Free MLS Pick for Friday April 7th
Week 5 will kick off with one game tonight as the Los Angeles Galaxy play host to the Montreal Impact. The Galaxy have endured some tough times under new head coach Curt Onalfo, as the league’s most decorated franchise has won just once in the first four games of the year.
They’ll be going up against an Impact side wrapping up a three-game road swing. Montreal will be hopeful that influential midfielder Ignacio Piatti will be fit to go after missing the last game with a hip/groin issue.
Will one team come out on top, or will we see a draw tonight at StubHub Center?
The Galaxy’s rough start to the season continued last week against Vancouver as they were beaten by the previously-winless Whitecaps 4-2. The Impact, on the flip side, will be playing the final game of a three-game stretch away from home after drawing in each of their last three outings.
Los Angeles got off to a fair enough start against Vancouver, as they held a 2-1 lead at the break. A pair of easily preventable goals before the ‘Caps capped things off with a fourth in the late stages saw the Galaxy suffer their third defeat in the first four games under new head coach Curt Onalfo. The galaxy were always going to be in for an adjustment period after undergoing vast changes during the offseason, but they’ve still been worse than most anticipated.
The Impact were on the verge of an impressive road victory in Chicago last weekend before they conceded a stoppage time equalizer to Luis Solignac. The schedule makers didn’t do Montreal any favors, as this will be their fourth road game in five to open the 2017 campaign.
They could see a boost this week as both Ignacio Piatti and Laurent Ciman will hope to be back on the pitch after missing last week’s draw due to injury. Piatti is clearly the biggest key in Montreal’s preferred counterattacking style, and he could ignite the offense against what’s been a rather underwhelming Galaxy back line to this point.
With a full complement of players back and ready to roll, though, the Galaxy should be able to get back on track here.
Pick
