Atlanta United have the best home record of any team in the Eastern Conference, and the Five Stripes are out to defend their home turf when they face New York City FC on Sunday. NYCFC have one of the best road records of any team in the MLS, and they have lost just four games total all year. The visitors are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but NYCFC are averaging more points per game than any other team in the conference save Philadelphia.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 11, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atlanta United -138
New York City FC +324
Draw +295
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
The Five Stripes’ lone home loss this season happened all the way back in April when they fell at home to FC Dallas 2-1. Since that point, they have won nine of their ten home games with the only other result being a thrilling 3-3 draw against the New York Red Bulls. Atlanta United have won their last three home games by a combined score of 10-0, and they broke the regular season attendance record for a single game against the LA Galaxy last week.
That game was peculiar as Atlanta won 3-0 despite not scoring a goal of their own in the run of play. David Romney and Giancarlo Gonzalez ended up being credited with own goals in the first half with Josef Martinez adding the third in the second half by way of a penalty kick. Atlanta defeated Orlando City in the US Open Cup on Tuesday to advance to the US Open Cup Final later in the month.
New York City FC have lost three of their last five games. They fell at home to Portland and lost the Hudson River Derby to the Red Bulls last month, and they are coming off a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Real Salt Lake last weekend. The club will host the Houston Dynamo on Thursday night prior to this match on Sunday afternoon.
Key Absences
The status of star striker Josef Martinez is in doubt. Martinez sat out of Tuesday’s match against Orlando City due to an adductor injury, and it’s unlikely he’ll play according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Forward Brandon Vazquez is also questionable, while midfielder Kevin Kratz and defender Brek Shea will miss the match.
Defenders Joe Scally and Ben Sweat will both miss this match along with midfielder Ismael Tajouri-Shradi. The visitors are hoping that no one else is added to this list as well since they have just two days of rest between Thursday night’s game and this tilt.
Player to Watch
Ezequiel Barco played just 48 minutes against Orlando City on Tuesday as he only recently returned from injury, but he will definitely see a lot of action here. Barco has been Atlanta’s most reliable attacking option other than Martinez, and he was fantastic against the Galaxy last week even though he didn’t get on the scorer’s sheet. Look for Frank de Boer to lean on him with Martinez either out or limited.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
If both teams were on the same amount of rest, I would probably back NYCFC to pick up at least a point. However, the prospect of playing a road game on short rest is never an easy one, and it will be even more difficult given the game’s location. I think de Boer will use the same tactics we saw on Tuesday in a low-scoring game.
Major League Soccer Odds: Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 0
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