The Seattle Sounders are visiting LAFC on Sunday in Los Angeles. Here is everything you need to know.
WHERE AND WHEN: Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT at Banc of California Stadium in L.A.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FS1 and on YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
2018 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 1-3-1 (4 points, 12th West), LAFC: 4-2-0 (12 points, 2nd West)
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 0-1-0 against LAFC all time. LAFC defeated the Sounders 1-0 on March 4 in the 2018 MLS season opener and LAFC’s inaugural match.
FAMILIAR FACES: 2017 Sounders players Tyler Miller and Calum Mallace now ply their trade for LAFC, as does Aaron Kovar, who is on a full-season loan in Los Angeles. Former equipment manager Scott Tranilla and Assistant Coach Ante Razov each work for LAFC now as well.
HONEY BADGER DON’T CARE: In his first start of the season after recovering from a quad injury, captain Osvaldo Alonso put in an MLS Team of the Week performance, dominating Minnesota United on both sides of the ball and leading Seattle to its first win of the year.
VROD RETURNS: In addition to Alonso, midfielder Víctor Rodríguez returned to the 18-man matchday roster for the first time all year after battling a knee sprain.
Lamar Neagle goes up for a header against LAFC’s João Moutinho on March 4 | Jane Gershovich
DELEM ON THE BOARD: After coming on as stoppage-time substitute against Minnesota, defensive midfielder Jordy Delem scored two minutes later to record his first career MLS goal.
BRUIN FINDING FORM: Make that two goals in the last two games for forward Will Bruin after scoring the ultimate match-winner against Minnesota.
BANC OF CALIFORNIA OPENER: LAFC will play its home opener on Sunday as it christens the newly constructed Banc of California Stadium. The facility seats 22,000 fans and cost $350 million to create.
ROAD WARRIORS: Because its stadium had yet to be completed, LAFC started the season with six consecutive road matches. It won four of them, which was more than 17 MLS teams recorded all last season.
VALIANT VELA: LAFC forward Carlos Vela is second in MLS with five goals scored through six matches. The Mexican international enters having scored in back-to-back games, recording 13 total shots.
RESOUNDING ROSSI: Twenty-year-old Designated Player Diego Rossi has made an immediate splash in MLS, scoring four goals and adding four assists. He scored the game-winner against the Sounders on March 4.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER: LAFC has averaged 2.67 Goals Per Game, which is first in MLS. Two of its first six matches have been five-goal outputs.
