In what is a first Major League Soccer meeting between both sides, San Diego will welcome Los Angeles FC to the Snapdragon Stadium this weekend for their gameweek six clash.
The hosts are coming into this encounter after suffering their first loss of the season against Austin FC, while Los Angeles FC snapped a three-game losing streak in all competitions with a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in their last MLS outing.
Match preview
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San Diego’s fairytale run in their debut season in MLS suffered a dent when they were dispatched 2-1 by Austin FC last weekend.
The newcomers claimed four points from losing positions in two previous league games before getting undone in their last league fixture.
With eight points from five matches, Mikey Veras‘s team are fourth in the standings, a place and a point behind Sunday’s opponents.
A key to their impressive start to the season is the backline, which saw them breached only twice in their first four MLS matches before conceding twice for the first time in a match against Austin FC.
Despite their recent setback, the home side will be keen to get back to winning ways, and with the hosts yet to lose at home, they will back themselves to get a favourable result in front of their fans.
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Los Angeles FC, on the other hand, claimed a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City at the Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak in all competitions.
David Martinez drew first blood in the 18th minute before Aaron Long made sure of all the points in the 54th minute of the encounter.
Following that victory, the Black and Gold moved to third position with nine points across five league fixtures, three adrift of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are top of the Western Conference standings.
Having stopped the rot in their last outing, the away side will head into the encounter looking to capitalise on their recent gains and make it two wins on the bounce.
With three wins in their last five matches on the road, the travelling fans will be optimistic of earning consecutive victories away from home.
Team News
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San Diego will have to cope with the absence of Andres Reyes, who is out with a leg injury, while Heine Gikling Bruseth is sidelined with a knee injury.
Similarly, Manu Duah will be unavailable for this fixture due to a leg injury, as is Marcus Ingvartsen.
Hirving Lozano is expected to be left out by Varas, as he is currently on the treatment table with a muscle injury, but Onni Valakari should fill the void created by the absence of the Mexican.
On the other hand, Brazilian defender Marlon will not be available for the visitors, as he is currently recovering from an undisclosed injury.
Fellow defender Lorenzo Dellavalle suffered a cruciate ligament tear, and he is not expected to be considered for a place in the travelling squad.
Denis Bouanga should be back from his international assignment with Gabon, but it remains to be seen if he will be involved from the start.
San Diego possible starting lineup:
Dos Santos; McVey, Pilcher, Bombino, Kumado; Alvarado, Tverskov, De la Torre; Dreyer, Angel, Valakari
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead; Tillman, Jesus, Delgado; Ordaz, Under, Martinez
We say: San Diego 1-1 Los Angeles FC
The home side suffered their first loss in MLS last weekend, but given their impressive start to the season, the hosts will be expected to bounce back at the weekend.
However, against LAFC, who have won three of their last five matches on the road, this encounter could be a tricky one for the hosts.
Therefore, we are backing both sides to share the spoils with a 1-1 draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
