- Quakes form: The Quakes have won two of their last five games, drawing two and losing one.
- Black & Gold form: The Black & Gold have won one, drawn three and lost one of their last five matches.
- Top scorers: Preston Judd has scored 12 MLS 2026 goals, while Denis Bouanga has 13 for LAFC.
A high-energy, high-scoring matchup
San Jose Earthquakes will take to the Levi's Stadium pitch on Saturday looking to extend their two-game winning streak after beating San Diego FC 3-2 and Houston Dynamo FC 1-0.
The Black & Gold will be looking to halt their momentum, however, after splitting their two most recent matches with a 2-0 win and a 3-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City.
The Quakes have won 12, drawn five and lost eight of their MLS 2026 fixtures, but LAFC have played one extra game with 11 wins, seven draws and eight defeats. LAFC are 2.12 favorites for this matchup, but their recent performances have been patchy and the 3.85 about a draw looks good value with San Jose going well.
The numbers that matter
The respective 41 and 40 points that these teams have from 25 and 26 games are enough to make us believe that this matchup could stay close.
- However, a goalfest looks likely too with LAFC scoring 41 goals in MLS 2026 at a rate of 1.58 per game and San Jose having conceded 36 goals at a clip of 1.44 per game.
- LAFC's Denis Bouanga has scored 13 goals in MLS 2026, with three in his last five and San Jose's in-form Preston Judd has 12 goals in 23 games so both the Over 2.5 goals bet at 1.55 and Both Teams To Score at 1.48 look like good options.
A contrast in styles
Tactical shapes
Bruce Arena's side have been solid in a disciplined 4-2-3-1 formation in which they have structure, discipline and pace in the middle, but not much width. Marc Dos Santos' 4-4-2/4-2 system morphs in a similar way with the width being in the front two and wings when they push forward, but it's equally as solid in defense.
There will be a contrast between LAFC trying to push San Jose's defenders off their spots and the 4-2-3-1 looking to hit on the counterattack in the centre of the pitch.
Key players and match outlook
While the LA side have the firepower to push through, San Jose are currently on a roll with Niko Tsakiris having three assists in his last five as his vision and ability to play the final ball has got his side's rhythm moving forward.
Both of these sides are in a tough spot in 2026, but the recent form of the Earthquakes and the potent goal threat of LAFC should make this a tense, intense and high-scoring 90 minutes.
