- Austin FC beat Saint Louis City SC 2-0 at home just two weeks ago.
- Saint Louis City SC have won three, drawn one and lost just one of their last five matches.
An MLS 2026 mid-season six-pointer
The Missouri Derby takes place on Saturday when Saint Louis City SC face off with Austin FC in a mid-season fixture that will go a long way to determining which way momentum is going for each club in the growing rivalry between these two clubs.
City sit 28th in MLS 2026 with nine points from 11 games, while Austin are 19th with 14 points from 12 matches, but the form tables suggest that the hosts can edge this one. City have won three, drawn one and lost just one of their last five games while Austin have won just twice, drawn once and lost twice in their last five, although they are on a two-game losing streak.
Yoann Damet’s men have a very different approach to the game than that of Austin, who are a more measured, possession-based side. Damet was brought in as coach in December 2025 and has instilled a relentless, Ralf-Rangnick-inspired high press upon his team that allows them to win the ball back high up the field and counter with pace and precision.
Austin’s system is being tested
Nico Estévez’s Austin FC have a more structured, possession-based approach to the game, playing with a modular system that presses in a more targeted fashion in order to break the lines and build up in a more controlled fashion than the hosts. It has been tested in recent weeks and it will be interesting to see how the visitors cope with Damet’s high-pressing team on Saturday.
The home side have won one, drawn one and lost two of their four home matches in MLS 2026, scoring 1.50 goals per-game and conceding 1.50 per-game. Austin have failed to win any of their six away fixtures in the competition, drawing three and losing three, conceding 17 goals in the process.
Hosts can make the most of Austin’s defensive frailties
Marcel Hartel leads the line for the home team and has three goals in 10 appearances in MLS 2026, while Simon Becher has been a creative spark for City with three assists in 11 matches. Myrto Uzuni is the in-form striker for Austin with five goals in 11 MLS 2026 matches, but he has scored three of his team’s last six.
The head-to-head record of this fixture is interesting, with each team having won twice and drawn once in the first five meetings. When Saint Louis City SC hosts, both sides have averaged just 0.5 goals per game in this fixture, but the bookies clearly fancy a home victory in an open, goal-filled game with odds of 17/25 for a home win, 31/50 for over 2.5 goals and 29/50 for both teams to score. I think they can get some value out of the first two, but I will go for a Saint Louis City SC win and both teams to score in this one as City look to make the most of Austin’s away frailties.
