Los Angeles FC vs St. Louis City Prediction

Alright, listen up! We've got a right mismatch on our hands here in La La Land. Los Angeles FC are flying high like a Hollywood blockbuster – three wins from three, sitting pretty with 9 points and a defence tighter than a drum. They've not lost in ten games, mate! Six wins, four draws, and they've only let in three goals in that entire run. Three! That's stingier than a Scrooge at Christmas.

Now look at St Louis City. Bless 'em, they're having a shocker. Bottom of the Western Conference pile with just one point from three games, and away from home? Don't make me laugh. They've scored one goal in four away games – that's 0.25 per match. They couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo right now. Lost 1-0 to Seattle, 2-0 to San Diego... it's been grim viewing for their fans.

The head-to-head makes ugly reading for the visitors too. LAFC have won four of the seven meetings, including a 3-0 thumping last time out back in September. At home against this lot, LAFC boast a 2-1-0 record. The numbers tell the story: LAFC keep a clean sheet in 70% of their games, while St Louis fail to score in most of their away days and are averaging just 0.70 goals per game overall.

The bookies have LAFC at 1.36 to win, which is shorter than my patience on a Monday morning. No value there, simple as that. But here's the thing – with the visitors struggling to find the net (0.25 away goals per game) and the hosts defending like their lives depend on it (0.25 conceded at home), Both Teams To Score? I don't think so, sunshine.

Key Points:

• LAFC are unbeaten in 10 games (6 wins, 4 draws) and top of the MLS table with 9 points from 3 games

• St Louis City have just 1 point from 3 games and are winless in their last 4 away matches (0W, 1D, 3L)

• LAFC have kept 7 clean sheets in their last 10 games, conceding just 0.30 goals per game on average

• St Louis have scored just 0.25 goals per game away from home, conceding 2.00 per game on the road

• The last meeting ended 3-0 to LAFC, who've won 4 of the 7 H2H encounters with 5 clean sheets in those matches

The Verdict:

St Louis are about as likely to score as I am to win the lottery without buying a ticket. Back Both Teams To Score – No at 2.05. With LAFC's defensive solidity and St Louis's attacking woes on the road, it's the smart play. Simple as that.