Charlotte FC vs Atlanta United Prediction: Charlotte is slightly advantaged

Considering the recent form and head-to-head records, therefore, the upcoming MLS game between Charlotte FC and Atlanta United shapes up as very interesting. Charlotte FC will be hosting Atlanta United at the Bank of America Stadium, where both teams will be looking for a crucial victory and take their positions a little higher in the league table.

Winning games has really not been the specialty of Charlotte FC. The club has drawn four of the last five games. Drawing so many games, yet not making them into a win, rises question marks on how they are closing out games. Either they can't score enough because they are not clinical in front of goal, or they don't defend well. It measures their resilience that they didn't lose many of those recent games. Their defense isn't perfect, but it has been just enough to at least keep them in games.

They may aim to implement a disciplined approach to defense which interchanges with the formation: frustrate Atlanta United by keeping them at bay, flummox them from taking their chances, and eventually catch them in a counter-attacking move. Recent form showed signs of being quite resilient but needing to be more clinical in front of goal.

Atlanta United are another with mixed results, having a trend of inconsistency, as shown by their form. In their last 5 matches, the team has won only once, drawn three, and lost one. It may affect them from the recent defeat they suffered at the hands of LA Galaxy, but, in some other matches, they did show that once in a while, they can be very competitive; they have a dynamic attack if everything clicks.

Atlanta United will surely play with an emphasis on possession, trying to control the midfield, with Thiago Almada's capability of creating chances used in an approach to unlocking Charlotte's defense. The defense must, therefore, be tightened, especially on such moves as set-pieces and counter-attacks, through which Charlotte will be trying to exploit possible loopholes.

The H2H slightly falls in favor of Charlotte FC, beating Atlanta United by 3 wins to 2. In the last meeting, Charlotte FC won a thrilling contest 3-2, on Atlanta United's home field. This will perhaps give Charlotte a slight edge in mentality, knowing that they have had success against Atlanta in recent encounters.

The head-to-head record is marginally in favor of Charlotte, and their securing of a win in the last meeting only heightens their psychological advantage. Atlanta United, though on paper the stronger team, has been very inconsistent, much more so away from home. What will perhaps drive Charlotte to turn in a great performance is the need to turn draws into wins and to take into account their home form.

• Charlotte or Atlanta Win and Under 4.5 Goals at 1.65 Odds
• Draw in at least one half at 1.6 Odds
• Under 10 Corners at 1.83 Odds