Don’t know if you’ve heard but…
Lionel Messi has said “I'm going to Miami." That's pretty cool.
Also, Matchday 18 is here…
There are 14 MLS games this weekend. I suggest you pick a few and watch them. It should be fun.
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Lots of soccer this weekend. We're here to help you sort through it. This is service journalism. You're welcome.
*The Plusometer is a scientific way to quantify the potential watchability of any given game on Apple TV - MLS Season Pass, but can and will also be used for all other channels. Using the elements of "Potential for very good/entertainingly bad soccer," "Chances created," "Narrative," "Aesthetics" and "Totally subjective bonus points," I assign each element a score out of 10 and each game a score out of 50. Twenty-five is average potential. Fifty is greatest game of all-time potential. Yes, I do calculate each game. No, I don't know why. Respect for the form, maybe?
CF Montréal vs. Minnesota United FC - Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - Free**
Plusometer Score: 27/50
We might be looking at Emanuel Reynoso’s first start of the year. If that turns out to be the case, go ahead and bump this up to Tier II just for the intrigue factor. If not, this should be a totally fine game between two teams sitting on the edge of Audi MLS Cup Playoff spots.
Orlando City SC vs. Colorado Rapids - Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - Free**
Plusometer Score: 23/50
Maybe Colorado will get Diego Rubio back this weekend? That would be big. At least Orlando are finding their way in attack every now and then. Facundo Torres and Ercan Kara have been heating up lately.
Toronto FC vs. Nashville SC - Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 29/50
There are still plenty of issues to work out in Toronto. I imagine trying to work out those issues against Hany Mukhtar is less than ideal.
Chicago Fire FC vs. Columbus Crew - Sat., 8:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - Free**
Plusometer Score: 29/50
The Crew are the most entertaining team in the league right now. Chicago are…full of highs and lows.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Austin FC - Sat., 8:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 26/50
It’s worth peeking in on SKC these days. They’ve been on a bit of a heater and have a chance to jump eighth-place Austin in the standings. Their terrible start is starting to feel like a distant memory.
Real Salt Lake vs. New York City FC - Sat., 9:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 25/50
NYCFC are the most disappointing team in the league right now. It’s worth repeating how they’ve taken two whole points from their last 21 available. They’re in genuine danger of being last in the Eastern Conference table by the end of the weekend. They’re talented. But the pieces of the puzzle just aren’t connecting right now.
Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas - Sun., 10:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - Free**, FS1
Plusometer Score: 25/50
Dallas are coming off a solid 40 minutes against St. Louis on Wednesday. That’s a weird but pleasant warmup for what they’ll face in Portland on Sunday. I can’t imagine this one being quite so up and down. I can imagine Dallas putting in yet another professional performance where they grab points though.
Atlanta United vs. D.C. United - Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 33/50
D.C. United have slowly been climbing the standings. They’ve stood up to a couple of tests against some of the league’s best teams, but are still looking for a signature win to cement themselves as one of the East’s most high-upside teams. A win in Atlanta would be something at least close to that. Even with just one win in their last eight, Atlanta are still fifth in the East and are unbeaten in their last five.
Charlotte FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC - Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 30/50
There should be a big crowd in Charlotte to see a Sounders side that’s stumbling with every other step right now. They’re still third in the West on points per game, but they’ve been comfortably seated aboard the struggle bus since a mid-April loss to Portland. This is a big chance for Charlotte to take down a heavyweight after coming up short against Philly and Columbus last week. Even if they don’t, they’re at least almost through what’s probably their toughest five-game stretch of the year.
New England Revolution vs. Inter Miami CF - Sat., 7:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 30/50
There might be a few more eyeballs on Inter Miami than normal. It’s the start of a huge six-game stretch where they need to pile on as many points as possible before reinforcements arrive for what will likely be the final 12 or so games of the year. Unfortunately for the Herons, the six-game stretch includes this matchup against a good Revs side, Philadelphia, Columbus and St. Louis. Those points won’t come easy.
Houston Dynamo FC vs. LAFC - Sat., 8:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - Free**
Plusometer Score: 31/50
This is interesting on both sides. Houston keep trying to build on some decent play and it’s going be increasingly interesting week by week to see how LAFC deal with heavy fixture congestion. LAFC looked great on Wednesday against Atlanta, but will the CCL hangover eventually catch up with them?
St. Louis CITY SC vs. LA Galaxy - Sun., 1:00 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - Free**, FOX
Plusometer Score: 30/50
This…uh…this could get ugly (on paper at least). Which means it will probably somehow turn into an inexplicable Galaxy win. It’s either that or St. Louis win by seven goals.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Philadelphia Union - Sat., 10:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 41/50
Just a great cross-conference matchup. One of the single-best teams in the East up against one of the fastest-rising teams in the West. Competing styles going head-to-head with considerable individual talent on both sides. This should easily be one of the most well-played games of the weekend. Find a way to split-screen this one if you can.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. FC Cincinnati - Sat., 10:30 pm ET
WATCH ON: **Apple TV - MLS Season Pass**
Plusometer Score: 41/50
Just a great cross-conference matchup. One of the single-best teams in the East up against one of the fastest-rising teams in the West. Competing styles going head-to-head with considerable individual talent on both sides. This should easily be one of the most well-played games of the weekend. Find a way to split-screen this one if you can.
FC Cincinnati finalizing deal for forward Boupendza: FC Cincinnati are finalizing a deal to sign Gabon international forward Aaron Boupendza from Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab FC, according to reports from Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic’s Tom Bogert. Boupendza, 26, would reportedly be a Designated Player for the current Supporters’ Shield leaders and require a $7 million transfer fee, filling the spot vacated by Brenner’s upcoming move to Italian Serie A side Udinese. Brenner, conversely, leaves for a club-record amount that's reportedly $10 million, plus add-ons and a sell-on percentage.
- The world is reacting to the news that Lionel Messi intends to join Inter Miami.
- And managers around the league did the same.
- Matt Doyle shared what he’s keeping an eye on in Matchday 18.
- Take some time to check in on the Golden Boot race.
- The Whitecaps believe the “sky is the limit” after their second-straight Canadian title.
- USMNT players are keeping their focus on Nations League amid a coaching search.
Good luck out there. You too can dream.
