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

Atlanta vs. Los Angeles (Sunday, 12.30am)

Two sides in contrasting form go head to head in the MLS as Atlanta United play host to Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.

While the home side will be seeking to snap their eight-match winless run in the league, the Black and Gold head into the weekend on a run of four consecutive victories and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.

We say: Atlanta United 1-2 Los Angeles FC

Los Angeles have put together a fine run of results of late and will be backing themselves against an Atlanta side who have picked up just one point from their last four home games in the league. While we expect the Five Stripes to put up a fight, we predict that the visitors will do just enough to secure all three points.

Charlotte FC vs. Philadelphia (Sunday, 12.30am)

Fresh off the back of ending their six-match winless run, Philadelphia Union journey to the Bank of America Stadium to face Charlotte FC on Saturday.

While the hosts have hit their stride of late, they will need to be at their best against the Union, who head into the weekend as the only side yet to suffer defeat away from home in the league this season.

We say: Charlotte FC 2-1 Philadelphia Union

Buoyed by their resounding victory at New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union will head into the weekend with renewed confidence as they look to put together a fine run of form. However, Charlotte have hit their strides of late and we see them coming away with all three points in front of their home supporters.

DC United vs. Chicago Fire (Sunday, 12.30am)

Aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat, DC United will do battle against Chicago Fire at the Audi Field in Washington on Sunday morning.

On the other hand, the away side make the journey this weekend seeking to end a dismal seven-game winless run and get their season back on track.

We say: DC United 2-1 Chicago Fire

Both DC United and Chicago Fire have struggled defensively this term and we expect neither of them to come away with a clean sheet from this one. That said, we are also backing the home side to see off the threat of their visitors and emerge triumphant in the end.

Montreal vs. Nashville (Sunday, 12.30am)

In their first MLS away match under new management, Nashville SC will travel to Saputo Stadium to battle CF Montreal on Saturday.

Le CFM lost for a fourth successive time in the regular season last weekend, 5-1, at Toronto, while the Boys in Gold came away with a 1-1 draw at home to Atlanta United.

We say: CF Montreal 2-1 Nashville SC

Montreal may be in a slump, but we believe they will catch a break against a Nashville side that look just as disorganised as Montreal defensively but are also rather uncomfortable when in front.

New England vs. NY City (Sunday, 12.30am)

A pair of long-time rival sports cities will clash in Major League Soccer (MLS) action on Saturday as the New England Revolution host New York City FC at Gillette Stadium.

Following their 3-0 defeat to the Philadelphia Union last weekend, the Revs are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table with seven points, while the Pigeons are on the rise, moving up to third in the East thanks to a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

We say: New England Revolution 1-2 New York City FC

Belief can do wonders to a team's fortunes, as evidenced by the NYCFC turnaround this season, and that is something that seems to be sorely missing in New England at the moment.

Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew (Sunday, 12.30am)

Columbus Crew set out in search of a fourth away win on the bounce when they journey to the Exploria Stadium to square off with Orlando City on Saturday.

Oscar Pareja's men have failed to win in any of their last four home matches heading into the weekend and will be looking to end this poor run.

We say: Orlando City 2-2 Columbus Crew

The last seven meetings between Orlando City and Columbus Crew have produced a combined 28 goals and we anticipate another action-packed contest at the Exploria Stadium. Both sides have put together a solid run of results in recent weeks and we predict they will cancel out each other's efforts.

Toronto vs. Cincinnati (Sunday, 12.30am)

First place in the MLS Supporters' Shield standings is within reach for FC Cincinnati as they travel to BMO Field on Saturday to face Toronto.

Thanks to a 3-1 victory over St Louis City last weekend, the Orange and Blue trail Inter Miami for first overall by just a single point, while the Reds clobbered CF Montreal 5-1, moving up to fifth in the Eastern Conference.

We say: Toronto 1-2 FC Cincinnati

The Reds are vastly improved this year, but most of their contributions have come from their Designated Players, while they have not played many solid defensive units in recent games.

Cincinnati have the composure needed to handle hostile environments and thrive in close games, and that consistency could propel them to a seventh successive MLS triumph.

Dallas vs. Salt Lake (Sunday, 1.30am)

In-form sides Dallas and Real Salt Lake will be looking to continue their resurgence when they go head to head at the Toyota Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts are unbeaten in five of their last six matches, while this weekend's visitors have won five of their last seven games across all competitions.

We say: Dallas 1-1 Real Salt Lake

After a poor start to the campaign, Dallas have turned a corner in recent weeks but Real Salt Lake continue to lead the way. We are backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.

St Louis City vs. Seattle (Sunday, 1.30am)

Off the back of consecutive defeats, St Louis City will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome Seattle Sounders to CITYPARK on Sunday.

Seattle Sounders, meanwhile, head to Missouri in search of a second victory on the bounce having returned to winning ways in their most recent involvement.

We say: St Louis City 1-2 Seattle Sounders

Seattle Sounders have enjoyed the better of this fixture and are the more in-form side heading into this weekend's contest. We just about fancy the away side to carry the day come the sound of the final whistle.

Colorado vs. Minnesota Utd (Sunday, 2.30am)

Round 15 of the 2024 Major League Soccer season sees Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United lock horns at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday.

The sides head into this one off the back of contrasting results last time out but we expect a keenly-contested affair this weekend nonetheless.

We say: Colorado Rapids 3-2 Minnesota United

With two of the highest-scoring teams going head to head, we expect an entertaining affair which should yield plenty of goals. We are also tipping the hosts to get the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.

Vancouver vs. Inter Miami (Sunday, 3.30am)

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami will clash at BC Place Stadium on Saturday for the first time ever in the MLS regular season.

A converted penalty in second-half stoppage time last weekend enabled the Caps to salvage a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders, while the Herons had some late drama of their own, defeating DC United 1-0.

We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Inter Miami

In light of Thursday's news that Messi, Suarez and Busquets will not be available our prediction has changed dramatically for this match.

Those three have been the catalysts for Miami throughout the campaign, and the Herons do not look nearly as dynamic or potent without them, which will be a break for a struggling Whitecaps team.

LA Galaxy vs. Houston (Sunday, 3.30am)

The final match of the weekend in the MLS will see Los Angeles Galaxy taking on Hoston Dynamo at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday morning.

LA Galaxy come into this match in fourth place in the Western Conference standings with 22 points, while the visitors are currently eighth with 18 points earned to date.

We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 2-2 Houston Dynamo

LA Galaxy are the favourites here but their form of late has been questionable and they have struggled to put games to bed from winning positions. Indeed, Houston have also been way below their best this season but they have shown improvement in the last few weeks and we feel they will be able to earn a share of the spoils in this one.

Portland vs. Kansas (Sunday, 3.30am)

Portland Timbers are set to host Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park on Sunday in MLS' Western Conference.

Eleventh-placed Portland are just two points ahead of 13th-placed Kansas, and though both are some distance from the automatic MLS Cup playoff spots, the teams are only three and five points away from eighth, the lowest place for entry into the MLS Cup playoff qualifiers.

We say: Portland Timbers 2-2 Sporting Kansas City

Neither side have been particularly strong defensively this season, with Portland averaging over two goals conceded per game, while Kansas average just under two goals.

On the other hand, both teams rank among the highest scorers of the Western Conference, so fans could be in for an entertaining matchup.

Earthquakes vs. Austin (Sunday, 3.30am)

San Jose Earthquakes are set to host Austin FC at PayPal Park on Sunday in MLS' Western Conference.

The home side are 14th and bottom of the table, while the visitors are third and are hopeful of securing automatic qualification for the MLS Cup playoffs

We say: San Jose Earthquakes 1-3 Austin FC

Although Austin have a poor away record their form of late has been strong, and this is in contrast to San Jose, who have lost their previous two fixtures.

Additionally, given that no team in either the Western or Eastern Conference has conceded more than the Quakes' 33 goals, it is fair to say that Austin could take advantage of their opponents' defensive vulnerabilities.