Sunday, May 18th presents a packed schedule for soccer enthusiasts worldwide, featuring significant matches with major players like Lionel Messi, Bukayo Saka, and Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku is expected to continue his strong form when Napoli faces Parma later in the day.
Lukaku`s contribution of 13 goals and 10 assists has been a key factor in Napoli currently holding a one-point lead over Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table. Napoli is considered the money-line favorite in their upcoming game.
Meanwhile, Major League Soccer on Sunday includes two notable local rivalries: Inter Miami hosts Orlando City SC, and LAFC travels to take on the LA Galaxy. With numerous soccer fixtures on the calendar, SportsLine`s soccer expert, Brandt Sutton, has analyzed the probabilities to provide valuable selections for your bets on May 18th.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has served as SportsLine`s primary soccer editor for over six years. He demonstrated profitability across various leagues for SportsLine subscribers in 2023, including prominent competitions like the Champions League, English Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup. He concluded 2022 as SportsLine`s leading soccer expert, achieving a 165-130-2 record.
Here are Brandt Sutton`s top soccer picks for Sunday, May 18th:
Both teams are vying for a top-four position, suggesting that a defensive approach might be taken, particularly if a draw seems beneficial. Arsenal boasts the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, having conceded only 33 goals. Historically, nine of the last ten encounters between these two sides have finished with under 2.5 goals scored, a trend Sutton anticipates continuing.
Napoli leads Serie A largely due to their disciplined defense, allowing just 27 goals in 36 league matches. They have recently recorded clean sheets in four of their last five league games. Their opponents, Parma, struggled offensively in the previous fixture against Napoli, managing only two shots on target.
Both Inter Miami and Orlando City have potent attacking sides, being tied for the second-highest goal tally in the Eastern Conference leading up to the weekend. Orlando City has been prolific, scoring 11 goals in their last three matches across all competitions, while Inter Miami`s defense has shown vulnerability, conceding seven goals in their recent two league games.
The reigning MLS Cup champions, LA Galaxy, have experienced a difficult start to the season, currently at the bottom of the Western Conference without a victory in their initial 13 games. In contrast, LAFC has won six of their 13 matches and are in strong scoring form, netting two or more goals in their last four outings, including a dominant 4-0 win over Seattle. Fatigue from recent cross-country travel could also be a factor for the Galaxy.
Adrian Whitmore