Los Angeles vs Atlanta United

Los Angeles and Atlanta United are set to lock horns at BMO Stadium in a tasty-looking Major League Soccer showdown.

Back to MLS action following a 3-1 aggregate loss to Liga MX outfit Leon in the CONCACAF Champions League final, Los Angeles are looking to maintain a three-match league run (W2, D1) and reduce a three-point deficit on Western Conference leaders St. Louis City. Despite their recent setbacks on the continental front and US Open Cup, Steve Cherundolo’s men have been a force to be reckoned with at home, going unbeaten in all six MLS matches this season (W5, D1). Equally convincing on both ends of the field, Los Angeles averaged 2.5 goals per game across those contests while conceding just five in return. But they lag behind Atlanta in the overall H2H stakes after losing two of their three MLS encounters without scoring (W1).

On the other hand, Atlanta United seem to be building a reputation as ‘stalemate specialists,’ drawing their last three MLS outings, two of which yielded an identical 3-3 scoreline, highlighting the potential for a high-scoring contest. Considering their only previous league visit to BMO Stadium produced a goal-glutted 4-3 defeat, neutrals should be in for a treat. But the ‘Five Stripes’ will unlikely thrive in such circumstances, as they come into this clash winless in six of their last seven MLS fixtures (D3, L3). Furthermore, Gonzalo Pineda’s lads have gone seven consecutive MLS travels without a win (D4, L3) since a 3-0 demolition of Charlotte on their opening top-flight road trip. It’s worth noting they failed to keep a clean sheet in that seven-match sequence.