LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 10/26/21
META TITLE: MLS Los Angeles FC vs. Seattle So
Los Angeles FC vs. Seattle Sounders
The MLS betting action goes on Tuesday, October 26, with the Western Conference showdown at Banc of California Stadium in LA, and we’re expecting a great battle between Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders. These two foes meet for the third time in 2021; the Sounders have earned four points out of those two contests, but Seattle has lost three of its previous five road tilts against LAFC along with one win and a draw.
The Black and Gold continue to chase the playoff spot
Los Angeles FC is undefeated in four straight games, tallying a couple of wins and draws in the process along with an 8:5 goal difference. After a couple of wins to San Jose 3-1 and at FC Dallas 3-2, the Black and Gold earned a 1-1 stalemate at Minnesota this past Saturday.
LAFC is now sitting at the ninth spot of the Western Conference standings with 41 points from 31 games (W11, D8, L12) and a 47:45 goal difference. Bob Bradley’s boys trail the seventh-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps by three points, and with three games left on their regular-season schedule, the Black and Gold are in a must-win situation.
Cristian Arango leads the way for LAFC with 12 goals in 14 appearances this season. The 26-year-old striker has been unstoppable as of late, bagging a whopping five goals over his previous three outings. Carlos Vela has accounted for five goals and four assists thus far, but the 32-year-old forward is questionable to play Tuesday due to a hamstring injury.
The Sounders are winless in three straight outings
The Seattle Sounders are still topping the Western Conference even though they’ve earned only a point over their previous three contests. They’ve recorded a 1-1 draw at the Colorado Rapids along with a 2-1 loss at the Houston Dynamo and a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City last time out.
The Sounders have 58 points (W17, D7, L7) and a 51:28 goal difference, but Sporting and Colorado are only three points behind Seattle. If they want to retain the No. 1 seed and get a first-round bye in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Sounders will have to break out of their slump.
Raul Ruidiaz is the team’s top goalscorer this season. The 31-year-old striker has found the back of the net 16 times in 25 appearances, but he’s missed the previous five games due to an injury. Ruidiaz is questionable to play Tuesday against LAFC, and if he remains on the shelf, the 34-year-old veteran Fredy Montero (six goals and three assists in 2021) should lead the front line.
The Pick: Los Angeles FC to Win
The visitors will probably miss their top goalscorer, and playing without Raul Ruidiaz has caused a lot of problems over the last two weeks. On the other side, the hosts will lean on Cristian Arango once more, and if he continues to bang in goals at will, the Sounders will be in big trouble.
Both teams have a lot on the table here, but the Black and Gold certainly need three points more than the Sounders do, so I’m backing the hosts to win at -115. LAFC has played very well in the last few weeks, and the Black and Gold have won three of their previous four contests in front of the home fans.
The Total Prediction The Pick: Both Teams to Score YES
Despite Ruidiaz’s absence, the Sounders have scored exactly a goal in each of their previous three contests. Seven of their last eight games in all competitions saw goals on both sides of the field, and I’m looking for more of the same in this one.
LAFC has failed to keep its net intact in nine consecutive outings at any location. Eight of those nine tilts have seen both teams finding the net, so I’m backing both teams to score Tuesday when LAFC and Seattle battle it out at Banc of California Stadium. Eight of their last ten H2H duels saw both teams scoring.