Los Angeles Vs New York City
Los Angeles Vs New York City Saturday, 29th May 2021 – 22:00
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 8/15
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 27th May 2021)
Preview: Banc of California Stadium will host the third ever competitive encounter between a Los Angeles side seeking back-to-back wins for the first time this season and a New York City outfit desperate to return to winning ways after three barren MLS outings.
United States MLS Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Los Angeles – Star man Vela loves playing NYCFC?
After taking his total minutes for the season past the century mark with a 59-minute cameo in last week’s 2-1 success against an in-form Colorado Rapids, Carlos Vela could be in line for only his second start of the campaign when Los Angeles (W2 D2 L2) welcome New York City FC to Banc of California Stadium on Saturday. Can 2019’s Most Valuable Player inspire The Black and Gold to a maiden victory in this fixture?
Mexican international Vela has certainly enjoyed his meetings with this weekend’s adversaries. The 32-year-old found the back of the net a league-high 34 times during Los Angeles’ dominant 2019 MLS season, scoring both in a 2-2 draw at Yankee Stadium in what was a repeat scoreline of their encounter here in California from 2018. The former Arsenal man was also on target on that occasion.
Vela is still to open his account in 2021, though did provide the assist for the second of two Danni Rossi goals against the Rapids last time. Los Angeles’ first win since the opening week, halting a four-match winless run (D2 L2). However, they have now conceded in five straight games, and with the goals up the other end not exactly flowing (7 in 6 games, never more than two) this porousness remains a concern.
New York City – Castellanos on a roll away from Big Apple?
Ronny Deila was seemingly powerless to prevent his team from surrendering a four-game unbeaten run last time out against Columbus Crew, who secured their first road win of the season at the fourth attempt courtesy of two late Lucas Zelarayan free-kicks – despite the visiting side being second best for much of the contest inside Yankee Stadium. Will a response from New York City (W2 D2 L2) be forthcoming?
That setback made it two points accrued from the last nine on offer, following successive 1-1 stalemates away in Orlando and at home to Toronto. Moreover, it continued a trend which has seen this team fail to collect maximum points on all four occasions they conceded in matches this season. Their only victories thus far – versus Cincinnati (5-0) and Philadelphia (0-2) – both coming ‘to nil’.
Fortunately, upcoming opponents Los Angeles have made a slow start in the attacking third, by their own high standards anyway, but did net for the fifth game in six during the latest round. The Boys in Blues will be looking to maintain a 100% scoring record away from home, though, with Argentine forward Valentin Castellanos finding the net on all three NYCFC’s MLS road outings (W1 D1 L1) so far this season.
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Los Angeles Vs New York City Betting Advice
Bearing in mind that both previous meetings produced 2-2 draws, both the draw (29/10 Betfair) and 2-2 Correct Score (10/1 PaddyPower) could be worth small plays. Meanwhile, the fact neither team has established any sort of consistency thus far – both bringing records of W2 D2 L2 to California – suggests the draw would very well turn out to be a shrewd approach to an evenly matched contest on paper.
Los Angeles Vs New York City – Key Facts:
- Saturday’s contest will mark the third MLS meeting between these teams, with the previous two both going the same way: 2-2 draws.
- Los Angeles ended a four-match winless run with a 2-1 victory over Colorado Rapids last time, though have now conceded in all but one of six MLS fixtures in 2021.
- New York City made it three matches without winning with last week’s late collapse at home to Columbus Crew, but do boast a 100% scoring record in MLS this term.
Seeing as their previous duels garnered plenty of goals, along with neither sets of players excelling defensively (three clean sheets from twelve games between them), banking on another exciting encounter could be the way to go. Both Teams to Score isn’t the most attractive of propositions at 8/15, but has returned 67% of the time for both Los Angeles and New York City this season.
Best Betting Odds – Los Angeles Vs New York City
Los Angeles – 5/6 (Betfair)
Draw – 29/10 (Betfair)
New York City – 16/5 (888sport)
