Upcoming Match-ups

MLS Odds: All-Stars Prepare for Real Madrid Showdown

Don Aguero

by Don Aguero in Soccer News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:38 AM PST

All-Stars vs Manchester United
Ian C (flickr) [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/]

MLS All-Stars (+420) vs Real Madrid (-140), Draw (+288)

The MLS has grown in leaps and bounds over the last few years, but how does it stack up on the international stage?

We’ll have a better answer to that question after Wednesday, August 2nd, when the MLS All-Stars take on Real Madrid at Soldier Field in Chicago (9:00 PM ET). It’s a fitting location for the match, given the Chicago Fire’s meteoric rise. The squad will be led by Fire coach Veljko Paunović and captained by the team’s aging superstar import, Bastian Schweinsteiger.

With three World Cup-winners on their roster — Schweinsteiger (2014), David Villa (2010), and Kaka (2002) — the MLS has an impressive amount of experience and talent. Toronto’s front duo, Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, will also be there to spearhead the MLS attack, and Tim Howard will provide safe hands between the posts. All up, this could be the strongest MLS All-Star line-up we’ve ever seen.

It still pales in comparison to what Real Madrid is bringing stateside, however. Even though Real will be without Cristiano Ronaldo, they’ll still have Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić, and Toni Kroos. The back-to-back Champions League-winners will also have a lot more chemistry than the thrown-together MLS All-Star team.

The good news for the All-Stars is that Madrid are still in pre-season mode so we shouldn’t expect them to be at their very best. With recent losses to Barcelona (3-2) and Manchester City (4-1), Los Blancos have shown that they are definitely beatable at the moment.

 

 

Moreover, the All-Stars have had some success in recent years in spite of the piecemeal roster, defeating Tottenham (2-1) in 2015 and Bayern Munich (2-1) in 2014. But overall, they’ve struggled against the top teams in Europe, needing time to find their rhythm.

While Real Madrid boasts the superior lineup, this match means a lot more to the All-Stars. Bale, Benzema, Modric, and Kroos are all featured in the line-up but we don’t know how much playing time they’ll receive. Zidane has included quite a few young up-and-comers and may decide to give them a chance to shine.

Yet, even if Zidane skews younger with his lineup, the neophytes will be desperate to prove their place within the squad. So either way, it’ll be a tough match for the All-Stars. The MLS is still maturing and continues to develop every season, but as it stands, the Spanish giants still tower over North America.

Pick: Real Madrid (-140)

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