Published Aug 5, 4:31am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Aug 5, 4:31am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Aug 5, 4:31am ET
Leagues Cup action gets underway in the Big Apple on August 6, as New York City FC will be favored with the best soccer betting sites when they clash with Santos Laguna. Find the odds and our picks for the showdown here.
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|---|---|
| NYCFC | -183 |
| DRAW | +337 |
| Santos Laguna | +437 |
It has been an excellent return to form since the World Cup for NYCFC, as they have avoided defeat in their previous three fixtures.
A return to form will be required on Thursday after a 1-1 draw against Toronto on Saturday. Questions could be asked of their home form in 2026, as NYCFC have won just four of their ten fixtures, losing on three occasions.
But, their attacking output is much more reliable in front of their own fans, having scored an average of 2.3 goals per 90 compared to a low average of 1.00 on the road. Nicolas Fernandez is the player to watch for NYCFC, as the forward has scored an impressive 13 goals so far this season.
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Santos Laguna will kick off their Leagues Cup campaign with major issues surrounding their recent form.
They are winless in three in Liga MX, suffering three straight defeats, which includes back-to-back losses without scoring against Atlas and Club America. Laguna have been particularly weak in their away matches, conceding 3.00 goals per game, and failing to score in half of their fixtures.
They have struggled to restrict rivals to few chances, reflected by a lofty average xGA of 2.14 per match. That is a major area of concern against a free-scoring rival on Thursday.
It is hard to take positives from Santos Laguna’s performances in Liga MX this season, and the sheer number of chances that they concede will give NYCFC the advantage. Therefore, we expect the hosts to extend their unbeaten run to four with a victory in their Leagues Cup opener.
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Pick
NYCFC (-183)
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