MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United and LA Galaxy soar up
Credit to Author: Joseph Lowery| Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:56:33 EST
Tata Martino explains Lionel Messi’s absence as squad rotation in Inter Miami’s loss against Montreal. (1:04)
It’s Monday, another week of MLS action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
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Our Power Rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal (xG) differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings, and the observations of our writers.
So, who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? We’ve ranked all 29 clubs in the league after Matchday 3. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 1
Still undefeated in 2024, the Columbus Crew perfectly balanced Concacaf Champions Cup play with regular season action last week, picking up wins in both competitions. It’s really, really hard to stop Wilfried Nancy’s squad, as the Fire found out on Saturday.
Previous ranking: 2
Losing with a heavily rotated squad to CF Montreal while managing CCC minutes isn’t enough of a blunder for Inter Miami to lose their spot. They’ll have to pick up points without Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez this year, but let’s let the new signings like Federico Redondo settle in before we judge.
Previous ranking: 4
Speaking of new signings… Pat Noonan is trying to integrate five new starters into his team while balancing multiple competitions. Cincy out-created DC United by a mile, which is a good sign but couldn’t earn more than a point at home. Points will come.
Previous ranking: 18
This Atlanta United team has juice. Coming in hot off a bye week, Atlanta put four goals past the Revs, who didn’t seem to know what hit them. Don’t worry, New England. Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis have that effect on almost everybody.
Previous ranking: 3
They were sharp in transition, calm in possession, and generally the better team at home against FC Dallas in a 2-1 win on Saturday. This RBNY team is legit, folks. More importantly (for the neutral, at least), they’re fun.
Previous ranking: 6
LAFC had the better chances in their 0-0 draw with SKC, but much like Cincinnati, couldn’t quite get one over the line. 18-year-old Venezuelan attacker David Martinez was bright off the bench — that’s a promising sign.
Previous ranking: 5
Thanks to Mother Nature, the Union couldn’t get through more than a few minutes of their home game against Seattle. Good thing Jim Curtin cares more about the CCC right now, anyway. Pachuca awaits.
Previous ranking: 17
The Galaxy passed their first road test against a difficult opponent (sorry San Jose, fans, you didn’t ask to catch a stray, but here we are) to the tune of a 2-2 draw on Sunday. Good luck keeping Riqui Puig and co. quiet for any single 90-minute stretch this season.
Previous ranking: 7
After losing Pablo Ruiz for the season due to a knee injury in training, RSL dropped three points at home to the Rapids. It, uh, wasn’t a great week, but this team still has an elite front four.
Previous ranking: 19
*shakes fist at the clouds*
Brian Schmetzer’s boys only played a few minutes before their game against Philly was called off due to weather. Maybe that’s not the worst thing for a team missing four starters with injuries. New DP winger Pedro de la Vega could miss up to two months with a hamstring issue.
Previous ranking: 9
Three games, three draws for SKC so far in 2024. They weren’t played off the field by LAFC on Saturday, but this team needs to find higher-quality shots. Only the Red Bulls shoot from further away, on average, according to FBref.
Previous ranking: 8
Laurent Courtois is working wonders in Montreal right now. Or, rather, he’s working them outside of Montreal because this team has yet to play at home. They picked up another three points against a rotated Miami squad this weekend.
CF Montreal finds the back of the net three times to take a 3-2 win over Inter Miami.
Previous ranking: 16
Stuck on a bye week, the Dynamo need reinforcements to help in their battle against injuries.
Previous ranking: 20
DC United took four points from their first few games thanks to five total goals and an even higher xG (8.22, the highest in the league). Having thus far proved they can score goals and create opportunities, more reliable defending could bolster their chances in what will be a difficult Eastern Conference.
Previous ranking: 10
Allowing a goal 14 seconds into the game from Duncan McGuire, impressively, did not sink the Loons on Saturday. Their attack looks legit and it was great seeing Bongokuhle Hlongwane back on the field scoring goals in key moments.
Duncan McGuire finds the back of the net just 14 seconds into the game to give Orlando City an early lead over Minnesota United.
Previous ranking: 13
It’s tough to get a read on Nashville, even now that we’re a few games into the new season. A 2-2 draw at home with the Galaxy isn’t a great result, but we’re yet to see either of their attacking DPs start in MLS play.
Previous ranking: 11
Lorenzo Insigne got hot and Charlotte couldn’t create enough on their own. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to lose a game in this league.
Previous ranking: 12
It’s early days for Nico Estevez’s new frontline, but that frontline didn’t gel in a 2-1 loss to the Red Bulls. It’s fair to hope in what a Petar Musa, Jesús Ferreira, and Bernard Kamungo attack can do, though.
Previous ranking: 15
With a CCC game against Tigres on Tuesday, Orlando City had bigger things to worry about than playing Minnesota at home. A point would’ve been nice, though.
Previous ranking: 21
I’m putting more blame on NYCFC for their collapse than I’m crediting on Portland for their 2-1 comeback win. Still, it’s scary to imagine what this team could do with at least one more DP alongside Evander.
Check out this fantastic goal from Portland Timbers’ Evander in the Dying seconds of his team’s game vs. NYCFC.
Previous ranking: 22
Behold, the best moment of the MLS weekend:
WORLD CLASS.
THAT’S WORLD CLASS RIGHT THERE. https://t.co/bQbJd0HqK8 pic.twitter.com/SrajkJBvVV
The goal is lovely, but the celebration is the real star of the show. Seeing Insigne run into the arms of John Herdman should warm the heart of every Toronto fan after locker room issues destroyed their 2023 campaign.
Previous ranking: 14
St. Louis City have come from behind to snag a point in two of their three MLS matches this year. Chasing the game isn’t ideal, but the ability to do it well is a nice card up their sleeve.
Previous ranking: 23
Vancouver didn’t look much more fluid in a 2-0 win at San Jose than they did to open the season against Charlotte, but points are points.
Previous ranking: 24
The big fears about New England might all be realities this season. Carles Gil needs help in the attack and the defense looks vulnerable after shipping four goals against Atlanta this weekend.
Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
Previous ranking: 28
A win against rivals Real Salt Lake has to feel great, but there’s a long way to go yet in Colorado. More pressing, please.
Previous ranking: 25
Xherdan Shaqiri has been absent. Hugo Cuypers isn’t getting service. And Chicago can’t finish games. That’s a season-destroying set of circumstances for the Fire.
Previous ranking: 26
NYCFC created legitimate chances in the first half against Portland but gave up possession and field position in the second half. Crumbling ensued.
Previous ranking: 29
A low-scoring home draw doesn’t do much of anything to ease concerns in Austin. Diego Rubio had some nice flashes playing underneath Gyasi Zardes. So at least there’s that?
Previous ranking: 27
The ball is moving too slowly in San Jose. The same goes for the front office’s pursuit of a third DP.