Can the Red Bulls get a positive result in Montreal and hold
on to their top spot in the East? Check out which way we're leaning for this
weekend's MLS clash.
One quick glance at the soccer odds for the upcoming Major
League Soccer schedule will tell you all you need to know. Sportsbooks don't
think this will be a walk in the park at all for the Red Bulls, who are listed
as underdogs at +179.
Montreal, at home where they've lost only three times, can
be backed at +130, with a deadlock quoted at +226.
Below is a recap for each of the competing teams, followed
by our final play for Saturday's encounter at Saputo Stadium.
Montreal
The Impact are languishing near the bottom of the Eastern
Conference standings, with only 24 points total in 23 matches. They've played
at least three more times than each of the three teams they're ahead of as
well.
Most of the trouble has come on the road where Montreal has
lost 10 of 12 matches. That's just simply not going to cut it at this level.
Jesse Marsch will be thankful his team gets to take on the
Red Bulls at home this weekend. The Impact have won two straight at Saputo and
have an overall record of 6-3-2 there this season.
Last weekend Montreal was beaten 3-0 by the Dynamo in
Houston in a match where they generated a paltry two shots on target.
Will they right the ship at home versus the conference
leaders?
New York
No question the Red Bulls are in a good spot right now.
They're in first place in the East, though Sporting Kansas City is right on
their heels, just a point behind. Houston and DC United are also within
striking distance.
The Red Bulls have been playing well over the past few
weeks, going unbeaten over their previous three league matches, including two
victories. They beat Chicago 1-0 last Wednesday and then took care of
Philadelphia 2-0 a few days later, both wins coming at home.
New York's also been in the headlines this week because they
managed to snag Tim Cahill away from Everton.
Though Cahill is a little past his prime, he still provides
the Red Bulls with a lot of ability, especially in the air where he's proven to
be deadly.
Once Cahill arrives, he'll join up with Thierry Henry, Kenny
Cooper, Sebastien Le Toux and Joel Lindpere to create one of the most dangerous
attacking teams in the MLS.
MLS Pick
When talking about the Impact, you have to mention their
sizable home-field advantage. They have the second-best attendance in the MLS
(behind only Seattle) as they're averaging close to 24,500 spectators per
match.
Still, no team has lost more times than Montreal (13) and
the Red Bulls are in good form at the moment.
We're a little wary on backing New York though, especially
since it seems the soccer odds are telling us to do so. You'd normally expect a
team as talented as the Red Bulls to be favored, but that's testament to
Montreal's excellent home record.
Plus, New York may be tops in the East but that's only
because they're still unbeaten at home. On the road the results have been far less
promising, with the Red Bulls not having won away from Red Bull Arena since May
19.
This shouldn't be a cakewalk for either team this weekend,
so we're tempering our expectations and adding a draw to our soccer picks for
the match.
Montreal 1 New York 1