Griezmann and Lewandowski Join the MLS Party

by Bradley Gibbs

image Griezmann and Lewandowski Join the MLS Party
For the first time since the World Cup, we’ve got a full weekend of MLS action to enjoy, including the entrance of some big-name newcomers.
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Home debut for Griezmann 

Having been one of the top offensive players in Europe for around a decade, Antoine Griezmann waved goodbye to Spanish shores earlier this year, and after ending the 2025/26 season with Atletico Madrid, the French legend will now ply his trade in Major League Soccer. 

Any MLS team would love to have Griezmann in their offensive set-up, but it’s Orlando City who’ve bagged the services of the best players of his generation. As the best always do, Griezmann wasted little time in making a big impact for the Lions, scoring on his debut against San Jose on Wednesday night. 

On Saturday, the 35-year-old will make his home debut, with Orlando taking on Nashville at Inter&Co Stadium. Will he extend the 100% scoring record for his new team?

Lewandowski to score his first goal? 

Had Griezmann joined Major League Soccer at any other time, he likely would’ve stolen all the headlines, but that’s not the case. Few players have achieved as much as Griezmann in recent times, but Robert Lewandowski is one of those few. 

Undoubtedly one of the deadliest and most consistent number nines operating in Europe throughout the 2010s, Lewandowski, who recently left Barcelona having scored 120 goals in 193 appearances, has joined forces with the Chicago Fire. 

The 37-year-old will make his second MLS appearance on Saturday, when the Fire face NYCFC on the road. Will the Yankee Stadium crowd be the first in Major League Soccer to witness the Polish legend hit the net? 

Other newbies to watch out for 

Antoine Griezmann and Robert Lewandowski are definitely Major League Soccer’s two big-name recent recruits, but there are a few other newbies to watch out for this weekend. 

Former Manchester United and Villarreal defender Eric Bailly has joined the Columbus Crew and may feature for the first time this weekend. 

Andre Dozzell, who enjoyed several years playing in the English Championship, has recently switched Portsmouth for D.C. United, becoming another player who could feature for the first time on Saturday, while Kyōgo Furuhashi is another Championship player to recently come across the pond, leaving Birmingham City, for LA Galaxy. He too could get a first taste of Major League Soccer on Saturday. 

New signing player props 

Consider spicing up the weekend action with these new-signing player props:

Robert Lewandowski to Score (+140)

As Robert Lewandowski makes his second appearance for the Chicago Fire this weekend, it would be rude not to bet one of the one best goal scorers of the current century to find the net against an NYCFC team that has struggled to keep clean sheets in recent times, especially at odds of +140 (FanDuel). 

Given Lewandowski’s clear-and-obvious scoring ability, if the Fire can provide regular service, it’s fair to assume that the former Bayern and Barcelona forward will score buckets of goals in a league that is far from known for defensive play. After all, the 2019-20 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year boasts a career average of 0.83 goals per 90 minutes. +140 is definitely generous. 

Antoine Griezmann Over 0.5 Assists (+450)

With Caesars Sportsbook offering odds of +450, we should also be looking to bet on Orlando’s new star man to register an assist. Known very much as a scorer of goals, Griezmann is also no stranger to providing assists, and let’s face it, he has the quality to produce both goals and assists on a regular basis at MLS level. 

Having registered three assists in his last six appearances for Atletico Madrid, the French forward looks a little too leniently priced to provide for a colleague in his first home game in Major League Soccer.