Los Angeles FC take on Austin FC in the MLS Western Conference on Saturday, and the hosts will be looking to continue their strong start to the season.
The Black and Gold are unbeaten in their opening five matches, currently sitting third in the table, while the visitors are four points lower, in seventh place.
Match preview
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Having finished top of the Western Conference last season, before going on to win the MLS Supporters' Shield, Los Angeles FC have made a solid start in defence of their title, winning three and drawing two of their five games thus far.
The Black and Gold are four points off the top with a game in hand on league-leaders St Louis City, and they will be hoping to close the gap by beating a team they defeated 3-0 at home in the playoff semi-final back in October.
After an impressive start to the campaign, winning their first two games and defeating New England Revolution 4-0, Steve Cherundolo's side have struggled in front of goal somewhat in recent weeks, playing out 0-0 draws in two of their last three matches.
However, LAFC got back among the goals last time out, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final, with Denis Bouanga continuing his fantastic goal-scoring form by bagging a brace.
Austin FC have not enjoyed the same sort of success as their opponents since being founded in 2018, yet to win a Supporters Shield, but last season was a real step forwards, finishing second in the Western Conference.
However, it must be noted the Verde and Black ended up finishing 11 points behind LAFC, so there is a lot of work to do if they are to close the gap this season, and they have got off to a poor start.
In five games, Josh Wolff's side have collected just seven points, although they have had some tricky fixtures, losing 3-2 against high-flying St. Louis City on the opening day of the season.
Owing to their second-placed finish last season, Austin also qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League, but they crashed out of the competition in shocking style, losing 3-2 to Haitian side Violette on aggregate.
Austin's disappointing form has since continued in the league, losing 2-0 away at Houston Dynamo in the following match, before being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Colorado Rapids last time out, the team currently bottom of the Western Conference.
Team News
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LAFC have a couple of long-term absentees who will be unable to feature on Sunday, with goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau still ruled out due to a broken leg, meaning John McCarthy is a sure-fire starter between the sticks.
19-year-old left-winger Christian Torres has missed the last three games through injury, so Kwadwo Opoku is likely to keep his place in the team, having scored his second goal of the season against Vancouver Whitecaps last time out.
Bouanga is poised to start on the opposite flank, having really hit the ground running for the Black and Gold this season, already scoring eight goals in all competitions.
As for Austin, centre-back Julio Cascante has been injured since pre-season, missing the last six games, so Nick Lima is expected to start in defence, alongside Zan Kolmanic and Alexander Ring.
Jon Gallagher has been the main attacking threat for Wolff's side up to this point, scoring the opening goal against Colorado Rapids in the last match, and he will keep his spot on the right-wing.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Hollingshead, Murillo, Long, Palacios; Tillman, Sanchez, Acosta; Bouanga, Opoku, Vela
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Lima, Ring, Kolmanic; Gallagher, Pereira, Djeffal, Finlay; Rigoni, Driussi, Zardes
We say: Los Angeles FC 3-0 Austin FC
Los Angeles FC have made a very solid start to the season, while Austin so far look nowhere near the level they were at in the 2022 campaign, so we expect a comfortable home victory.
LAFC have won four of the six previous meetings between the two sides, running out 3-0 winners back in October, and it would not be a surprise to see a repeat of the same scoreline.
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Dominic Lund
