Los Angeles FC seek a response to their CONCACAF Champions Cup exit as they host the San Jose Earthquakes in Saturday's MLS contest at BMO Stadium.
Steve Cherundolo's men enter this gameweek eight clash having lost consecutive league matches and three of their last four across all competitions, which the visiting side, who overwhelmed DC United 6-1 last weekend, aim to exploit.
Match preview
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Having taken an early lead through Aaron Long to go 2-0 up on aggregate, LAFC would not have been blamed for thinking they could upset Inter Miami to advance to the Champions Cup semi-finals.
However, Lionel Messi inspired the favourites to a 3-1 success on the night and a 3-2 victory on aggregate, resulting in the Black and Gold Falcons' elimination in the last eight.
Aiming to respond to their exit, Cerundolo's team return to MLS action this weekend, eager to avoid a third consecutive defeat after away setbacks at San Diego (3-2) and Houston Dynamo (1-0).
Having lost both league fixtures prior to the quarter-final match against the Florida outfit, the Los Angeles side should ideally refocus on domestic action as they seek to climb the standings.
Last season's Western Conference team currently sit ninth in their section after seven games, though they are only two points shy of a trio of clubs from fifth to seventh on 11 points — Portland Timbers, FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids.
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With eighth-placed San Jose just one point ahead of the Los Angeles-based club, a victory could propel Cerundolo's side into eighth if they secure their fourth MLS win of 2025.
The away team head into this weekend knowing the Black and Gold have been defeated in four of their previous five league matches and are eager to make it five out of six.
Bruce Arena's team came into last week's match against DC United probably just hoping to avoid losing in consecutive MLS matches for the second time this year; however, the home crowd witnessed an incredible 6-1 thrashing of the Washington visitors, with Josef Martinez scoring a hat-trick in the victory.
The Quakes arrived at last round's match on a four-match winless streak (with three losses) but returned to winning ways emphatically and are now aiming for consecutive victories for a second time this year after defeating Real Salt Lake (4-0) and Sporting KC (2-1) in gameweeks one and two.
However, the historical record does not favour this weekend's visitors, who have lost the last three meetings against LAFC in all competitions by an aggregate score of 13-4.
Hoping to avoid another drubbing by their opponents, Arena will seek a timely second clean sheet, the first since the opening round, to have any chance against the 2024 Western champions.
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Team News
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LAFC reported no apparent injuries during the midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup exit, leaving Lorenzo Dellavalle (thigh) and Jeremy Ebobisse (leg) as the team's absentees.
Only David Martinez Morales has scored more than one goal for the Black and Gold, and the forward aims to add to his two strikes this weekend.
Marky Delgado has set up two goals this season and created two clear-cut chances, indicating that the 29-year-old poses a creative threat for the home team.
Hugo Lloris has kept three clean sheets, one fewer than Austin FC's Brad Stuver, and the Frenchman could equal Stuver's tally if Cerundolo's side do not concede.
San Jose will be without Nick Fernandez, Benji Kikanovic and Hernan Lopez, who are all sidelined due to injuries.
Cristian Arango and Martinez have both scored four goals heading into Saturday night's match, making them the away side's most dangerous attackers.
With five assists and four big chances created before this weekend, the Goonies will look to Cristian Espinoza to break down the LAFC defence.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Palencia, Long, Marlon, Smolyakov; Tillman, Jesus, Delgado; Morales, Giroud, Bouanga
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Rodrigues, Wilson, Romney; Espinoza, Leroux, Tsakris, Harkes, Costa; Martinez, Arango
We say: Los Angeles FC 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes
With the Champions Cup no longer a distraction, LAFC are expected to refocus on the league, and they are anticipated to inflict another loss on their opponents, who have suffered defeat in nine of their last 12 away games in MLS since May 2024.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
