Major League Soccer returns this weekend with a full slate of fixtures as we dive into yet another set of high profile clashes. We’re still in the early stages of the campaign but we’re starting to get a feel for how a few teams are approaching the season, even though there’s still a long way to go. Today, we’ll be taking a look at what should be a fun game Charlotte FC and Toronto FC.
Charlotte Form GuideAs an expansion team, it’s hard for fans to expect all too much from Charlotte in their first few years of existence. It’s all about establishing themselves and when you consider that they probably don’t have the same kind of financial platform as other newcomers to the league, it becomes clear why they’re struggling. Still, they aren’t the worst team in the East, and they can often be enjoyable to watch.
After a 1-1 draw with Vancouver, Charlotte lost narrow games to Toronto and Nashville. They got back on the winning trail with a 2-0 win over Columbus before a nice 1-1 draw with Cincinnati, only to lose in a surprising 1-0 defeat courtesy of New England.
Toronto Form GuideToronto were officially the worst team in the MLS last season with just 22 points from 34 games, featuring just four victories in that time. When you consider what they’ve been able to accomplish across the last decade as a whole, you really do have to wonder what went wrong. In addition, it’s hard not to be curious about what the next few months will look like for them.
Toronto did well to beat New England and Charlotte before falling short in a 2-1 loss to New York. They rebounded with a 2-0 win over Atlanta, but slipped up again in a 3-1 defeat to Sporting KC and a 4-0 battering courtesy of Vancouver.
Match PredictionBoth of these sides have more than enough in their locker to make a run at the playoffs this season, but in the early stages of the campaign, we aren’t convinced that they’re in a full rhythm as of yet. In our view, the most likely outcome in this one is under 2.5 goals scored.
