New England vs. Chicago Fire (Saturday, 6.00pm)
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Round five of the 2024 Major League Soccer season sees New England Revolution and Chicago Fire face off at the Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts are still winless in the league this term, while their visitors go in search of consecutive victories having notched up a first win last time out.
We say: New England Revolution 2-1 Chicago Fire
New England have made a poor start to the campaign and simply cannot afford another fruitless outing this weekend. We are backing the home side to carry the day come the sound of the final whistle.
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NY Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami (Saturday, 6.00pm)
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Gamweek five in the MLS season will kick off with a blockbuster encounter at the Red Bull Arena, where the New York Red Bulls will be playing host to Inter Miami on Saturday evening.
The hosts are currently in sixth place with seven points, while the visitors lead the Eastern Conference standings with 10 points, though they have played a game more than the sides around them.
We say: New York Red Bulls 2-3 Inter Miami
While Messi has been ruled out again for Inter Miami, they showed last week that their squad depth will be a major asset this season, especially if the likes of Suarez and Campana can remain fit and firing. The Red Bulls are certainly no pushover at home but we feel that the Herons will outscore them in this one.
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Vancouver vs. Salt Lake (Saturday, 11.30pm)
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For the first time since 2014, the Vancouver Whitecaps have a chance to begin an MLS campaign unbeaten after four fixtures when they host Real Salt Lake on Saturday at BC Place Stadium.
Vancouver currently sit second in the Western Conference with seven points following a 3-1 victory at Dallas, while RSL were idle, having lost their previous league fixture 2-1 to the Colorado Rapids.
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Real Salt Lake
The Caps have a lot of momentum on their side right now and have shown they have much more attacking depth in the early stages of this year than we saw in 2023.
Expect to see a highly motivated Kreilach for this upcoming encounter, as RSL tossed aside the veteran attacker during the off-season.
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Charlotte FC vs. Columbus Crew (Saturday, 11.30pm)
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Charlotte FC will look to bounce back from last weekend's defeat when they welcome unbeaten Columbus Crew to Bank of America Stadium in the MLS on Sunday.
The hosts have four points from four matches while the visitors have 10 points from the same number of games.
We say: Charlotte FC 1-2 Columbus Crew
Columbus are showing everyone why they were last year's champions, looking rock solid in their opening four matches. Charlotte, on the other hand, are struggling to find the net and get the required result.
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Cincinnati vs. NY City (Saturday, 11.30pm)
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On Saturday, New York City FC will play the first match of a two-game MLS road trip when they battle FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium.
The Orange and Blue walked away with a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution last weekend, while the Pigeons came from behind to win their first match of the season, 2-1 over Toronto.
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-0 New York City FC
While the Pigeons will take a lot from their comeback last week, they are still missing a good deal of their chances, and we do not believe they will have many against a side who have been sharp defensively at home.
Acosta is among the best chance creators in the league, and we believe he will find a way to unlock a Pigeons side that will be missing the veteran leadership of Parks.
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Orlando City vs. Austin (Saturday, 11.30pm)
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Two teams still in search of their first wins of the 2024 Major League Soccer season will face off when Orlando City, who are in the Eastern Conference, host Austin FC, who are in the Western Conference.
The Lions have one point after four matches while the Verde and Blacks have accrued three points from the same number of games.
We say: Orlando City 2-2 Austin FC
Both sides are poor at the moment and will both see this as an opportunity to pick up their first victory in this campaign. However, we think that this will end in a draw with both sides finding the net more than once.
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Toronto vs. Atlanta (Saturday, 11.30pm)
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Toronto can maintain their 100% record at BMO Field in the 2024 MLS campaign when they host Atlanta United on Saturday afternoon.
Last weekend, the Reds suffered their first defeat of the domestic campaign, losing 2-1 to New York City FC, while the Five Stripes defeated Orlando City 2-0.
We say: Toronto 1-1 Atlanta United
While both sides have shown to be potent in the attacking third early into the new campaign, they have also been pretty solid defensively, and we expect to see a close encounter this weekend between two sides in high spirits.
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Kansas vs. LA Galaxy (Sunday, 12.30am)
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Sporting Kansas City will look to build on picking up their first win of the season when they welcome Los Angeles Galaxy to Children's Mercy Park on Sunday.
Both sides are unbeaten since the start of this campaign having both played four matches.
We say: Sporting Kansas City 1-1 Los Angeles Galaxy
Sporting KC have enjoyed a good run against LA Galaxy, drawing three and winning three of the last six MLS meetings between them. The Wizards are also unbeaten in their six MLS home games and we think they will keep up the run when they face the Galaxy on Sunday. We think that this match will end in a draw.
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St Louis City vs. DC United (Sunday, 12.30am)
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Unbeaten in their last three matches, St Louis City entertain the challenge of DC United at City Park on Sunday in round five of the 2024 MLS campaign.
On the other hand, the away side make the journey to Missouri aiming to get back to winning ways off the back of a first defeat in four matches last time out.
We say: St Louis City 2-0 DC United
St Louis City's home record of late coupled with DC United's recent struggles on the road makes the hosts huge favourites to come out on top here. We fully expect them to get the job done in the end.
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Colorado vs. Houston (Sunday, 1.30am)
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Fresh off the back of picking up their first MLS win of the season, Houston Dynamo journey to the Dick's Sporting Goods Park to square off against Colorado Rapid on Saturday.
Having failed to win any of the last five meetings between the two sides, the hosts will head into the weekend looking to get one over the Orange Crush and pick up their first home win of the campaign.
We say: Colorado Rapids 1-2 Houston Dynamo
Buoyed by their win over Portland Timbers, Houston Dynamo will head into the weekend with renewed confidence as they look to put together a fine run of form. Olsen's men are unbeaten in their last five games against Colorado and we fancy them to come away with a narrow victory this weekend.
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Los Angeles vs. Nashville (Sunday, 2.30am)
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Los Angeles FC will be looking to snap their three-game winless run when they play host to Nashville SC at the BMO Stadium in the MLS on Saturday.
Having secured their first win of the season last time out, the Boys in Gold will head into the weekend looking to pick up consecutive victories for the first time since June 2023.
We say: Los Angeles FC 1-1 Nashville SC
After a fine start to the season, Los Angeles FC appear to have run out of steam and will be looking to secure a morale-boosting result this weekend. However, we predict Nashville will build on last week's win over Charlotte and force a share of the spoils at BMO Stadium.
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Portland vs. Philadelphia (Sunday, 2.30am)
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Portland Timbers will seek to bounce back from a disappointing defeat last time out when they welcome Philadelphia Union to Providence Park on Sunday.
The away side, meanwhile, remain in search of a first victory and will be keen to get their campaign up and running with all three points this weekend.
We say: Portland Timbers 2-1 Philadelphia Union
Goals have been a constant theme of this fixture, and we expect this weekend's edition to be no different. That said, we can also see Portland Timbers emerging victorious, albeit by only a narrow margin.
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Earthquakes vs. Seattle (Sunday, 2.30am)
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San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders set out in search of their first win of the season when they go head to head at PayPal Park on Saturday.
Luchi Gonzalez's men are unbeaten in each of their last five games against the Sounders and will head into the weekend looking to extend this dominant two-year streak.
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Seattle Sounders
San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders have both stumbled into the new campaign and will be looking to find their feet this weekend. The Quakes' home advantage gives them a slight edge here and we finally see them ending their losing streak in front of their home supporters.
