FC Dallas returns home to take on Los Angeles FC this Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Toyota Stadium.
Here's everything you need to know before the match.
HOW TO WATCH
The match will be streamed in both English and Spanish on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
HOW TO LISTEN
You can listen to all the action on the FC Dallas app and YouTube channel with broadcasters Ryan Figert, Steve Davis and Sam Hale. Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m. CT.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Head-to-Head Records
- FCD record: 7-11-8 (29 points, 11th in West)
- LAFC record: 11-6-7 (40 points, 5th in West)
- FCD vs. LAFC all-time: 4-7-1 (15 goals scored, 20 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. LAFC home: 4-1-1 (12 goals scored, 7 goals conceded)
Story Lines
Formation: After a season of chopping and changing formations and styles, head coach Eric Quill seems to have settled on the 3-5-2 formation. Following a 2-2 draw at San Jose on July 16, Quill switched to the 3-back formation and Dallas has quietly earned their best results all year: two wins, one tie and one loss in the last four. The addition of a third central defender has solidified the backline and helped Dallas to keep two shutouts over the four-game span. The formation has also pushed the outside backs further forward, playing to the strengths of both Shaq Moore at RWB and, more recently, Bernard Kamungo at LWB. The merits of the new system will undoubtedly be tested this Saturday when Dallas takes on star-studded LAFC, whose wide forwards Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min are among the very best in MLS.
Where We Stand: With seven points from the last four games, FC Dallas has climbed back into playoff contention. The club still needs to improve its form quickly to have any chance of reaching 7th place and an automatic playoff spot, but the play-in game places are very much in play. Dallas is just three points behind San Jose who occupy 9th spot, the final play-in game place, and Dallas has a game in hand on Bruce Arena's team. Still, FCD will need to leapfrog both Real Salt Lake (10th place, 31 points) and San Jose (9th place, 32 points) over the final eight games to extend the season. The club's first chance to gain ground will be in Saturday's clash with LAFC at Toyota Stadium.
LAFC: Los Angeles heads to Dallas as the Western Conference's 5th-placed team with an 11-6-7 record, including a 3-3-5 road record. Steve Cherundolo's team have rounded into form after a shaky start to the year and have only suffered two defeats in their last 17 games (two 1-0 home losses to Vancouver and Portland). The big news for Saturday is that we could see the first MLS start for former Premier League great Son Heung-Min, who joined LAFC two weeks ago and has already registered assists in each of his first two games. But Son isn't the only attacking threat Dallas will need to worry about. Denis Bouanga, as per usual, leads the Black & Gold with 14 goals from just 21 starts and scored against FCD in the previous matchup: a 2-0 win for LA on July 12. If Dallas is going to get revenge this Saturday, they'll need to contain both Son and Bouanga as much as possible.
