Atlanta United FC vs. LAFC Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/15/21
Atlanta United vs. Los Angeles FC
The 2021 MLS season continues Sunday, August 15, with the interconference showdown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, so we have prepared the best Atlanta United vs. Los Angeles FC betting pick along with the latest team stats and news. These two foes haven’t met each other in more than two years, and they both battle for the playoff spot in 2021, so we’re expecting a thrilling clash Sunday afternoon with the kick-off at 4:00 PM ET.
The Five Stars finally won a soccer match
Atlanta United is coming off a 3-2 victory at the Columbus Crew this past Saturday. It was a huge result for the Five Stripes, who haven’t recorded a win in 12 straight outings at any location, tallying seven draws and five losses in the process.
The 22-year-old winger Ezequiel Barco hit a brace against Columbus to increase his season tally to four goals. Midfielder Marcelino Moreno is still the team’s top goalscorer and best assist-maker with six goals and three dishes in all competitions, while striker Josef Martinez has four goals in 11 MLS appearances.
The Five Stripes are sitting at the 10th spot of the Eastern Conference standings with 18 points (W3, D9, L6) and a 21:25 goal difference, six points behind the No. 7 seed. They’ve earned just three draws in their previous five outings at home along with a couple of 1-0 defeats to Columbus and New England.
LAFC hopes to break out of its slump
The Black and Gold are winless in five straight contests, recording three losses and a pair of draws in the process. They are coming off a 2-1 defeat at the San Jose Earthquakes this past Sunday which was LAFC’s second straight loss on the road.
Los Angeles is now sitting at the seventh spot of the Western Conference standings with 23 points (W6, D5, L7) and a 24:25 goal difference. The Black and Gold have some serious injury problems, as defender Eddie Segura and forward Kwadwo Opoku are sidelined, and without Segura, Los Angeles’ defense hasn’t been at its best lately.
Three players have scored five goals each, including the 32-year-old forward Carlos Vela, who’s also the team’s best assist-maker with four dimes in 15 appearances. Winger Diego Rossi and midfielder Jose Cifuentes have combined for ten goals and four assists so far this season.
The Pick:Atlanta United to Win
The Black and Gold have conceded a whopping 12 goals over their last five games overall. Their defense is struggling at the moment, so I’m backing the hosts to win three points here and finally put an end to their five-game winless streak at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta hasn’t impressed at the back, allowing seven goals in its last three outings, but the Five Stripes have also scored seven goals in that span. Their new head coach, Gonzalo Pineda, will have a debut Sunday, and the hosts should be fired up to showcase their skills. LAFC certainly possesses enough offensive firepower to make this game interesting to watch, but the visitors’ defense is a big issue.
Total:Over 2.5 Goals
LAFC meets Atlanta for the first time since July 2019 and a 4-3 victory in Los Angeles. Back in 2018, Atlanta dismantled the Black and Gold 5-0 at home, and I’m expecting another high-scoring affair when these two interconference take on each other in 2021.
Atlanta hasn’t found the back of the net in its previous three home contests. That will change Sunday against the injury-depleted LAFC. On the other side, the Five Stripes conceded in eight straight outings at any location, so I’m looking for the visitors to score. I’ve mentioned LA’s defensive woes, and the Black and Gold’s last six games produced more than a couple of goals in total.
