Leagues Cup Predictions – Sunday, August 4

Sunday serves up 7 more games in the Leagues Cup and we’re here to break down every game with our Leagues Cup predictions.

Atlanta United vs Santos Laguna Prediction

Atlanta were winless in 5 games, but came into the Leagues Cup off of an impressive 2-1 win over Columbus in their last MLS game. 

They fell behind 3-1 on MD1 to DC but fought back to draw 3-3 before losing in PKs and coming away with just 1 point. 

The Five Stripes have scored 2 goals in three straight games now and at least 1 in 12/13 in all comps. But they’ve given up a goal in 13/14 in all comps and multiple in 5/7.

The transfer window has seen Atlanta make a big splash by signing Atalanta star midfielder Alexey Miranchuk as a new DP who just won the Europa League. He may or may not be ready to play here though.

Santos played DC on Wednesday so there is a big rest disadvantage here for them, considering Atlanta will have 8 days rest between games and Santos just 3. 

Against DC they got spanked 3-0, with DC having 3 different scorers and scoring 3 goals on their 5 shots on target. 

So both teams allowed 3 goals in their opening games. 

Further back Santos Laguna have just 1 point and 1 goal scored through 4 games in the Apertura. They’re 0-1-3 and outscored 6-1, sitting in 16th. 

But they’ve struggled long before the start of this season now being winless in 11 with just 4 wins in 23.

They’ve been held off the scoresheet in 7 of their past 8 and in 12 of those past 23, scoring just twice in 9 games. 

This is the first meeting between these teams and the winner will advance. Right now that looks like Atlanta. 

• Leagues Cup Predictions: Atlanta to win

Orlando City SC vs Atletico San Luis Prediction

These teams meet for the first time.

Orlando coasted on MD1 putting 4 past CF Montreal to go on to win 4-1. Each of Dagur Dan Porhallsson, Facundo Torres, Ramiro Enrique and Martin Ojeda got on the scoresheet. 

That makes the Lions 5-1-0 in their past 6 with just 1 loss in 9 games. In those games they’ve scored 26 goals. In their last 10 games the goal totals in their games have been 5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3, 6, 6, 4, 4.

San Luis lost to that same Montreal team 3-2. Montreal was up 2-0 just 27 minutes in and it stayed that way until San Luis scored on a PK in the 77’. Montreal added a 3rd soon after and San Luis got another PK late late on in the 103’ minute.

Goals were easy to predict in that game. Go back to last season and for San Luis bets on BTTS are now 10-2 and there’s been 2 or more goals in 14 straight of their games. There’s been 3+ in 12/14.

Current form says Orlando wins here. They are likely already through unless they get smashed by San Luis. Meanwhile San Luis need a win by at least 2 goals to even jump Montreal for 2nd.

That will force them to push up here, opening them up for this hot Orlando team to score. Hopefully at 2. 

• Leagues Cup Predictions: Orlando to win and score over 1.5

Philadelphia Union vs Cruz Azul Prediction

It’s the first meeting between these teams.

Are the Union … back? This team has been brutal all season long and had a streak of 0 wins in 10 games and 1 win 17.

At one point they had conceded 18 goals in 6 games from June 1 – July 3.

But then they beat New England and Nashville 5-1 and 3-0 before Leagues Cup. And on MD1 they beat a hot Charlotte FC team 1-0. 

Now given where they’ve been, this is a great. But all 3 games were at home and vs 3 teams not great at scoring. The Revs and Yotes have been big disappointments all season long too.

This will also be at home, but surely La Maquina will have strong support and they’re a much higher calibre than those 3.

Cruz Azul are top of the table after 4 games at 3-1-0, scoring 9 times and allowing just 1. 

But on MD2 they could only draw Charlotte 0-0 before losing in PKs.

That means they need a win here to advance while Philly is already through to the knockouts.

Cruz Azul are currently 1st in the Apertura at 3-1-0, scoring 9 and conceding just 1 goal.

Philly has been hot and LigaMX seems to be struggling in this tournament so I’m just going to ask Cruz Azul to score. They’ve done so in 13/15 while Philly has conceded in 8/11.

• Leagues Cup Predictions: Both Teams to Score

Chivas Guadalajara vs LA Galaxy Prediction

In front of a record-breaking Leagues Cup crowd in San Jose of over 50,000, mostly for Chivas, Guadalajara found themselves down 1-0 in the 1st half but huffed and puffed and kept attacking and finally equalized in 2nd half stoppage time, only to go on to lose in PKs. 

If we go back further for Chivas they’re 9-4-2 in all comps. Their games are usually tight. Under 2.5 is 10-1 and there has been a clean sheet for, against or for both teams in 10/11 and 12/14.

LA played local rival San Jose on Wednesday and in a rivalry that usually sees goals, it was scoreless for 40 minutes. LA finally scored in the 41’, SJ equalled in the 75’ and we were almost off to PKs until Riqui Puig chipped a pass to Miki Yamane who crossed it to Miguel Berry to slot in the winner in the 89’. 2-1 LA and the 4th time they’ve beaten SJ this season.

While Chivas games have been tight, Galaxy games are wide-open.

LA have just 3 losses in 17, have won 10/13, scored multiple goals in 11/16 and recent scores have been 2-1 (W), 3-2 (W), 3-2 (W), 2-0 (L), 2-1 (W), 2-1 (L) and 3-0 (W).

So there’s a case for BTTS in this game especially with Chivas needing to attack and go for the win to advance and LA having not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 6 games. 

Ex-SJ player Cade Cowell didn’t do much in Game 1, but has 3 goals in 4 games in Mexico and ex-Galaxy man Chicharito has been quiet in Mexico but could be a threat as wll. 

These teams met way back in 2007 in the Super Liga won 2-1 by Chivas. More recently there is only a 2022 friendly won 2-0 by LA on the books. 

• Leagues Cup Predictions: Both Teams to Score

Seattle Sounders vs Necaxa Prediction

It’s been almost 20 years since these teams met in Champions League/Cup play in 1997 won 4-1 by Necaxa. 

Seattle got pumped 3-0 at home to LAFC in their last game in MLS but had won 6 straight outscoring opponents 12-4 in that time in the games prior. Further back they have just 3 losses in 19.

And it’s now just 3 losses in 20 after a 2-0 win over Minnesota on MD1. It has to be said though that game was 0-0 until the Loons took a red card in the 64’ minute and the Sounders finally scored in the 87’ and 94’ minutes. 

Given Seattle’s strong form they are clear favorites in this game over Necaxa who lost 1-0 to Minnesota and, despite being up a player from the 20 minute mark. That meant Robin Lod’s 10th-minute PK stood up as the only goal.

Necaxa had 30 attempts and Loons’ keeper Dayne St. Claire made 16 saves in the unlikely win. Necaxa is 1-1-2 to start (11th) in the Apertura. 

Go back further and they have just 1 win in 5, but only 7 losses in 25.

They’ve scored in 18/20 but also conceded in 18/20, including in 8 straight. 

Seattle should win but only need 1 point to wrap up 1st place. Let’s just bet them to score.

• Leagues Cup Predictions: Seattle to win

Pachuca vs Toronto FC Prediction

It’s the first meeting between these sides.

TFC played on MD1 and went to place the rarely have success and drew the New York Red Bulls 0-0 before going on to win in PKs. 

Pachuca also needed PKs vs New York being drawn 1-1 and also took the win in spot kicks. 

That leaves Group J at one of the tightest with all 3 teams tied on 2 points with Pachuca seeded 1st above TFC 2nd and NY 3rd. 

TFC do now have wins in 3/4 and have scored in 6/8 but those are their only 3 wins in 14 and really last game was a draw, not counting the PKs, so it’s 2 regulation wins in 14.

Pachuca is off to a slow start in LigaMX in 12th at 1-1-2 and their games have all been close scoring just twice and allowing just 3 times. 

After giving up a boatload of goals including in 10 straight, TFC suddenly have back-to-back clean sheets.

This could be tight. It’s an Under or the draw for me. With the Red Bulls out already, both of these teams know they’ve advanced. 

• Leagues Cup Predictions: Draw

St. Louis City SC vs Juarez Prediction

These teams have never met.

And in this first meeting there is not tons on the line. Both are advanced since Dallas is eliminated but they’ll still be playing for 1st in Group C. 

St. Louis had been winless in 4 and with just 1 win in 14 and it was at home versus San Jose coming into Leagues Cup. But the transfer window has opened in came new additions in the midfield in Cedric Teuchert and Marcel Hartel and both got on the scoresheet vs Dallas in a 2-1 win on MD1. St. Louis had more shots (20-12) and shots on target (6-3) in the match. 

They meet Juarez who played Dallas on Wednesday and Juarez piled up 20 shot attempts and 9 on target, scoring twice in a 2-0 win. It was just the 3rd time in 48 overall games Juarez has kept a clean sheet.

Overall Juarez has yet to win this season in Mexico after a 2-2 draw, 3-2 loss, 2-1 loss and 2-1 loss. Go back into last season and they have just 5 wins in 31 LigaMX games. 

A defense that was poor all season has continued this year giving up 10 goals in 4 games.

Considering neither need a win here and both have been overall poor, this is tough to judge.

• Leagues Cup Predictions: St Louis to win

Leagues Cup Picks and Parlays

Here are two safer parlays from Sunday’s games to consider if you’d prefer to go this route.

• Atlanta to score
• Orlando to score over 1.5
• Cruz Azul to score
• Parlay Odds (+125)

• Chivas vs LA both to score
• Seattle to score
• Parlay Odds (-127)