This LA Galaxy vs. Austin FC match could be the game that Galaxy fans look back on as the moment LA’s season turned around. Still winless, they have now sunk to 13th in the Western Conference with a – 7 goal differential. But the Galaxy plays Austin FC at exactly the right time, and at home no less. They put in their best performance of the season in a dominant, yet ultimately futile 3-2 home loss to city rivals LAFC. The Galaxy could have and should have won that game, against the team that many consider the best in the league.
They’ll look to build on that performance. They should be close to full strength too, with Douglas Costa and Martin Cáceres returning. Not only that, but they also took both games over ATX last season, so all signs point to a Galaxy win.
LA Galaxy vs. Austin FC Predictions
Together for Greener Goals ♻️
The #LAGalaxy will rock the One Planet Kit this Saturday against Austin FC.#LAvATX x @Platinum7X pic.twitter.com/caPKQTM5We
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 18, 2023
LA Galaxy’s Current Run of Form
Yes, the Galaxy played some of their best soccer of the season against LAFC in El Tráfico. And yes, they also lost. Their Achilles heel of not taking their chances and then leaking goals in transition, came back to bite them. Just like it did against Seattle and against Houston. Head Coach Greg Vanney confessed in the El Tráfico post-match press conference that “We killed ourselves today. We punished ourselves today.”
LA cannot afford to be its own worst enemy against Austin FC. They have enough turmoil and outside “noise” to work against themselves and hope to win. If Riqui Puig can pick up where he left off against LAFC, expect Riqui Rocket to cause ATX problems all evening. Puig could be the architect of the first Galaxy MLS win of the season.
Read More: 2023 LA Galaxy Season Preview: Riqui Shoots for MVP
Austin FC’s Current Run of Form
This team is stacked on paper. Which is why Los Verde’s current predicament is so puzzling. They have one of the most electric players in the league in Sebastian Driussi. They are coming off a bumper year and returned much of last year’s roster. But yet, they find themselves with a 2-2-3 record this year. Not much better than the Galaxy, they are 10th in the West with eight points through seven games. Encouragingly for the Galaxy, Austin has only scored one goal in the last four games. They conceded six, however, which means the misfiring Galaxy attack can come alive against Austin FC. Defenders Julio Cascante, Zan Kolmanic, and the influential Diego Fagundez will all be missing through injury for ATX.
Recent Head-to-Head
The Galaxy took both games over Austin last year. In the last match, Austin jumped out to a second-half lead. That’s when Dejan Joveljic took over. The Serbian came on in the 57th minute and showed out with an impressive two-goal, two-assist performance that ATX had no answer for. In the year’s first match, Mark Delgado made sure to grab all three away points for LA with a long-range rocket for the game’s only goal. With the Galaxy winning three of the last four in this fixture, there is even more pulling in the Galaxy’s direction for a win.
LA Galaxy vs. Austin FC Prediction
It’s been mentioned throughout this article. The Galaxy is due. They played some good soccer against LAFC, but got unlucky through their own mistakes and fate. Austin FC is underperforming. They have several key players missing through injury and are not scoring many goals of late. All this comes together in one big moment for the Galaxy, one in which their season can get the kick-start they need. This means the Galaxy gets a 3-1 or 2-0 win for the home crowd.
Read More: 2023 NWSL Season Preview
