Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps Prediction: This Clash will be tight

It's the Playoff season and Los Angeles FC will face Vancouver Whitecaps in a best of 3 tournament. This is their first meeting since the end of the regular season. Both clubs faced each other on the final day of the season and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Los Angeles FC ended the season in 8th place with 52 points, while the Whitecaps ended in 13th place with 48 points. Both clubs will be hoping to win this game and get on the front foot ahead of the return leg.

Los Angeles FC

Los Angeles FC were champions last season and they hope to repeat the same feat this season despite struggling for most parts of the just ended regular season. In all 34 matches they played in, Los Angeles FC won 14, drew 10 and lost 10 and had a total of 52 points. Denis Bouanga scored 20 goals to lead the goal tally for the club and Carlos Vela registered 7 assists. They scored a total of 54 goals and conceded 39 goals. They scored an average of 1.6 goals per game, with a 10% conversion rate. And their defensive record showed they conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game and they kept 11 clean sheets.

Los Angeles FC recorded 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats in their last 5 matches in all competitions. Their final game ended in a 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps on home ground.

Streaks

• No losses in 3 matches.
• Without a clean sheet in 4 matches.
• Less than 2.5 goals in 5/7 matches.
• Less than 4.5 cards in 7/9 matches.
• Less than 10.5 corners in ⅚ matches.

Vancouver Whitecaps

The Whitecaps are in for a tough game here and they will be hoping to get some advantage while they head into the second leg of this match.

The Whitecaps ended the season in 13th spot with 48 points from 12 wins, 12 draws and 10 defeats in 34 matches. Brian White topped the goal charts with 15 goals for The Whitecaps, while Ryan Gauld registered 12 assists last season. The Whitecaps scored a total of 55 goals and conceded 48. That averaged 1.6 goals per game and had a 12% conversion rate. Defensively, they also conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game and they kept 8 clean sheets.

In their last 5 league games, the Whitecaps were unbeaten, winning 1 game and drawing the remaining 4.

Streaks

• No losses in 5 matches.
• More than 2.5 goals in 6/8 matches.
• Both teams scored in 7/9 matches.
• More than 10.5 corners in ⅚ matches.

Head to Head

Los Angeles FC have faced Vancouver Whitecaps 17 times in the past. In those 17 matches, Los Angeles FC won 7, while the Whitecaps won 5 and they played a draw in 5 matches.

Streaks

• Vancouver Whitecaps are without a clean sheet in the last 4 meetings.

Analysis and Predictions

Both sides are aware of what's at stake if they get a poor result from this first leg. So I expect both sides to tread with caution and try to pick up vital points.

Los Angeles FC won 3 of their last 5 matches on this ground, losing the other 2. While Vancouver Whitecaps have won only 1 of their last 5 away league games. They lost 2 and drew the remaining 2.

In their 2 meetings last season, they both exchanged goals. One of those games ended in a draw and the Whitecaps won the other one 3-2.

With both attacks on top form, a bet on player stats is profitable.

• Under 4 Goals at 1.66 Odds
• Denis Bouanga over 1.5 Shots on Target at 1.63 Odds
• Under 3.5 Goals at 1.69 Odds