Minnesota United FC vs. LA Galaxy Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 8/14/21
Minnesota vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
The Major League Soccer betting action continues over the weekend, so we have prepared the best Minnesota vs. Los Angeles Galaxy betting pick and tips, as these two Western Conference foes meet at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday, August 14, 2021. The Goons are -133 favorites to win this battle, but they haven’t defeated the Galaxy since 2004.
Minnesota is undefeated in five straight outings
Minnesota United has played in a rich vein of form over the last two months. The Goons have lost only one of their previous 13 games overall, recording seven wins in the process. They’ve won three of their last five contests to go with a couple of draws away from home, while Minnesota has six victories and one stalemate in its previous seven showings at Allianz Field.
The Goons are sitting at the fifth spot of the Western Conference standings with 26 points (W7, D5, L5) and a 21:21 goal difference. Robin Lod is their best player in 2021, as the 28-year-old midfielder has scored six goals and three assists in 12 appearances. Last weekend, he broke the deadlock in a 2-0 home victory to Houston.
Minnesota needs more from strikers Ramon Alba and Adrien Hunou, who’s combined for just four goals so far this season. Playmaker Emanuel Reynoso and winger Franco Fragapane have three assists and a couple of goals each, but Fragapane is doubtful to play Saturday due to a thigh injury.
Los Angeles is winless in three road games in a row
Los Angeles Galaxy wrapped up a three-game homestand last weekend, playing a 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps. They missed Javier Chicharito Hernandez due to a calf injury, and the 33-year-old striker is questionable to play Saturday against Minnesota.
Chicharito is LA’s top goalscorer this term. He’s accounted for ten goals and a couple of assists in just ten appearances, while midfielder Rayan Raveloson added four goals in eight outings. Dejan Joveljic has just arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt on loan and should lead the line against the Goons.
The Galaxy are third in the West with 32 points (W10, D2, L6) and a 29:28 goal difference. They’ve won two of their previous three games, but the Galaxy have earned just one point over their last three showings on the road. LA has conceded a whopping 18 goals in eight road contests in 2021.
The Pick:Minnesota to Win
The Goons should take advantage of Chicharito’s injury and beat LA. They’ve been outstanding as of late, especially at home, while the Galaxy have suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at Dallas in their previous outing away from home.
Furthermore, Minnesota has allowed just three goals in its last seven home contests. Considering how important the home advantage is in the MLS, I’m backing the Goons to win three points. The Galaxy have struggled on the road thus far, and their defense hasn’t been at its best lately, while Dejan Joveljic will need some time to gel with the rest of the squad. Minnesota is winless in eight straight meetings with the Galaxy, but they haven’t met each other since October 2019.
Total:Over 2.5 Goals
Without Chicharito, the Galaxy will have problems finding the net, though they have a few dangerous options in the middle of the park. LA loves to keep the ball in possession and build from behind, while Minnesota prefers a more direct approach, but I don’t expect to see a high-tempo clash.
The Goons have yielded just six goals in nine home games while scoring 12 in a return, and six of those nine tilts saw fewer than three goals on the scoreboard. On the other hand, all of LA’s eight outings on the road saw more than a couple of goals in total, so I’ll go with the over. Minnesota has scored exactly two goals in each of its last four games, while LA has found the net in each but one of its last seven contests.
