Charlotte FC - Atlanta United: First MLS analysis of the year 03/01/2025

The MLS season is finally underway, and we kick off our first analysis of the year with an exciting matchup between Charlotte FC and Atlanta United! This is a league we will be following closely throughout the season, because while Major League Soccer may not be the most high-profile league in Europe, it has developed tremendously in recent years. It attracts both young talent and established stars, and with its unique playoff format, it will provide us with football entertainment right up until November.

MLS is known for being a league with a lot of goals, fast matches and often somewhat unpredictable results. Here it is not uncommon to see a league leader lose to a bottom team or for a match to turn completely upside down within a few minutes. This makes the league both fascinating and challenging to analyze. At the same time, several Norwegian football fans have opened their eyes to MLS, not least because Ronny Deila is back in the USA. After the success with New York City FC in 2021, where he led them to the club's first MLS Cup title, he has now been given responsibility for Atlanta United. With Deila at the helm, Atlanta hopes to regain its status as one of the great teams in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte FC: Will Bank of America Stadium become a fort?

Charlotte FC has only been around for two seasons, but they have already established themselves as a team with a passionate fan base. Bank of America Stadium regularly fills with over 50,000 fans, giving them one of the best home field advantages in MLS. Home field advantage could be a big factor in this matchup, especially when they face an Atlanta team that may still be adjusting to Deila's style of play.

In the season opener, Charlotte played 2-2 away against the Seattle Sounders, one of the stronger teams in the league. They showed good offensive tactics, but at the same time there were some defensive weaknesses that could be a problem in this game. Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina did not get much help from the defensive line in some situations, and that is something coach Dean Smith will be keen to adjust before this game.

A big talking point before the season was the signing of Wilfried Zaha, who has come from European football to bring experience and offensive power to Charlotte. He didn't play in the season opener, but he is expected to get his first minutes here. If he comes in, he could be a key player in breaking down Atlanta's defense.

Another player to keep an eye on is Karol Świderski, who has been Charlotte's most reliable scorer since the team's debut in 2022. He also started the season strong with a goal in the opening game against Seattle.

Atlanta United: Ronny Deila is back in MLS

Atlanta United has one of the strongest fan bases in MLS and a team that, at its best, has the potential to compete for trophies. They won the league in 2018 but have since struggled to find the same success. Now Ronny Deila has returned to MLS after his previous stint with New York City FC, and his goal is clear: to build Atlanta United into a title contender again.

They started the season with an impressive 3-2 win over CF Montréal, with Emmanuel Latte Lath scoring twice. Atlanta showed offensive power in that game, but also some defensive challenges, which could be an important point in this match.

Under Deila, Atlanta is expected to play an offensive and aggressive style of football, dominating games and creating many chances. He has already hinted that he wants to build a team that is more physically robust and can withstand the pressure of opponents on the road. This will be a test for the team, as Charlotte is a tough opponent at home.

Atlanta has a good history against Charlotte, with three wins in the last six meetings, and there have rarely been low-scoring games between these teams. The average number of goals per game when these two meet is 2.83, which may be an indication of what to expect here.

Conclusion: We expect an entertaining match with goals

With Charlotte FC's offensive strength and defensive uncertainty, combined with Atlanta's aggressive attacking play under Ronny Deila, it's hard to imagine a goalless game. Charlotte will have the home advantage, but Atlanta showed in their opening game that they have goals in them and will be dangerous on the counterattack.

The history between these two teams suggests that we will have a goal-rich match, and Charlotte already showed in the first round of the series that they can both score and concede goals. They have one of the best home arenas in the league when it comes to atmosphere, and that will be an advantage for them. At the same time, Atlanta has enough quality to punish them if they get too offensive.

We believe in a match where both teams find the back of the net, and our main bet will therefore be an overbet.

Bet suggestions

Major League Soccer at 20:00: Charlotte FC - Atlanta United: Over 2.5 goals (1.75)

Alternative game:

Major League Soccer at 20:00: Charlotte FC - Atlanta United: Over 2.5 goals and both teams score (2.05)