is only the team's third ever home match coming this weekend on Sunday, and that's not good for a D.C. United team that only has eight points in seven matches to date.
This MLS duel will go down Sunday, April 30, 2017, at 3 p.m. ET at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atlanta United -155
D.C. United +425
Draw +275
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Atlanta United is getting a heck of a lot of respect here. The Five Stripes are favored by a relatively whopping -155 margin and are firmly expected to win this affair. The price on D.C. United of +425 is a big one, but this team has yet to win a road match this year, and winning on the road is a very tough task no matter the team.
The total of a flat 3 is a bit on the high side as well, but the vig is -130 on the under.
Key Injuries
Atlanta United is playing right now without three of its projected starters. Zach Loyd has a groin problem that will keep him out of the back for the Five Stripes, while both Josef Martinez and Jacob Peterson have knocks that are going to keep them out for at least another week or two. Will that ultimately hamper the A.U. attack? Maybe. If nothing else, Martinez leads the team in scoring with five goals, though that isn't necessarily fully indicative of how this offense works.
D.C. United has all sorts of problems at the moment on the injury front. Eric Klenofsky isn't available in net because of a meniscus injury, but that's only where the issues begin. Rob Vincent, Steve Birnbaum, Patrick Nyarko and Sebastien Le Toux are all out for sure. Patrick Mullins, who will be starting in all likelihood if Le Toux can't play, has a hamstring problem and is questionable, while Nick DeLeon has an abdominal problem and is also questionable.
Recent Form
Atlanta United has played four consecutive away matches, and the fact that it has five points in those four affairs is pretty darn good. The Five Stripes picked up their win on this roadie at Real Salt Lake last weekend, a 3-1 triumph at Rio Tinto Stadium.
D.C. United is in the midst of a three-game road trip as well. The Red and Blacks were held to just a single point on the road against New England and New York, and this is could end up being a tremendous problem. This team hasn't played well on the road in years and years, and this match isn't looking promising either.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
We’re a little worried that Martinez is out of the fold for Atlanta United. Sure, Hector Villalba has four goals on the year, while both Miguel Almiron and Yamil Asad each have two goals as well. Scoring hasn't been the problem. The problem is figuring out how to keep the back of the net clean.
But can D.C. United really take advantage of the lacking defense at the back for Atlanta? We doubt it, especially with Le Toux out of the lineup. This team just hasn't looked like it's had any conviction at the front all season long, and it's clear that this edition of D.C. United isn't going to be one that challenges for a championship. We'll look for Atlanta U to pick up its second ever home win in front of a raucous crowd.
MLS Odds: Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 1
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