- Form: LAFC have won 4 of their last 5 overall and have won their last 4 in a row.
- Away form: Chivas are yet to win away from home after 4 attempts across all competitions (D2, L2).
- Home scoring: LAFC have scored 11 goals across their last 5 home games.
Chivas are still chasing a first away win of 2022
LAFC and CD Chivas de Guadalajara bring some of the best of the MLS and Liga MX head-to-head in CONCACAF Leagues Cup Phase One on Thursday and this has the feel of a game that the home team should win.
LAFC are the standout favorites at 2.2, which seems a bit steep in a competition where the winner of this match-up is guaranteed to progress, but Chivas at 2.85 is a shade short too and the draw at 3.3 is a little long as well. We're going to back the home side because Marc Dos Santos' side simply has more in their locker and because they're on a roll.
The Black & Gold have won 4 of their last 5 and have beaten Real Salt Lake 3-1 and Sporting Kansas City 4-0 in their most recent two games – and both of those results came at BMO Stadium.
Across their last 5 at home in all competitions, LAFC have won 4 and lost 1, and they have scored 11 goals in that run, so we can expect them to push forward in a big way.
Dos Santos’ men to dominate possession
LAFC approach
Dos Santos wants his team to play a possession-first game and his team will counter-press aggressively to try and win the ball back when they lose possession.
They'll be ready to transition into wide-open spaces with their speed and can also play through players such as Denis Bouanga, who has five of LAFC's 12 goals across the last five.
Chivas response
Gabriel Milito's Chivas are a structured outfit that will try to stay compact, press in numbers and look to get men behind the ball and create fast breaks through the half-spaces.
They are a bit less of a possession side and won't match LAFC in terms of quality, but they have some good players and will have plenty to say.
Santiago Sandoval has been Chivas' standout performer in recent weeks, scoring 3 of their 6 goals in the last 5.
The visitors have won 2 of their last 5, drawn 1 and lost 2, with the two losses coming against Mexico City's Cruz Azul (1-2 at home) and Toluca (0-2 at home) and the solitary win against the weaker FC Juarez (1-0).
Chivas are porous on the road
Because of the clash of styles and the fact that LAFC are the more potent attacking team, we think that the match will be more in the hosts' favor, although it could stay cagey if Chivas can avoid the early pressure.
- Los Angeles have won 5 of their last 10 in all competitions, while Chivas have won 3, so we like the visitors' chances of keeping it interesting for a while before ultimately falling.
- A solid alternative angle is LAFC to win and both teams to score because Chivas can hurt you on the break and LAFC are an open, high-tempo side, while Chivas have conceded 9 goals in their 4 away fixtures in all competitions, so the Los Angeles team should get plenty of chances.
