Saturday's Major League Soccer predictions including Inter Miami vs. DC United

Nashville vs. Atlanta (Saturday, 6.45pm)

Nashville SC and Atlanta United square off in MLS on Saturday with both teams looking to make moves up the Eastern Conference standings.

The two sides currently occupy 10th and 12th place respectively, leaving them at risk of being cut adrift of the top seven.

We say: Nashville SC 3-1 Atlanta United

Despite the close proximity in the table, these two teams have been in contrasting form of late. With Nashville on an upward curve and with home advantage, we are backing them to come through this contest in relatively convincing fashion.

Charlotte FC vs. LA Galaxy (Sunday, 12.30am)

Both sitting fifth in their respective Major League Soccer conferences, Charlotte FC and Los Angeles Galaxy will meet in an important contest at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts have climbed into the top five in the Eastern Conference with three straight league wins heading into the weekend, while their visitors find themselves winless in four matches.

We say: Charlotte FC 2-1 Los Angeles Galaxy

Despite only one point separating them in the MLS thus far, it is Charlotte FC who head into Saturday's meeting with all of the momentum, and with home advantage and confidence from three straight wins, we back Dean Smith's men to prevail in North Carolina.

Cincinnati vs. St Louis City (Sunday, 12.30am)

Aiming to extend an eye-catching run of form and move to the top of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference standings, FC Cincinnati will welcome St Louis City to TQL Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts currently sit second in their division thanks to five consecutive league wins, while a defeat last time out saw the visitors drop to ninth spot in the Western Conference.

We say: FC Cincinnati 2-0 St Louis City

While St Louis City do have the tools to make things tough for their hosts, FC Cincinnati find themselves in a fine run of form and will head into the weekend with plenty of confidence and momentum on their side.

With home advantage and plenty of quality at both ends of the pitch, we back Pat Noonan's men to make it six wins on the bounce on Saturday.

Inter Miami vs. DC United (Sunday, 12.30am)

Inter Miami can extend their unbeaten run in MLS play to seven matches when they host DC United on Saturday at Chase Stadium.

The Herons' five-match winning run ended on Wednesday when they played to a 0-0 draw with Orlando City, while the Black and Red were beaten 4-1 by the New York Red Bulls.

We say: Inter Miami 1-2 DC United

If Messi cannot go as anticipated, the Herons could have difficulty creating some dangerous scoring opportunities, as we saw in their midweek affair.

Whether he plays or not, Miami have not proven to be consistently strong at the back, and they will be facing one of the deadliest strikers in the league in Christian Benteke, who we believe will make the difference for the visitors.

New England vs. Philadelphia (Sunday, 12.30am)

Both aiming to end tough runs of form and climb the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference table, New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union will square off in Massachusetts on Saturday.

The visitors currently sit at the foot of the division with just seven points on the board from 11 outings, while their hosts have dropped out of the top seven following a six-match winless streak.

We say: New England Revolution 1-3 Philadelphia Union

With two sides meeting in the midst of tough runs, something is bound to give on Saturday, and we see the Union being too strong for their struggling hosts, given their quality going forward which has been prevalent even throughout the rut.

NY City vs. NY Red Bulls (Sunday, 12.30am)

The first Hudson River Derby of the 2024 MLS campaign takes place on Saturday as New York City FC host the New York Red Bulls at Citi Field for the first time in the regular season.

Both sides were victorious in their midweek affairs, with the Pigeons claiming a 2-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Union to move into fifth in the Eastern Conference, three points below the Red Bulls in third, as the latter handed DC United a 4-1 defeat.

We say: New York City FC 1-0 New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls have shown themselves to be a quality attacking side, but we believe it will be much harder to penetrate the Pigeons' backline, which have conceded a goal or fewer in four of their last five home fixtures.

Toronto vs. Montreal (Sunday, 12.30am)

Bitter rivals Toronto and CF Montreal will clash on Saturday at BMO Field in the first Canadian Classique match of the 2024 MLS campaign.

The Reds conceded a pair of late strikes to lose 2-0 versus Nashville SC in midweek, while Montreal suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew.

We say: Toronto 2-0 CF Montreal

Both teams are struggling at the moment, but the Reds should get plenty of difference-makers back this weekend, which could pay dividends.

Austin vs. Kansas (Sunday, 1.30am)

Austin FC host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday in matchday 14 of the 2024 Major League Soccer season, looking to make it five successive victories at the Al Saqr Stadium.

The away team, however, will be aiming to break their six-game streak without a win following a disappointing beginning to the year.

We say: Austin FC 3-1 Sporting Kansas City

Austin have been brilliant at home in their recent outings and are now on the verge of breaking their most successive wins at home since joining the MLS, and we believe they will do just that with a victory against an out-of-sorts Kansas.

This fixture has provided plenty of goals in their recent meetings, and we expect that theme to continue in this one.

Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew (Sunday, 1.30am)

Aiming to make it back-to-back victories and strengthen their standing in the playoff spots of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference, Columbus Crew will travel to Soldier Field to take on Chicago Fire on Sunday.

The visitors broke into the top seven with a victory over CF Montreal in midweek, while their hosts sit 14th in the midst of a dismal run of form.

We say: Chicago Fire 0-2 Columbus Crew

With renewed confidence from a return to winning ways in the week, we anticipate the defending MLS champions being too strong for their struggling hosts in Illinois and taking another three-point haul.

Houston vs. Dallas (Sunday, 1.30am)

Houston Dynamo host FC Dallas at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Major League Soccer in the second Texas Derby match of the season.

The visitors were the victors in the first meeting between these two last month but trail the hosts by six points, albeit with a game in hand still to play.

We say: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Dallas

Dallas have been the more successful side of the two in the history of this fixture but have struggled to pick up victories when playing away from home, failing to win since August 2016.

For that reason, we believe this one will end all square, leaving Dallas to retain El Capitan for a third successive year.

Minnesota Utd vs. Portland (Sunday, 1.30am)

Two sides operating at opposite ends of the Major League Soccer table come together on Sunday morning as Minnesota United host Portland Timbers at Allianz Field.

The hosts are currently second in the Western Conference with two games in hand on those around them, eight points above the visitors in 11th place.

We say: Minnesota United 2-1 Portland Timbers

Portland may be high on confidence after a fantastic comeback victory during midweek, but Ramsay's men have proved to be a difficult team to beat in their matches this season.

Minnesota have won both the last two meetings between these sides, while they have not lost at home in this fixture in any of the last seven, leading us to believe the hosts will be victorious in this one.

Salt Lake vs. Colorado (Sunday, 2.30am)

Two teams towards the top of the Major League Soccer table come together on Sunday morning when Real Salt Lake host the Colorado Rapids at the Rio Tinto Stadium.

The hosts extended their lead at the top of the Western Conference thanks to a 2-0 victory last time out, while the visitors are in fourth place and four points behind the leaders.

We say: Real Salt Lake 2-1 Colorado Rapids

The Rapids may have been the triumphant side in the matchup between these two earlier this season but Salt Lake have since gone on to prove themselves as the top-performing side in the Western Conference, leading us to believe they will win this one.

Earthquakes vs. Orlando City (Sunday, 3.30am)

Round 14 of the 2023-24 Major League Soccer season sees San Jose Earthquakes entertain the challenge of Orlando City at PayPal Park on Sunday.

Both teams will be keen to get back to winning ways this weekend after neither managed to come away with maximum points last time out.

We say: San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 Orlando City

Meetings between San Jose and Orlando have often yielded plenty of goals, and we expect this weekend's clash to be no different. Having said that, we can also see the teams cancelling each other out to settle for a point apiece in the end.

Seattle vs. Vancouver (Sunday, 3.30am)

For the second time this month, the Seattle Sounders will face a Cascadia Cup rival as they host the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS action on Saturday at Lumen Field.

Neither side managed to find the back of the net in their midweek encounters, as the Rave Green lost 2-0 at Real Salt Lake, while Vancouver were beaten 1-0 by the Colorado Rapids.

We say: Seattle Sounders 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps

Both sides are coming off difficult defeats in midweek, while neither have been consistent in the attacking third of late, which is why we project a tight match with a few chances but perhaps no one being able to break away.