Austin FC will hope to return to winning ways this week when they play host to LAFC in Major League Soccer action.
The Verde and Black will be eager to get back on track as they’ve failed to come away with a win in their last three matches with three defeats to Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers. Still, Austin remain in eigth place in the Western Conference table but just two points away from 10th-placed Portland.
On the other hand, LAFC are really starting to find their rhythm in the 2024 campaign. The 2022 MLS Cup champions have won six consecutive league matches to propel them to second place in the West, sitting just one point behind Salt Lake. The Black and Gold will look to do more of the same that saw them continue their winning ways on the road at Orlando City last weekend.
Here’s 90min‘s preview of Austin FC vs LAFC.
Last meeting: Austin FC 2-4 LAFC (7 October 2023) – MLS
Current form (all competitions)
|
Austin FC |
LAFC |
|---|---|
|
Colorado Rapids 2-0 Austin FC – 15/06/2024 |
Orlando City 1-3 LAFC 0 15/06/2024 |
|
Real Salt Lake 5-1 Austin FC – 01/06/2024 |
LAFC 1-0 FC Dallas – 01/06/2024 |
|
Austin FC 0-2 Portland Timbers – 29/05/2024 |
LAFC 2-0 Minnesota United – 29/05/2024 |
|
San Jose Earthquakes 1-1 Austin FC – 25/05/2024 |
Atlanta United 0-1 LAFC – 25/05/2024 |
|
Austin FC 3-2 Sporting Kansas City – 18/05/2024 |
LAFC 3-0 Loudoun United FC – 21/05/2024 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass |
|
United States |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass |
|
Canada |
Apple TV + |
The only player that’s unavailable for selection Wednesday night in the Austin FC camp is Dani Pereira. It’s a big loss for the Verde and Black, as the midfielder has started 14 matches in 2024 but will now head off to Copa America to represent Venezuela.
Austin FC predicted lineup vs LAFC ( 4-2-3-1 ): Stuver, Gallagher, Hines-Ike, Vaisanen, Guilherme; Ring, Valencia; Obrian, Driussi, Wolff; Rubio.
LAFC will be without a couple of players that are competing in this summer’s Euros and Copa America. New striker Olivier Giroud has yet to make his debut for the club and will more than likely do so in late July following the conclusion of the Euros, while Cristian Olivera was included in the Uruguay squad taking part in Copa America.
David Martinez and Lorenzo Dellavalle both remain sidelined with their respective back and knee injuries and are on track to return to action later this month.
LAFC predicted lineup vs Austin FC ( 4-3-3 ): Lloris; Hollingshead, Murillo, Long, Campos; Tillman, Sanchez, Atuesta; Bogusz, Kamara, Bouanga.
LAFC enter the contest as favorites due their talented squad and impressive recent form. Austin might give it a real go at home in front of their fans, but it will be a rather straightforward victory for LAFC in the end with Denis Bouanga and Mateusz Bogusz both scoring.
Prediction: Austin FC 0-2 LAFC
