LOS ANGELES GALAXY will be aiming to extend their winning run in MLS to three matches when they face Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Following a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo last weekend, Greg Vanney’s side earned a 3-1 victory over FC Dallas in midweek, bringing up a full house of winners for our man Gabriel in the process.
That pair of victories has left LA Galaxy occupying second spot in the Western Conference, just two points behind league leaders Real Salt Lake.
Seeking to make further inroads on the summit of the standings, the LA-based outfit will look to bank maximum points when they pay Chicago Fire a visit this weekend.
Frank Klopas’s crew are currently sitting second from bottom in the Eastern Conference, having triumphed in just two of their opening 16 games of the season.
That being said, the Men in Red have drawn their last two matches, the most recent of which was a 1-1 draw at home to Orlando City.
How the bookies view it: Chicago Fire to find spark
Despite their slow start to the season, Chicago Fire are 5/4 favourites on Bet 365 to snap their current nine-match winless run.
LA Galaxy are 17/10 (Bet 365) outsiders in their bid to make it three wins on the bounce, while a share of the Soldier Field spoils can be backed at 13/5 (Bet 365).
Head to head: Galaxy record out of this world
LA Galaxy have avoided defeat in each of their last 14 meetings with Chicago Fire, taking top honours on nine of those occasions.
Chicago Fire’s last success in this fixture was all the way back in September 2010, with the Men in Red running out 3-2 winners that day.
Players to watch: Dejan to do more damage?
Dejan Joveljic bagged a brace in LA Galaxy’s 3-1 win over Dallas last time out. The Serbian striker, who has nine goals in 14 appearances this season, is 15/8 on Bet 365 to make the net bulge again this weekend.
Brian Gutiérrez picked up his fourth yellow card of the season for Chicago Fire on Thursday and he looks worthy of interest to have his name taken again at 11/2 on Bet 365.
Predicted line-ups
Allan Arigoni is available for Chicago Fire again this weekend, after the Swiss right-back served a one-match suspension in the aforementioned 1-1 draw with Orlando.
LA Galaxy are still without John Paintsil, who is not expected to return from his hamstring injury until next month at the earliest.
Chicago Fire: Brady; Arigoni, Teran, Czichos, Gutman; Navarro, Pineda; Barlow, Gutierrez, Acosta; Cuypers
LA Galaxy: McCarthy; Yamane, Yoshida, Caceres, Aude; Delgado, Brugman, Puig; Pec, Joveljic, Fagundez
Anything else catch the eye?
While the form book certainly favours 17/10 (Bet 365) shots LA Galaxy going into this game, I would rather side with the away side to score two or more goals at even-money (Bet 365).
Greg Vanney’s men have scored multiple goals in four of their last five MLS outings, including each of their last two victories across the last two rounds of action.
In fact, the Galaxy have delivered 2+ strikes in 10 of their overall 16 MLS assignments this season so far, a sample that includes five of their nine road games.
Thus, backing the visitors to score twice against a Chicago Fire side who are struggling for form holds plenty of appeal at evens on Bet 365.
This MLS match between Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy will be played on Jun 2, 2024 and kick off at 01:30. Check below for our tipsters best Chicago Fire vs Los Angeles Galaxy prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
