SportsMole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Major League Soccer (MLS), needing a win to keep their hopes alive for first place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles FC Go to BC Place Stadium and face off Vancouver Whitecaps On Sunday.
The Caps are in eighth place after a 1-0 loss against Minnesota United, while the black and gold are in second place after a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City.
Competition preview
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Vancouver is in the playoffs for the second year in a row, but they are in the best shape of any heading into the home stretch of the regular season.
The Caps have lost consecutive MLS fixtures and are currently on a five-game winless streak, one short of their longest streak in the league this year.
Go SarthiniThe men have had a tough homestand so far, picking up just one point from three games at BC Place and failing to score in consecutive games.
As a result, they have dropped into one of the two wild-card spots, but a win this weekend could move them ahead of Minnesota United into seventh place and guarantee them a spot in the opening round of the playoffs.
Their home form has been disappointing throughout the campaign, with the Caps winning just one of their last six domestic encounters at BC Place, and they are in danger of losing three in a row this weekend for the first time since 2018.
Domestically, the Whitecaps are yet to pick up a point against the two LA-based sides in 2024, despite a shootout victory over the Black and Gold in the Leagues Cup at BMO Stadium this summer.
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While the Caps have struggled down the stretch of the season, the opposite is true for LAFC, who are riding a four-game winning streak in all competitions heading into this meeting.
That run began with a US Open Cup victory in late September, while they posted back-to-back clean sheets at the tournament.
Steve CerundoloThey sit atop the West, six points behind their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Galaxy.
A win would put them over 60 points for just the third time in MLS history.
In 2024, the Black and Gold have won seven regular-season affairs away from home, second most in the Western Conference behind the Seattle Sounders (eight) and Minnesota (eight).
LAFC is undefeated in their last three match series against the Caps in Vancouver, with a 1-0 win in a previous visit to BC Blaze last year, knocking them out of the playoffs in the process.
Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer Format:
Vancouver Whitecaps Form (All Matches):
Los Angeles FC Major League Soccer Format:
Los Angeles FC Form (All Matches):
Group messages
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There are likely to be caps Belal Halbooni He will be available this weekend after previously dealing with an illness Maximum anchorage Finger injury is suspected.
Six of their players, including the captain, will be away on international duty Ryan Gould (Scotland), Adegukbe himself (Canada), Ali Ahmed (Canada), Andres Cubas (Paraguay), Pedro White (Ecuador) and Fafa Bigault (Haiti).
Brian WhiteThe Whitecaps' leading scorer in the league this year with 15 goals, three more than any Vancouver player in his career against LAFC.
On the LAFC side, Jesus Murillo A knee injury is suspected, and Lorenzo Dellavalle Couldn't return this season after tearing his ACL.
Five players will be missing from their squad this weekend due to the international break. Christian Oliveira (Uruguay), David Martinez (Venezuela), Maxim Chanot (Luxembourg), Omar Campos (Mexico u-23) and Denis Bounga (Capone).
Aaron LongBoth Oliveira and Martinez were net behinds in their wins last weekend Hugo Lloris He made three stops, one short of collecting his 12th clean sheet of the year Stephen is free First in the league.
Vancouver Whitecaps Possible Starting Lineup:
Dakota; Laborda, Veselinovic, Blackmon; Raposo, Berhalter, Schoep, Brizo; Armstrong, White, Creelach
Los Angeles FC Possible Starting Lineup:
Loris; Palencia, Marlon, Long; Atuesta, Sanchez, O'Brien, Hollingshead; Bogus, Giroud, Kamara
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 0-2 Los Angeles FC
Many of the Whitecaps' chances were created by Gould, and without him or Cubas in the middle of the pitch, that should make them a little more vulnerable in transition, something LAFC thrived on under Cerundolo.
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