MLS & MLS Next Pro preview, March 15-17

Week four of MLS kicks off early again with two games at 6pm and, because it's St Patrick's Day or something, all the games this week are available for free on AppleTV without an MLS Season Pass. Chicago Fire have just one point from their three games so far but have looked much better value than that and will hope they can catch an unbeaten CF Montreal on the hop after the Canadiens managed to win 3-1 away at Inter Miami last week. Inter Miami are in action themselves, visiting a DC United who have played with some confidence this season after a lacklustre 2023. Leo Messi will be missing for the Herons but a lot will hinge on whether Christian Benteke is fit to take his play in the DC side. Ninety minutes later, Seattle Sounders host Colorado Rapids at Lumen Field having played just six minutes last week before rain stopped play in Philadelphia. The Sounders are riven by injuries and Colorado will look to build on last week's surprise win in Utah, although this is still the Rapids we're talking about and therefore a hammering would be equally unsurprising.

Reigning champions Columbus Crew take on an in-form NY Red Bulls at 11.30pm with both sides having won two and drawn one thus far. Also on seven points are Toronto FC, revitalised under former Canada coach John Herdman, and they travel to the historic Yankee Stadium to face a New York City side who have lost all three games so far this season and look devoid of inspiration. There's a massive six games at half-past-midnight and all three Texas clubs are at home. Austin FC are the dictionary definition of treading water as a club and the visit of Philadelphia Union could go one of three ways: Austin will rub salt in Union's wounds after their 6-0 defeat in Mexico in midweek, Philly will spank Austin as a way of bouncing back, or it'll be a bore draw. My money's on the latter because Austin have no firepower at all this season. With just one win from three games, FC Dallas need to kickstart their season but will find Vancouver Whitecaps no pushovers when they welcome them to Toyota Stadium. Having already taken their turn to sit out a week due to the odd number of teams in the league, Whitecaps have four points from their two games so far and, in Ryan Gauld, have someone who can conjure magic at the drop of a hat. The third game in the Lone Star State takes place at Houston Dynamo's Shell Energy Stadium, where Phil Neville's Portland Timbers are the visitors. Both sides have played attractive, positive soccer so far this season and this could be the pick of the fixtures for the half-twelve crowd.

That's assuming you don't fancy Los Angeles FC's visit to Minnesota United, a case of a form team hosting one that can score goals for fun if they're in that mood, or porting Kansas City versus San Jose Earthquakes, a game that might just fade away from lack of interest. Despite their defeat in Miami on Wednesday, Nashville SC are still formidable opposition, especially at home, and Charlotte FC - who are desperately missing Karol Swiderski (on loan at Hellas Verona) - might just find that out. Saturday's final game is a 2.30am kick-off when LA Galaxy face St Louis City. Galaxy have looked lively this season and have yet to lose; ditto St Louis and so smart money might be on a draw. There are also two games on Sunday as New England Revolution host FC Cincinnati at 6pm, and Orlando City travel to Atlanta United at 11pm. The Revs and Garys had very different continental experiences this week, starkly contrasting their league form which sees the Ohio side unbeaten while New England have lost all three matches so far. Orlando, too, were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup this week, and visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium after two embarassing league defeats to Inter Miami and Minnesota United. Atlanta started their home season with style last week and the odds are surely in their favour here...

The third-tier MLS Next Pro - a league mostly made up of MLS reserve teams - gets underway tonight. I've written a full preview here if you're interested but, to cut a long story short, I'm only going to concentrate on the two independent clubs this season. Chattanooga FC, who've played in the NISA league for the last few seasons, start their new era at home to Nashville SC affiliate Huntsville City on Saturday, with Eddie Pope's Carolina Core beginning away at Crown Legacy FC, the reserve team of Charlotte FC. Both opponents are rare in that they don't have the usual 2, II, or B suffix and that's something to be encouraged. Chattanooga have stuck with a core of their 2023 side but Core, as a brand new club, have started from scratch. They're not the first independent clubs to compete in this three-year-old league (2022 saw Rochester New York come and go) but it's all very much a new era for MLS Next Pro.