It's an important week for LAFC, as the Club starts a run of three home matches in nine days on Saturday against Sporting KC.
Both teams are sitting on 36 points after 22 matches, so Saturday has six-point ramifications in the Western Conference standings. Let's take a look at LAFC's return to Banc of California Stadium against Sporting KC:
Where To Watch/Listen
LAFC vs. Sporting KC, August 11 at 7:30 pm PT
TV: YouTube TV (prematch show starts at 7 pm), UniMás 46
Radio: ESPNLA 710, KFWB 980
Opponent Form
Sporting KC snapped a string of five matches without a win last week following a 1-0 win at Houston. The match against the Dynamo was a wild one as Houston went down to eight men at before the final whistle. Prior the win in Houston, Sporting KC had not picked up all three points in five away matches.
What The Team Is Saying
Benny Feilhaber on facing his old team: I think there is a little bit more adrenaline when you're going up against your old team. And of course, seeing all your old friends. It's just a notch above any other game. It's almost like a derby for me. So the kind of game you see for LAFC versus the Galaxy is how it is for me tomorrow. It's exciting to play against those guys, and I'll have that extra boost in energy.
Bob Bradley on the importance of the next three matches at home: For me, there are different parts to the season, and certainly, we're all disappointed to be that close to getting to the Open Cup final and not make it happen. But that experience of getting to the semi, going to overtime, even when it hurts, we still feel there is a lot there that's valuable. And then, in the rest of the way MLS works, you get to the backend of the season, where you have had enough games, where hopefully everyone is available, and then, you try to take the experiences, the work, and turn it into something that at the end of the year is at its best.
LAFC Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3): Luis López; Tristan Blackmon, Danilo Silva, Laurent Ciman, João Moutinho; Eduard Atuesta, Benny Feilhaber, André Horta; Latif Blessing, Marco Ureña, Aaron Kovar.
What To Watch For
Benny And Latif Welcome In Their Old Mates: Benny Feilhaber spent five seasons playing with Sporting KC, winning MLS Cup in 2013 and the Open Cup in 2015 and 2017. He arrived prior to this season via a trade with KC and has quickly become a leader on and off the pitch for LAFC. Latif Blessing spent just one season with Sporting KC, but in that time won an Open Cup. He was left unprotected by KC during the expansion draft and was selected by LAFC with the second pick. Since joining the Black & Gold, Blessing has registered career-highs in starts (17), goals (5), and assists (6).
How Does LAFC Recover From Its Semifinal Loss In The Open Cup: The comeback in Houston was both physically and emotionally taxing on the players. The stretch of games doesn't get much easier from here out either. We'll see how the squad resets and powers through. Thankfully, there's no travel involved, as they'll play the next three matches at Banc of California Stadium.
