Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Vancouver Whitecaps and Austin FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

High-flying Vancouver Whitecaps welcome Austin FC to BC Place on Sunday aiming to stretch their unbeaten streak of matches in the MLS to 10.

Meanwhile, the visitors are looking to turn around their fortunes away from home where they are yet to pick up a win in any of the last eight games.

Match preview

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Janio Bikel celebrates his goal on June 27, 2021 © Reuters

Vancouver Whitecaps recorded a third league win on the bounce courtesy of a comprehensive 4-1 victory against Real Salt Lake on Monday.

Vanni Sartini's men went into the interval with a slender advantage courtesy of Marcelo Silva's own goal, before second-half strikes from Brian White, Ryan Gauld and Florian Jungwirth put the result beyond doubt.

No team in the Western Conference has amassed more points in the last five matches than the Blue-and-White, who have now risen to eighth in the standings, one point adrift of the last playoff spot.

After a slow start to the campaign, Sunday's hosts have picked up the pace in recent weeks and standing in their way next is an opposing side who they beat 2-1 in the only previous meeting between the outfits.

However, they were made to work very hard for that victory which required a second-half comeback, so Vancouver will expect another stern test here.

Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff reacts during the match against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on August 8, 2021 © Reuters

Austin FC's struggles continue as they suffered a fourth defeat in five league games following a 5-3 loss at home to FC Dallas on Monday.

Two goals apiece in the first half from Jesus Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi left Josh Wolff's men trailing 4-1 at the break, but Alexander Ring and Diego Fagundez both netted in the second half to reduce the deficit after Jader Obrian had put the final nail in the coffin.

The Texas-based side have endured a tough start to their first ever MLS campaign and are currently level on points with bottom club Houston FC in the Western Conference, albeit with a game in hand.

Sunday's visitors are in need of improvement at both ends of the pitch having scored the fewest number of goals in the conference, while also failing to register a clean sheet in any of their last 10 outings.

Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer form:

Vancouver Whitecaps form (all competitions):

Austin FC Major League Soccer form:

Team News

Austin FC huddles before the first game on June 20, 2021 © Reuters

The Canadian duo of Lucas Cavallini and Cristian Gutierrez are ruled out for the home side through knee and muscle injuries respectively.

Caio Alexandre has not featured in any of his side's last five games due to a foot injury, and the 22-year-old is a major doubt for Sunday's contest.

Brian White scored the winner in the last meeting between this weekend's opponents, and the forward heads into the game in fine form having netted in each of his last three league fixtures.

Thirty-year-old Danny Hoesen still awaits his first appearance of the campaign for the visitors as he remains sidelined with a hip injury.

Austin will also take to the field without Ulises Segura and Aaron Schoenfeld, who continue to nurse knee injuries, but the former is not far off a return to action.

Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Gaspar, Jungwirth, Veselinovic, Brown; Telbert, Bikel, Owusu; Gauld, White, Dajome

Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Kolmanic, Besler, Cascante, Lima; Gil, Ring, Druissi; Fagundez, Gallagher, Dominguez

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We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 Austin FC

Vancouver Whitecaps are the more in-form side ahead of the clash, and coupled with the added advantage of playing on home turf, we are backing them to carry the day and keep their good run going.

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Vancouver Whitecaps win with a probability of 44.47%. A win for Austin FC had a probability of 30.33% and a draw had a probability of 25.2%.

The most likely scoreline for a Vancouver Whitecaps win was 1-0 with a probability of 9.78%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.13%) and 2-0 (7.49%). The likeliest Austin FC win was 0-1 (7.8%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.93%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with a 9.1% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Vancouver Whitecaps would win this match.