The Major League Soccer season is in full flow, with the spectacular debut of Zlatan Ibrahimovic having already drawn eyes from all over the world to this season’s campaign.
For reigning champions Toronto FC, the prestige of the Concacaf Champions League, has proved an overwhelming distraction as the Reds have made a poor start to the season. Nonetheless, Toronto take a two goal lead to the unmistakable Estadio Azteca on Tuesday, aiming to book their place in the Champions League final.
Former Barcelona man David Villa continues to spearhead New York City’s title campaign, the 36 year old has been a revelation since moving to the US, and will be optimistic he can add an MLS winners medal to his already expansive trophy cabinet at the end of this season.
When asked about the current betting markets for the MLS season, Betway’s Alan Alger told SBCAmericas: “New York City boasts one of the division’s best players in the form of ex-La Liga hotshot Villa, so it’s no surprise to see them heavily fancied to land the MLS Cup this season. The Spaniard netted 22 goals last season and his form is sure to be a major factor in New York City’s success this year.
“The same can be said for fellow European recruit Sebastian Giovinco, who has netted 55 times in just 89 games since swapping Turin for Toronto in 2015. They may have lost two of their opening three games, but they won the competition last year and we expect them to be challenging come the business end of the season despite the slow start.”
Analysing whether there are currently any outsiders for the title race, he added: “LA Galaxy have failed to live up to their billing in recent seasons and the fans unsurprisingly want more. The arrival of Ibrahimovic is certainly a good way of getting them onside and their recent last-gasp win could help push them on to bigger and better things, so the 14/1 looks tempting.”
Alger went onto reveal that MLS betting markets are proving popular amongst British punters: “With Major League Soccer matches now shown on television every weekend, more and more punters are taking an interest in the action and in turn trying their luck with a few bets along the way. At the moment it’s those televised games that are striking a chord with bettors more than the ante-post offerings, but with Ibrahimovic, Villa and other European imports continuing to follow in David Beckham’s path, its popularity is only going to continue to grow.”
