MLS acca tips and predictions: Lionel Messi to lead Inter Miami’s rout of Atlanta United

Lionel Messi returns to action this evening and we’re expecting him to help Inter Miami dispatch Atlanta United in style to kick off tonight’s MLS acca.

Elsewhere, DC United’s red-hot hitman Christian Benteke should help contribute to goals in Montreal, while Philadelphia and Toronto could play out a thriller.

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MLS acca

Inter Miami to beat Atlanta

Sporting vs Vancouver: Over 2.5 goals

Cincinnati to beat Nashville

Philadelphia vs Toronto: Over 2.5 goals

Montreal vs DC United: Over 2.5 goals

 

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United

There’s so much more to come from this Inter Miami team. They sit top of the Eastern Conference through 16 matches, a cushty 21 points ahead of Wednesday’s opponents.

Tata Martino’s side is unbeaten since a 4-0 defeat to New York Red Bulls in March, and they got their revenge with a 6-2 win in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago.

It was a case of no Messi, no problem at the weekend, as Miami won in Vancouver without their main man, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and others. This is a strong team.

Atlanta United are in crisis. They’re winless in nine in the league and needed penalties to beat Charleston in the cup. 

 

Sporting KC vs Vancouver Whitecaps

Sporting Kansas City are unique in world football. Head coach Peter Vermes has been in the job for nearly 15 years and has overseen multiple titles.

However, Sporting are propping up the Western Conference after 14 matches, and despite the titles, they’re no stranger to finishing the season with a dire record.

Visitors Vancouver were such a goal threat for much of last season and started this season in similar form, yet they’ve only scored three in their previous six outings.

With 26 goals conceded, KC are a pretty generous outfit. Their previous six home matches have averaged 4.83 goals and both teams typically score at least once, so this is an opportunity for the Whitecaps to bounce back.

 

FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC

Cincinnati’s success last season came at a price. Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Arias, Alvaro Barreal and Brandon Vazquez have departed for bigger and better things.

Despite that, Cincy still look like a solid unit, and they’re hot on the tails of league leaders Inter Miami after winning seven on the spin.

That run will inevitably end, but there’s no evidence it will be this evening. Visitors Nashville are in reasonable form but they’ve been struggling on their travels.

The midweek stalemate with Montreal helped stop the rot, yet it extended their run on the road to one win in 16 matches, which came against a poor Sporting side.

 

Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC

This is a fixture that usually produces goals. There have been over 2.5 in the last 10 meetings, while Philly produced 16 goals in four home meetings with TFC.

The home side has scored two or more in eight consecutive meetings and a similarly wild scoreline would be in keeping with the Canadian side’s current form.

Their last five outings have produced 36 goals. In MLS play, John Herdman’s side have scored 13 in five, with Federico Bernadeschi responsible for six of those.

On the other hand, the Union have scored six in four home matches without claiming a single point. Five of six visitors to Chester have scored at least two goals.

 

Montreal Impact vs DC United

Last but not least, we expect Montreal to rebound from a drab 0-0 at the weekend. Before that, there had been over 3.5 goals in eight of their 14 MLS matches.

Visitors DC have also played out consecutive low-key affairs, despite their previous six outings producing 24 goals.

This is typically a low-scoring fixture and DC have had the better of it in recent years, but there’s no obvious reason why it’s produced numerous 1-0 scorelines.

United have produced in recent outings but with goal threats like Christian Benteke, who has 11 in 13, and chance-creation king Mateusz Klich on the pitch, we’re expecting goals.