Los Angeles FC vs Orlando City Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

LAFC remain third in the Western Conference despite only picking up a point from their trip to Houston in midweek, but did close the gap on Sporting KC to just one point in the process. Orlando City’s wretched run of defeats in the MLS extended to seven games when they were soundly beaten 4-0 by Atlanta United and Saturday’s visitors now sit third from bottom of the Eastern Conference. These two sides have never met before and the bookmakers are backing the hosts to win the game, which is hardly surprising given the polar opposite season each team has endured so far.

Carlos Vela will return to the LAFC squad shortly and that is bound to give the latest MLS franchise a boost in confidence, not that they need it after picking up thirty-one points from their first seventeen matches. Obviously the home advantage can sway a game, but never having played at the home of LAFC could have even more of an impact on the Orlando City players. The visitors are in poor form as we know, but now they travel to familiar surroundings to face a team that has taken the MLS by storm in its debut season.

LAFC head into Saturday’s game as the clear form favourites after they remained unbeaten in their last six matches, picking up five wins and one draw. Orlando City have won just two of their last six games and lost the other four, but each of those victories arrived in the US Open Cup. The visitors league form reads seven straight defeats on the run, so the idea of making the trip to the MLS’s surprise package this season will not fill the visitors players or fans with confidence. We’re going with a home win and a clean sheet on Saturday as LAFC are in good form and have kept two clean sheets in their last five victories. Whereas, Orlando City have failed to score in three of their last four defeats and should struggle against the strong defence of LAFC.

With seven goals apiece Diomande and Vela equal top score in the league for LAFC this season, but Rossi also provides a threat going forward, having netted five goals in the MLS himself. Dwyer is the danger man for Orlando City having scored seven league goals this season, despite the overall poor performance of his club.

We’re confident that LAFC will win and keep a clean sheet against an Orlando City side that appear void of confidence in the MLS at this moment in time. As far as a final score goes, we’re backing LAFC to record a comfortable 2-0 victory, as they have done in two of their last five victories.

LAFC Predicted Lineup: Miller, Ciman, Harvey, Zimmerman, Blackmon, Feilhaber, Nguyen, Kaye, Kovar, Diomande, Blessing.

Orlando City’s Predicted Lineup: Bendik, Spector, Sutter, Sané, Tarek, Mounir, Johnson, Klještan, Rosell, Mueller, Dwyer.