Will Bale and Chiellini Take LAFC to the MLS Title?
Two of the biggest signings in MLS this year were Welsh international star Gareth Bale from Real Madrid, who was out on loan to Tottenham Hotspur, and Italian international star Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus. The question now being asked by players and sports fans alike is will Bale and Chiellini be able to use their abilities and experience to help steer Los Angeles to a title-winning season?
What is the MLS?
The MLS (Major League Soccer) is the top tier of men’s professional football in the United States. It consists of 28 teams, 25 of which are from the United States and three of which are from Canada (CF Montreal, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC). The MLS was founded in 1993, and the inaugural season was in 1996. Prior to this, the top-tier football league was known as the NASL (North American Soccer League).
There’s the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, and at the end of each season, the MLS Cup Playoffs take place. This is an elimination tournament to determine the winner of the league championship, known as the MLS cup. The most successful team in the MLS to date is LA Galaxy, which has won the championship on five separate occasions (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, and 2014).
The team has also won the Supporters’ Shields Cup on four separate occasions, which is equalled only by D.C. United. While Los Angeles hasn’t yet won the MLS Cup, the team has picked up silverware on one occasion, winning the Supporters’ Shields Cup in 2019. If you’re looking to place a bet on any of the upcoming MLS games, Unibet Sportsbook is currently offering multiple bets with great odds.
Can Bale and Chiellini really make a difference?
It looks as though Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini are two of the most strategic transfers so far this season, and they can both make a huge difference and lead Los Angeles FC to the title. They are currently top of the table with 51 points (accurate at the time of writing), having played 23 games and won 16 of them. The team has lost just 3 games and drawn 4. In second place right now is Austin FC with 45 points, and then Philadelphia in third place, who are also on 45 points but are slightly behind based on goal difference.
All Los Angeles FC need to do now is to continue with their fine form and not let their lead slip away. They face Charlotte at home on August 14th, and then they are at home to D.C. United on August 17th. They also then go on to play San Jose away on August 21st and away to Austin on August 27th, before going to play Houston Dynamo away on September 1st. Bale and Chielinni may be past their best based on their age, but they still have a lot to offer and can bring a wealth of experience to the team that others will be looking to capitalise on.
What kind of odds does Los Angeles FC currently have to win their upcoming games?
If you look to some of the major sports betting sites right now, you will see that Los Angeles FC are currently priced at around -265 in American/Moneyline odds to beat Charlotte FC at home (which is 4/11 in fractional odds and 1.38 in decimal odds), and they are priced at -286 (7/20 or 1.35) to beat D.C United at home. Although these odds are accurate at the time of writing, they are known to change somewhat from the time they are first released until the start of the game, and the reasons for the changes in odds can be down to a variety of reasons, such as injuries, new signings etc.
