Preview:Los Angeles FC vs Mazatlan - prediction, team news, lineups

One of the Cinderella teams in the Leagues Cup last year will aim to duplicate that success in the 2025 competition, as Mazatlan open their account on Tuesday against Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium.

In 2024, the Black and Gold suffered a 3-1 defeat in the final of this tournament versus the Columbus Crew, while Mazatlan made an improbable run to the quarter-finals before falling on penalties to the Philadelphia Union.

Match preview

After being denied their first Leagues Cup trophy in the dying stages of the final last year, LAFC aim to go a step further in the competition this time around.

Steve Cherundolo’s men gave up two goals in stoppage time of the final against the Crew, the same team that denied them consecutive MLS Cup titles in the 2023 final of that competition.

The Black and Gold enter this opener on a two-match winless run domestically, though they have only suffered one defeat in their previous five league fixtures, losing 1-0 to the Portland Timbers on Friday.

At the Leagues Cup, this side have never been eliminated in the group stage and have yet to lose a match in normal time in this phase of the tournament.

On Tuesday, they will aim to avoid suffering consecutive defeats at BMO Stadium for the first time in 2025, having dropped points in their previous two MLS affairs on home soil.

LAFC are a perfect 2-0 at home in this competition versus Mexican opposition, winning those two matches by a combined margin of 10-1.

Off to a decent start in the new Apertura campaign, Mazatlan are hoping to surprise some teams this time around, just as they did in 2024.

After an opening game loss to the New England Revolution last year, the Mexicans came to life, winning their next three matches of that tournament, two of which came against MLS opposition.

Over the weekend, Robert Siboldi’s men suffered their first defeat of the Apertura season (1-0 at Pachuca) but are still holding down a playoff spot in eighth place.

Mazatlan have never lost a Leagues Cup contest when netting the opening goal, with their defeat to the Revolution last year (1-0) being their only one in this phase of the competition.

Historically, that loss in 2024 was also the only time that this side had failed to find the back of the net in a Leagues Cup encounter, while they have always made the knockout portion of this tournament.

They have yet to lose a match this year when drawing first blood, winning their only two games played this month when scoring the opening goal.

Los Angeles FC form (all competitions):

Mazatlan form (all competitions):

Team News

Leg issues kept Ryan Raposo, Aaron Long and Lorenzo Dellavalle out of the LAFC fold the last time out, while Maxime Chanot was sidelined over the weekend with a head injury.

In the 2024 Leagues Cup, Denis Bouanga was the second-highest goalscorer with six goals, and the striker has netted five times in his last five competitive fixtures heading into this game.

On Saturday, Mazatlan were missing Alberto Herrera Rodriguez due to an unknown injury, and Edgar Joel Barcenas did not feature because of a cruciate ligament tear sustained in February.

They made just one change to their starting 11 from matchday two to three of the Apertura campaign, inserting Fabio Gomes into the fold in place of Angel Saavedra.

Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:

Lloris; Hollingshead, Nielsen, Tafari, Segura; Tillman, Jesus, Amaya; Yeboah, Ebobisse, Bouanga

Mazatlan possible starting lineup:

Gutierrez; Colula, Almada, Samir, S. Rodriguez; Sierra, Esquivel; Lainez, Benedetti, Duarte; Gomes

We say: Los Angeles FC 1-0 Mazatlan

Despite their recent form, Los Angeles FC always seem to come together in CONCACAF tournaments and put forth solid showings, and we expect their defensive shape to be back to their very best on Tuesday.

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