Atlanta look a good bet to come out on top in what will be their first match in the MLS.
Atlanta Utd v New York Red Bulls - Monday 00:30, Sky Sports 2
We get a first look at one of the MLS’s new sides here as Tata Martino’s Atlanta seek to repeat Seattle’s feat in 2009 of being an expansion side to make the playoffs. With the exception of Patrick Vieira, foreign coaches have tended to struggle in this league, but Martino is a manager of some pedigree with his most recent jobs being with Argentina and Barcelona – albeit with mixed success – so he’ll expect to be the exception to that general rule.
It’s been a turbulent off-season for the Red Bulls with reports that coach Jesse Marsch came close to joining Red Bull Salzburg, while they’ve lost their long-time captain Dax McCarty. However, they still have Bradley Wright-Phillips, the division’s top scorer last term, as they look to go beyond the Conference Semi-Finals this time around.
The Red Bulls went on a 16 game unbeaten run at the end of the regular season last term, but they struggled on their travels through the season, winning only three of their 17 road games. As such we’re reluctant to back them at 2.55 and instead we’re siding with the hosts to make their MLS bow a winning one at 2.8, having assembled a squad of proven internationals and MLS players, together with a star manager.
