MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars Picks and Predictions: MLS Players Bring the Heat

For yet another year, the MLS All-Stars will meet with the All-Stars of Liga MX for an exhibition match. In a matchup that has been mostly dominated by the Liga MX side, can MLS break through? Find out in our betting picks and predictions for the game.

Aug 10, 2022 • 09:48 ET • 4 min read
Emanuel Reynoso Minnesota United FC MLS
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The best players in Major League Soccer will take a break from their regular-season duties on Wednesday night, as the MLS All-Stars square off against Liga MX’s All-Stars from Allianz Field in St Paul. The second meeting between the two sides comes at a time when MLS is gaining heavily on Liga MX, long considered the top league on the continent.

With plenty of attacking options at their disposal, the MLS players have a strong desire to win, while Liga MX is dealing with a substantial number of players backing out and fighting injury. Will this be a one-sided contest, or will the sides need penalties just like last season? Find out in our MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars picks and predictions for Wednesday, August 10.

MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match odds

MLS All-Stars Liga MX All-Stars
+105 Moneyline +175
+280 Draw +280
Over 2.5 (-300) Total Under 2.5 (+240)

Odds courtesy of bet365 on August 10, 2022.

MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars betting tips

Predictions made on 8/10/2022 at 8:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

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MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars game info

Location: Allianz Field, Minneapolis, MN
Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN, TSN4

MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars betting preview

Weather

Conditions for Wednesday night’s match couldn’t be more perfect, with temperatures at kickoff hovering near 80 degrees with plenty of sunshine. There is no rain expected, and a slight wind shouldn’t have much bearing on play.  

Injuries

MLS All-Stars: Valentin Castellanos F (Out), Alexander Callens D (Out).
Liga MX All-Stars: Andre-Pierre Gignac F (Out), Willian Tesillo D (Out), Mattheus Doria D (Out), Diego Barbosa D (Out), Jordan Carrillo F (Out).

MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Side analysis

Perhaps more than any other American professional sport, the MLS All-Star roster requires an actual team to be built. One with weaknesses addressed and a roster built with a style of play in mind.

It’s for this reason that the league has moved away from their long-time model of picking the players who have been “the best” that season and getting run off the pitch by a European power, and instead have focused more on building a team compiling of some of the best players of the current campaign with an emphasis on beating their opponent.

That is precisely what manager Adrian Heath has done, with the Minnesota skipper putting together a roster filled with talent at every position that will work well together.

On the flip side, the Liga MX roster was built in an entirely different fashion. The Mexican league’s Balon de Oro awards are given annually to the best players in the league at their positions. The roster’s main composition was based on the 14 nominees for those awards, regardless of skill set or style of play. The manager who won the league’s award for top gaffer, Diego Cocca of Atlas, picked the remainder of the squad — minus one player chosen by the league’s president.

The Liga MX squad, as a result, is a bit of a hodge-podge of players whose styles don’t necessarily suit one another in a competitive setting.

The MLS squad has players who have played together at both the club level and for the national team, giving them a substantial advantage on the pitch. Centerbacks Aaron Long and Walker Zimmerman recently partnered in defense for the national team, while fullback DeAndre Yedlin has long been a staple on that side.

They will also feature a group of attacking players in Hany Mukhtar, Raul Ruidiaz, and Sebastian Driussi that are all in stellar form — feeding Chicharito with plenty of scoring opportunities.

After long being the dominant league vs. their northern counterparts, Liga MX has seen the talent and prestige gap shrink rapidly over the past few years as the MLS has caught up. Seattle’s win in the CONCACAF Champions League earlier this season solidified that fact, and Chicharito said on Tuesday in an interview that this is the closest the two leagues have ever been. 

The MLS players also spoke to a man about having a personal desire to beat Liga MX, which was evident as they boat raced their opponents in Tuesday’s skills challenge.

I fully expect that to carry over into the official match, where their familiarity at key positions and tactical ability up front will give them the edge. The MLS All-Stars needed penalties to win the inaugural matchup between the two sides last season: They won’t need more than 90 minutes to do so this time. 

Prediction: MLS All-Stars moneyline (+105 at bet365)

Over/Under analysis

Even before they switched the format last season, the MLS All-Star games of the past decade have been fairly low scoring. This is in large part due to having a group of players who weren’t familiar with each other, playing against European sides who were focused more on preparation than results.

Last year’s All-Star game between these two sides, despite all the attacking talent on the pitch, saw just two goals scored. It marked the seventh match in a row involving the MLS All-Stars that failed to see more than three tallies. Three of those have ended in 1-1 draws — all in the past four seasons. 

The Under four play gives you the best chance to win on the total, considering it’s a push at four and would require five shots to find the back of the net for you to lose your wager. It’s what you should play here, with the wager located in the “Same Game Parlay” section.

Prediction: Under 4 (-106 at bet365)

Best bet

In a match where there are limited betting odds — and sadly no player props — the Under four goals continues to not only be the best total play but the best bet in the match. It’s been 10 years since an MLS All-Star match saw five goals scored.

While the MLS has a plethora of attacking talent at its disposal, Heath won’t leave them out there for 90 minutes. Rotation — both to get players in and to keep them fresh for league action this weekend — will likely be heavy around halftime, disrupting the flow of the match even further. I can’t see Liga MX popping off at the offensive end given the prolific scorers missing from their side, so take the Under with confidence. 

PickUnder 4 (-106 at bet365)

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