Los Angeles Galaxy will be looking to take one step closer to finishing top of the MLS Western Conference when Austin FC come visiting the Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.
Both teams emerged victorious from their respective last outings and will be looking to pick up where they left off in this weekend's encounter.
Match preview
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Los Angeles Galaxy put on an attacking masterclass in the second half of their meeting against Colorado Rapids to claim a comeback 3-1 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Thursday.
Gabriel Pec's third goal in as many games and a Riqui Puig double after half time moved Greg Vanney's men within touching distance of pipping their city rivals Los Angeles FC to top spot in the West.
Since returning to MLS duty following their Leagues Cup round-of-32 exit to the Seattle Sounders, Los Angelinos have scored at least twice in five of their six outings, racking up an impressive 16 strikes.
However, the Los Angeles Galaxy have managed to keep only one clean sheet in that time, highlighting their need for defensive solidity with playoff action drawing increasingly closer.
Sunday's hosts came out on top in four of their first five clashes against the visitors but are winless in the subsequent three games, including two defeats in 2024 by a combined score of 5-1.
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Austin FC just about kept their faint hopes of making it through to the playoffs alive courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Portland Timbers in Thursday's matchup at Providence Park.
Daniel Pereira came up with the all-important moment of the game three minutes shy of half time as he opened the scoring to hand Josh Wolff's men all three points in a tight affair in Oregon.
That snapped a barren run of five matches without a victory which severely derailed Los Verdes' playoff pursuit as they now sit six points shy of playoff contention heading into their penultimate involvement of the regular season.
Only Seattle Sounders (34) and Los Angeles FC (41) have conceded fewer goals than Austin's 44, but their division-low tally of 35 strikes at the other end has seen them struggle to move up the standings.
Sunday's visitors follow up this weekend's affair with a home assignment against Colorado Rapids on the final matchday, while their hosts will do battle against Houston Dynamo.
Team News
Defender Martin Caceres is not expected to feature again for the Los Angeles Galaxy this season due to an Achilles tendon injury he sustained in August.
Riqui Puig and Gabriel Pec have both found the back of the net in each of the hosts' last two matches, making them ones to keep an eye on this weekend.
Matt Bersano and Matt Hedges miss out for Austin FC through leg and hip injuries respectively, while Mikkel Desler is still battling with a thigh problem.
Colombian Jader Obrian was shown his fifth yellow card of the season against the Portland Timbers and will serve a one-game suspension as a result.
This could open the door for a return to the XI for 33-year-old Gyasi Zardes off the back of yet another cameo appearance off the bench last time out.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Nelson, Yoshida, Garces, Yamane; Puig, Cerrillo, Delgado; Pec, Joveljic, Paintsil
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Guilherme, Svatok, Cascante, Gallagher; Driussi, Pereira, Jimenez, Bukari; Zardes, Rubio
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 Austin FC
Los Angeles Galaxy are scoring for fun at the moment, and it is hard to see them being denied all three points here.
We fully expect the home side to cruise to a relatively routine win come the sound of the final whistle.
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