MLS betting tips: Back new boys St Louis to shock reigning champions LAFC
- George Dempsey
- 12 July 2023
St Louis City are a juicy price worth backing when they visit the troubled champions Los Angeles FC in MLS.
LAFC's struggle for league form could produce one of the bigger shocks of the season when new boys St Louis City visit.
MLS betting tip
75% of stake: St Louis City +1 Asian handicap
25% of stake:
St Louis City to win
Los Angeles FC vs St Louis City preview
It's not easy to bet against a team like Los Angeles FC, but it's necessary. The numbers show they should be doing better than they are, but sometimes all you need is the eye test.
They have a very talented squad but it's also true they've been ripped apart since winning MLS Cup last season.
Several key players have left, they look light in the midfield and the departure of Jose Cifuentes could be imminent.
They haven't been the goalscoring force we've come accustomed to seeing and it's starting to look like the balance of the team is just wrong.
Carlos Vela, 34, and Denis Bouanga have led the scoring but they've had little to no help from a very young supporting cast.
The team has scored eight goals in 12 matches and the aforementioned players are responsible for the majority. You can compare and contrast to last year when Arango (18) and Opoku (7) were also a part of the squad.
Visitors to St Louis seem to be defying everyone's expectations. They were expected to struggle this season and they haven't.
No one expected their strong start on the road to continue but they've won half of their road matches this season and teams that are new to the league simply don't do that.
Joao Klauss and Eduard Lowen have been key to absolutely everything they've done and with the pair out injured people have started to write them off again.
They've responded by winning three consecutive games including becoming the first team to win on the road against San Jose this season.
Even using statistical methods like expected goals we can claim that City are overperforming, but something has clicked in a good way for this group.
There's a clear unity and identity and as a club, they seem to have a much clearer direction and playing style than LAFC right now.
LA have made their season entirely about the Champions League and they've looked in need of a mini rebuild and a rethink since losing the final.
