Unlike the rest of Europe, English football will continue on its high-speed trajectory over the festive period, with the games coming thick and fast. This is a tradition enshrined in the minds of football fans on the island, with Christmas and the New Year unfathomable without football. Over on the continent, every other European league will pause for breath to give teams some time to spend with their families, and to recharge their batteries ahead of January. In such a scenario, it can get quite frustrating for fans of non-English teams as they see the amount of football on offer across the Channel. However, there is a decent solution available for this, online and mobile betting. There are a number of apps available online, with bet365 being the leading one, and with FAQs about this application available, fans can follow their teams over the festive period.
However, one league that is unlikely to be active during this time is the MLS, having just completed its regular season in October. Of course, the weather across the majority of the United States would make football impossible anyway during this time of the year. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to have a look back at the season gone by. Seattle Sounders beat Toronto FC in the final to win the MLS Cup for the second time in four years, but this one was special, as they won the final on their home ground and got the chance to celebrate with their fans. Seattle have been one of the most consistent teams in the MLS, advancing to the play-offs for eleven years in a row, and as mentioned previously, this was their second title in four years. They thus became only the sixth team to win the title more than once, bolstering their status as an elite team in the MLS. Atalanta United were defending champions, but finished second in the Eastern Conference, and then made it as far as the Conference Finals before losing 2-1 to Toronto FC. They have also been one of the teams on the rise in recent seasons, alongside Seattle, Los Angeles FC and New York City FC. The MLS’ profile was raised immeasurably in the last couple of seasons because of the exploits of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who smashed goals in for LA Galaxy, and was his usual larger-than-life persona off the pitch as well. The Swede announced his departure from the league this season, but fans will remember his goalscoring exploits for a long time, especially his goals in the derby against LAFC, dubbed El Trafico. Recent exports from the MLS have also been doing well in European leagues, with Miguel Almiron a prime example. The former Atlanta United playmaker may have struggled to score for the Newcastle United, but his pace, creativity and drive on the ball provided a spark for the Magpies last season and continues to do so this season as well. The MLS is fast shedding its tag as a retirement home for former greats of the game, with the quality of football rising every season.
