Dallas vs. Los Angeles match prediction: the battle for the playoff zone is heating up
Dallas and Los Angeles will meet in a crucial MLS regular-season clash. Both teams are near the top of the Western Conference: after 26 games, the Texans have collected 44 points and sit fourth, while LAFC are sixth with 41 points. Mistakes at this stage of the regular season could prove especially costly.
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Dallas come into the game in excellent form. The team are unbeaten in their last five matches, recording three wins and two draws. The Texans have looked particularly confident at home since the World Cup break. Their most recent match ended in a goalless draw with Austin, while before that they defeated Portland, Minnesota and Sporting Kansas City.
However, there is one major problem — Petar Musa will miss the game after being called up by the Croatia national team. The striker has already scored 18 goals in MLS and is one of the league's top scorers. The main attacking burden will now fall on Logan Farrington, who has nine goals and five assists.
LAFC also face a difficult squad situation. Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min have joined their national teams, and several other players will miss the match as well. The absences are particularly damaging in attack: Bouanga has scored 14 goals in the league, while Son leads MLS in assists with 13.
That said, LAFC have lost just one of their last five matches, even though four of them were played away from home. On the most recent matchday, the team drew 2-2 with San Jose, spending almost the entire second half down a man after Aaron Long was sent off.
LAFC have the edge in the head-to-head record, with eight wins to Dallas's four, along with three draws. However, the picture is completely different in Texas: the hosts have won four of their previous seven home matches against the Californians. LAFC won 1-0 in March, giving Dallas a chance to exact revenge.
All in all, we are in for a fascinating battle. Both teams have lost their biggest stars to the international break, so squad depth and the substitutes' ability to seize their opportunity could prove decisive. Dallas will look to make the most of home advantage, while LAFC are likely to rely
on possession and quick combinations.
My prediction: both teams to score.
