Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles will play Tunisia’s Esperance with both teams still looking for their first wins when they meet at 6:00pm EST on Friday, June 20. Read on for our top LAFC vs Esperance de Tunis picks.
LAFC vs Esperance de TunisOdds
| BET | ODDS |
| LAFC | -120 |
| Draw | +220 |
| Esperance | +375 |
| Over 2.5 | +115 |
| Under 2.5 | -150 |
Club World Cup odds at Bet365.
LAFC vs Esperance de Tunis Head-to-Head
This is the first meeting between LAFC and Esperance.
LAFC Preview
LAFC had a tough opening draw having to meet the Conference League champions in Chelsea. They hung around but lost 2-0, though it was just 1-0 until the 79′ minute. As he always does, Denis Bouanga did his best, leading LAFC with 3 shots attempts and all 3 on target. LAFC suffered another loss with forward David Martinez leaving last game with an injury.
LAFC come in sitting 5th in MLS’s Western Conference at 7-5-4, scoring 30 and allowing 23 goals.
They came into the tournament having not lost in 10 overall matches (5-5-0). That included a huge 2-1 win over Club America to clinch the final qualification spot in this tournament.
Across all matches this season (18) LAFC have only lost 5 times and just once since early April, last game vs Chelsea which would have been expected.
They had been filling the net with goals scoring multiple goals in 10 straight before the Chelsea match. Their defense hasn’t been solid though as they’ve also given up at least a goal in 5 straight and in 11/13. In 6 of those games they’ve given up more than 1. Despite giving up a ton of goals lately, LAFC has only allowed the 3rd-fewest shots on target against in MLS.
When you’re betting LAFC player props you have to look at Denis Bouanga. He leads the team with 8G/4A. He’s taken the most shots of any player in MLS with 71, while being 2nd in shots on target with 30. Bouanga has goals in 5/7 and 8/11 games, at least 1 shot on target in 11 straight and in his last 4 games he’s gone 9/5, 8/2, 8/2 and 3/3 in attempts/shots on target.
Esperance de Tunis Preview
Tunisia’s Esperance suffered a 2-0 loss themselves to Brazil’s top team in Flamengo. Flamengo led in possession with 69%, shots 11-6 and shots on target 4-2. It was though, only 1-0 until the 70′ minute.
Esperance claimed the title in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 abut a month ago. They were 1st at 19-9-2, scoring 57 goals and allowing only 22. They finished 4 points above Monastir in the table. They’ve now won 8 of the past 9 titles in Tunisia and have the most wins of any team ever.
They’ve not been sitting idly though since. On June 1, they lifted the Tunisian Cup, beating Stade Tunisien 1-0.
In their last 12 matches in all comps, they’re 9-2-1, scoring 27 and conceding only 4, keeping 9 clean sheets. They had been undefeated in 11 prior to losing to Flamengo.
Esperance were also winners of the Tunisian Super Cup earlier this year as well. They did get knocked out of the CAF Champions League Quarterfinals to Mamelodi Sundowns though in April. Last year they lost in the CAF Champions League Final.
LAFC vs Esperance de Tunis Prediction
Both teams saw long undefeated runs end on Matchday 1 and this could be a tight match where I’d lean to the home team LAFC. They’re used to playing some of the top teams in Central and South America and Esperance will be closer to their quality than Chelsea obviously.
An LAFC win, a draw or the under 2.5 all look like viable options. Let’s settle on LAFC scoring, Bouanga to have a shot on target and for the total goals to fall under 3.5 in a SGP at Bet365 for -110 odds.
- FIFA Club World Cup Picks: LAFC to score + Bouanga 1+ shot on target + Under 3.5 goals (-110) at Bet365.
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Ryan Métivier is a seasoned editor, writer and communications professional with years of experience in all fields. When it comes to covering sports, he’s written for numerous outlets and organizations including the OHL, CHL, SportsXpress, Sports Betting Dime, Cleveland.com, MassLive, FanSided and others.
While he’ll always cheer for his hometown Toronto teams, when it comes to betting, his only allegiance is his bankroll. Ryan specializes in global soccer, the NFL and the NHL, but if there is a bet to be made, he’ll make it. As the founder of Shred The Spread, Ryan focuses on combining storylines, trends, analytics and good bankroll management to creating simple bets that make sense.
When not making a case for why both teams will score in an MLS soccer match, he can be found focusing his efforts on fitness, attempting to learn Spanish, cooking or planning his travel adventure.
