Los Angeles FC and Club America will battle it out for the final place in Group D of the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup when they lock horns at the BMO Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams will be aiming to capitalise on the misfortune of Club Leon after the Mexican outfit were disqualified for failing to meet the criteria on multi-club ownership due to the involvement of CF Pachuca in the competition.
Match preview
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Los Angeles have established themselves as one of the leading clubs in American football over the last five years, but their lack of success on the continental front has seen their wait for a first-ever appearance at the Club World Cup go on.
Steve Cherundolo's men came closest to breaking their CONCACAF Champions Cup hoodoo back in the 2023 edition, which ended in a comprehensive 3-1 final defeat against Leon across both legs of a largely one-sided affair.
However, that defeat has now opened the door for Los Angeles FC to make their Club World Cup debut, as they and Club America have been handed the chance to replace the 2023 North American champions in next month's global showpiece in the United States.
The Falcons are no strangers to games against their upcoming opponents, with the two teams having faced off three times over the last five years, albeit the most recent encounter being a friendly matchup back in the middle of February.
Unbeaten in each of their last eight league matches heading into Sunday's clash, the home side have proven to be a tough nut to crack of late, although they have only managed three wins during that span.
This has mainly been due to a lack of solidity and organisation at the back, as Los Angeles FC have managed just two clean sheets in that time while also conceding at least two goals in five of the eight outings.
Unlike LAFC, Club America have participated in previous Club World Cup tournaments, having won a record seven CONCACAF Champions Cup titles, although their last appearance at this level came in 2016.
Andre Jardine's men were also beaten finalists recently on the continental scene four years ago against Monterrey but were only afforded the chance to go head-to-head with LAFC for a place in the Club World Cup as the top-ranked CONCACAF club not already in the group stages.
Ahead of this weekend's winner-takes-all matchup, Los Millonetas have come out on top in just one of their last four involvements, failing to score in the most recent two outings against Toluca earlier this week.
A goalless stalemate followed by a 2-0 defeat against the aforementioned opponents three days apart saw Club America finish runners-up in the LIGA MX Clausura division, denying them back-to-back titles.
With little time to dwell on recent setbacks, Jardine will now have to motivate his squad in their bid to secure a spot in the prestigious Club World Cup, although given Club America's recent away record of one win in nine games since the start of March, Sunday's visitors are set for another tough assignment on the road.
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Team News
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Timothy Tillman did not feature in Los Angeles' last MLS outing against CF Montreal due to a leg injury, and the 26-year-old is a huge doubt to play any part in Sunday's meeting as well.
Should Tillman be deemed unfit to participate, Frankie Amaya is the favourite to be handed a place in the XI for what would be only a third start of the campaign.
Off the back of a slow start, Denis Bouanga has recorded 10 direct goal contributions in his last eight matches, making the forward one to keep an eye on here.
Chilean international Igor Lichnovsky remains a guaranteed absentee for Club America due to a long-term knee problem he suffered in the early exchanges of last season.
Twenty-one-year-old Patricio Salas is also out of contention for the away side and is still a considerable way off returning to the first-team picture.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Smolyakov, Long, Segura, Palencia; Amaya, Delgado, Jesus; Bouanga, Ebobisse, Ordaz
Club America possible starting lineup:
Malagon; Borja, Caceres, Juarez, Reyes, Alvarez; Fidalgo, Dos Santos, Sanchez; Martin, Zendejas
We say: Los Angeles FC 2-1 Club America
With so much at stake, neither team needs any motivation to bring their A-game, and we are expecting a cracking contest.
Having said that, we are leaning towards a win for Los Angeles FC when all is said and done.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
