Betting
LA Galaxy vs Charlotte FC Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
The MLS season has gotten off to a blistering start, and this relatively early fixture will likely go a long way in setting the tone for both these two sides early in their campaign. The hosts are historically one of the better teams in the MLS, but they won’t necessarily have it all their own way here. Three points would go a long way for LA Galaxy in the Western Conference, but the hosts will know a win will be a statement and the confidence they will get from it will be incredibly valuable. So, who’ll be the favourites on MLS betting sites? Let’s find out!
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Conrad Wallem of St. Louis City battles Wilfried Zaha of Charlotte FC//Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Galaxy Favoured at Home
LA Galaxy: 4/5 (1.80) – 55.6%
Draw: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
Charlotte FC: 16/5 (4.20) – 23.8%
Odds courtesy of FanDuel, subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
09/02/2025: LA Galaxy 2-2 Charlotte
19/05/2024: Charlotte 0-0 LA Galaxy
07/02/2024: LA Galaxy 0-3 Charlotte
28/05/2023: LA Galaxy 0-1 Charlotte
28/01/2023: LA Galaxy 1-1 Charlotte
In truth, meetings between these two sides have been rather scarce at times due to conference separation, but the concern for the hosts must be the fact that they are yet to find a win against Charlotte in any of their last five outings.
LA Galaxy Current Form – LWDDD
Although the hosts managed to finish last season strongly, with a lethal attacking threat, they have largely stuttered and stammered through the opening exchanges of this campaign. They are traditionally a difficult side to overcome at home, but they will know they won’t simply have it all their own way here.
In their last five competitive fixtures, they have only managed to find a single win, and their attacking metrics still leave a lot to be desired. Defensively, they are a side seemingly at odds and ends, conceding soft goals and lacking any real bite through transitional play.
They will likely pride themselves on their pressing ability here, and you can expect them to dominate possession of the ball as a result – but don’t expect them to win this if they approach the game at a pedestrian pace!
Key Players to Watch
- Novak Micovic: The Galaxy keeper has managed to keep just four clean sheets in his 35 appearances for the club, but that data doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. He is an incredible shot stopper and notably carried his side through various penalty shootout environments. Keep an eye on him here.
- Lucas Sanabria: Since joining Galaxy, he has been a creative addition to the middle of the pitch and often contributes with his own goal-scoring threat. The Uruguayan international will certainly be one to keep an eye on here, and if he is afforded time and space with the ball, he could be incredibly dangerous.
- Matheus Nascimento: His loan spell in Los Angeles has been extended, a decision which is likely to bring smiles to the faces of the Galaxy faithful. He is a lethal goalscorer, and given how aggressive and prolific he is in front of goal, it should come as no surprise to see him considered among the threats carried by Galaxy.
LA Galaxy Team News
The hosts are expected to be able to field a fully fit side here. Coming into this game, they have no injury concerns to worry themselves with, and so should be able to be at full strength.
Charlotte FC Current Form – WWLWD
This is a franchise that continues to develop into a structured and very well-organised team. They have become increasingly difficult to play against, and in their last five outings, they have suffered just one defeat.
They tend to play with a very narrow shape away from home, and their defensive stability continues to pay dividends here. The most impressive feature of this Charlotte side is simply their ability to remain as compact as they do and defensively sound, without having to forego pushing numbers forward and giving themselves an attacking chance. This is a tricky side to play – there is no doubt about that.
Key Players to Watch
- Wilfried Zaha: He will no doubt be a key man for Charlotte here. He continues to add goal-scoring threats to his game, and even at the age of 33, his experience around some of the big clubs in Europe has been a huge investment for this Charlotte side.
- Luca de la Torre: The young United States midfielder continues to attract attention around the local soccer scene; his box-to-box ability is second to none, and his addition to this Charlotte midfield has seen the visitors become a far more robust unit.
- Tyler Miller: He was an interesting acquisition for Charlotte, but again, his experience and ability will only bolster their goalscoring options. If he is to play, he will also provide value in their defensive ranks – keep an eye on him here.
Charlotte FC Team News
At the time of writing, there are minor knocks reported throughout the team, but none are expected to keep any players out. We expect the visitors to have a full complement of players to choose from for the trip to LA.
Predicted Line-Ups
LA Galaxy: Mićović; Aude, Garcés, Glesnes, Yamane; Haak, Sanabria, Reus; Paintsil, Pec, Klauss
Charlotte: Miller, Byrne, Privett, Ream, Toffolo, de la Torre, Westwood, Biel, Zaha, Toklomati, Abada
Suggested Bets
Both Teams to Score – Yes – Both sides have shown an attacking threat in recent encounters, and Galaxy rarely keep clean sheets. (1.67 with DraftKings).
Over 2.5 Goals – MLS fixtures often trend high-scoring, and Galaxy’s open style supports this market. (1.72 with Hard Rock Bet)
Value Bets
For punters wanting higher returns and comfortable with higher risk wagers on legal US bookmakers, these are our value bet options.
Charlotte to Win – Charlotte’s strong recent showing and attacking depth make them worthy candidates to return a win at a hefty price. (16/5 (4.20) with FanDuel)
Prediction: Charlotte to Win
The recent performances registered by Charlotte seem to suggest that the bookmakers have not caught up with their ability, especially given that they are playing a side that has been so defensively poor.
Charlotte is disciplined and capable of finding the net; their midfield creativity and finishing quality give them the edge. Expect a competitive contest with chances at both ends, but the visitors are tipped to edge it.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose work has been featured in a range of well-known sports publications.