Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the fixtures of the upcoming USL Championship matchday will take place on Sunday at Protective Stadium, where the local Birmingham side will host Oakland Roots. I’m offering a prediction on the outcome of this clash with an appealing set of odds.
Match preview
Birmingham heads into this game in decent spirits after securing two wins in their last five outings. The team has been strong at home and currently sits 10th in the Eastern Conference, showing respectable scoring form—15 goals scored against 20 conceded. However, recent inconsistency could impact the squad’s confidence.
In their latest matches, Birmingham demonstrated grit, defeating Miami (2-1) and Sacramento Republic (1-0), both times netting the winner in the dying moments. Still, losses to Louisville and Indy Eleven highlight that their defense remains a work in progress.
Oakland Roots are facing major challenges this season, languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference with just 7 points. The team has lost 8 out of 13 matches and conceded 23 goals, underlining issues both defensively and in attack. Clearly, Roots are in a rebuilding phase and searching for stability.
Despite their poor run, Oakland Roots did manage to pick up a point against El Paso Locomotive (0-0), but heavy defeats in other games make them clear underdogs heading into this contest.
Probable lineups
- Birmingham: Van Oekel M., Turnbull S., Ruf J., Kavita P., Paterson A.J., Mensah M., Pasher T., Hernandez-Foster K., Laszo E., Trejo D., Damus R.
- Oakland Roots: McIntosh K., Margvelashvili G., Green C., Hackshaw N., Elmasnaoui A., Armenakas P., Gibson T., Prentice W., Damm J., Wilson P., Sinisterra J.
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the last three head-to-head meetings, Birmingham has one win and two defeats
- Birmingham won the most recent clash between the teams 5-0
- Oakland Roots have lost 4 of their last 5 league matches
Prediction
Given their current form and league positions, Birmingham are clear favorites for this upcoming fixture. Oakland Roots are likely to struggle both in attack and defense, while Birmingham’s home consistency should be enough to secure victory for the hosts.
