After a bye week, Austin FC returns to action on Saturday against Los Angeles FC in a matchup of last year’s top two teams in the MLS Western Conference. The match will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Tune-In
Fans can watch the match for free in English or Spanish - no subscription required - in over 100 countries via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The match will also feature a live national television broadcast in the United States, on FOX in English and FOX Deportes in Spanish.
- Stream: Click here to watch the match, or access it through any device compatible with the Apple TV app.
- TV: Watch the match by tuning in to FOX or FOX Deportes, or through the FOX Sports app.
- Radio: The match will be broadcast live locally in English on iHeart Radio’s Alt 97.5, and in Spanish on Univision’s TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB-FM).
Austin FC Outlook
Following a busy first month of the season which saw Austin play five games in 15 days, the Verde & Black are coming off a two-week break in which the team had the chance to recover and prepare for April. The month ahead will see ATXFC play four matches, with a week’s break between each.
The first of those matches is a trip west to face LAFC, a team which will give Austin mixed memories from 2022. The Verde & Black beat LAFC twice during the regular season (and were the only MLS team to do so), including a statement 4-1 victory at Q2 Stadium in August. However, LAFC knocked Austin out of the playoffs in the Western Conference Final, and this Saturday’s fixture offers a chance at retribution.
Defender Leo Väisänen (Finland) and midfielder Owen Wolff (U.S. U-20) have both returned from international duty ahead of an important run of matches. In 2022, April was the month in which Austin established itself as a contender, picking up 13 of a possible 15 points and earning away wins at D.C. United and Houston Dynamo FC.
LAFC Outlook
LAFC is off to a strong start in its defense of the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield titles, as one of only a handful of unbeaten teams left in the league. The California club has had five league matches thus far, winning all three of its home fixtures and drawing both of its away games. LAFC played a midweek Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal match on Wednesday night, beating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-0 in Canada with forward Dénis Bounga scoring twice and assisting once.
Bounga has been the team’s driving force so far, recording eight goals and three assists in 602 total minutes of MLS and CCL action (an average of a goal contribution per 54.7 minutes played). Carlos Vela has also been at his creative best, leading LAFC with 11 key passes. As a unit, the defense has performed well too, allowing three goals through five matches (joint-fewest in the Western Conference).
Fast starts have proven vital for both teams in this fixture. In all six previous meetings between Austin and LAFC, the team which scored first went on to win the match.
Possible LAFC Lineup
(4-3-3, R-L) - GK: John McCarthy; Ryan Hollingshead, Giorgio Chiellini, Aaron Long, Diego Palacios; Malik Tillman, Ilie Sánchez, Kellyn Acosta; Kwadwo Opoku, Dénis Bounga, Carlos Vela
