There’s a great selection of Major League Soccer fixtures this week and the most eagerly anticipated contest sees Atlanta United welcome Sporting Kansas City to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This is a mouth-watering fixture between the teams which currently sit top of the Conference tables. Atlanta United are first in the Eastern Conference, 2 points clear of New York City with a game in hand.
Sporting Kansas City are first in the Western Conference and have a 4 point lead over Los Angeles FC, who have 2 games in hand.
Atlanta United Form
Atlanta United come into this match in great form having picked up another win on the weekend. The 2-1 win at Chicago Fire means Atlanta United have won 7 of their 9 MLS games this season, tasting just one defeat.
Interestingly, the defeat came in the first match of the season at Houston Dynamo and having lost 4-0, it could easily have affected the rest of their campaign. However, Atlanta United responded superbly and have enjoyed some great wins over Vancouver Whitecaps, Los Angeles FC and LA Galaxy.
Atlanta United are undefeated at home this season and have scored 2 or more goals in each of their last 5 MLS games.
Sporting Kansas City Form
Sporting Kansas City have played 10 matches this season, winning 6 of them and losing just 2 and that’s been good enough to see them sit top of the Western Conference.
Last weekend, they defeated Colorado Rapids 1-0 to cement their place at the top of the Conference and this was an important victory having gone down 1-0 at New England Revolution a week earlier.
Sporting Kansas City have become difficult to beat and have lost just 1 of their last 9 MLS games. However, they have won 2 of their 4 away matches and clean sheets have been rare as they have kept just one across those 4 games.
Team News
Atlanta United have fitness concerns over two goalkeepers and Mitch Hildebrandt and Alec Kann are struggling to make the game. However, Brad Guzan is the number one and will continue in goal. Defender Jose Hernandez is a doubt.
Sporting Kansas City also have concerns over a goalkeeper and Adrian Zendejas is a doubt but Timothy Melia should be fit to start between the sticks. Felipe Gutierrez is out with a hernia and Brad Evans is also rated as doubtful.
Atlanta United vs Sporting Kansas Betting Tips
Atlanta United have been in fantastic form in recent months and have enjoyed 4 wins and 1 draw at home this season. They are the favourites to take maximum points in this game and can be backed at 8/13 with Ladbrokes.
Atlanta United have been scoring plenty of goals and will see this as another opportunity to add to their total for this season. However, clean sheets have been rare and Ladbrokes offer 21/10 for Atlanta United to win and both teams to score.
Josef Martinez has made a great start to the season and has already got 7 goals to his name in 9 games. The Venezuelan striker can be backed at 3/1 with Ladbrokes to get the first goal of the match.