Third-placed Los Angeles FC take on struggling FC Dallas, who are 12th in the Western Conference, at the Banc of California Stadium on Sunday morning in Major League Soccer.
The hosts are just three points off the top of the Western Conference with a game in hand on those above them, while the visitors are two points from bottom and already six behind the MLS Cup playoff spots.
Match preview
Los Angeles come into this game on the back of a fantastic 2-0 victory over Minnesota United, resulting in them leapfrogging Eric Ramsay's side and moving into third in the conference ahead of this match.
That victory was the Black and Gold's sixth consecutive win across all competitions, a remarkable turnaround in form after managing just four wins in the opening 11 fixtures.
Since joining MLS as an expansion team in 2018 Los Angeles have announced themselves as one of the most competitive sides in the division, already lifting two Supporters' Shields, in 2019 and 2022, and one MLS Cup, in 2022, and were runners-up last season as they lost 2-1 in the final to Columbus Crew.
Steven Cherundolo's side looked to be out of the running for this year's Supporters' Shield after a far-from-ideal start to the campaign, but their recent run has seen them climb up the table and they are now just seven points behind MLS leaders Inter Miami, who have played twice more than Los Angeles.
The hosts have amassed the most points of any side when playing at their own ground, taking 20 points from eight games, and they are yet to be beaten at the Banc of California Stadium, leaving them with plenty of confidence coming into this one.
As for the visitors, they fell to their seventh defeat in MLS with a 3-1 loss to Los Angeles Galaxy in their last outing, bringing an end to a run of five games without defeat.
Despite winning the opening match against San Jose Earthquakes, Dallas had a difficult start to the campaign as they went winless in the following seven, losing five and drawing two in that time.
A win and loss followed before embarking on a run of five without defeat, but LA Galaxy showed their class in a dominant performance in Dallas's first of a two-game stay in the city.
Nico Estevez's team remain one of only three across the entire MLS yet to win on the road and they have taken the fewest points of any team away from home, taking just two points from seven matches thanks to two draws.
A trip to the Banc of California Stadium is not likely to be the source of their first victory with Dallas failing to win in any of their five competitive visits since the hosts joined the division.
Team News
The hosts will be without both Lorenzo Dellavalle and David Martinez, with the duo expected to remain on the treatment table until later next month.
Erik Duenas replaced the suspended Eduard Atuesta for their victory over Minnesota Utd but was forced off with an injury in the 71st minute, leaving Atuesta likely to return to the starting 11 having served his suspension.
Ilie Sanchez and Kei Kamara both featured from the bench after returning from injury in the last outing and are expected to once again start as substitute here.
Dallas will be unable to call upon the services of Alan Velasco and Geovane Jesus with the pair still recovering from long-term cruciate ligament injuries, while Paxton Pomykal will also be unavailable due to a knee injury.
Nkosi Tafari was given his marching orders for an accumulation of yellow cards in their 3-1 loss to LA Galaxy, leaving veteran Omar Gonzalez likely to replace him in the heart of the defence.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Palencia, Murillo, Long, Hollingshead; Tillman, Segura, Atuesta; Olivera, Bogusz, Bouanga
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Ibeagha, Gonzalez, Junqua; Twumasi, Fraser, Illarramendi, Farfan; Arriola, Delgado; Musa
We say: Los Angeles FC 2-0 Dallas
Los Angeles have been fantastic at home so far this campaign, yet to lose in any of their eight fixtures in front of their own crowd, while Dallas are the worst-performing side on the road, leaving us to believe the hosts will win this one.
The Black and Gold have kept clean sheets in each of their last five outings, and we expect that run to continue here with a shutout victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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