Behind Enemy Lines: Scouting LAFC 🔎

FC Dallas returns home this weekend to battle Son Heung-Min and LAFC.

LAFC is coming into Saturday's match, fresh off a shutout win over the New England Revolution last weekend. They'll be searching for their first win in Frisco since the 2021 season.

Let’s dive into LAFC, their big stars and more to see what they bring to the field on Saturday and how FC Dallas can add another win at home in 2025.

Key Player: Denis Bouanga

Yes, Son Heung-Min is going to grab all of the headlines for this one, but we know Bouanga is the main headache when it comes to LAFC for FC Dallas fans. Bouanga had a goal and an assist in the previous meeting this season. In all time meetings, he has three goals and two assists.

Key Matchup: Son Heung-Min vs Osaze Urhoghide

It is hard not to single out the new LAFC star in this one. He has been very good in the two appearances for LAFC already where he picked up a penalty against Chicago and then added an assist against New England last week.

Availability Report1:

Suspended: none
Out: Aaron Long (Achilles), Max Chanot (head), Lorenzo Dellavalle (leg), Jeremy Ebobisse (leg)
Questionable: none
On Loan: none
International duty: none

Quick Notes:

All time in Dallas: LAFC has mostly dominated FC Dallas in their all-time meetings, going 7-4-2. They're also 1-4-1 in all-time meetings in Frisco.

Recent form: If you take out their Leagues Cup play, LAFC 2-1-2 in their last five games, including a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution last weekend.

Comparing the two clubs: There shouldn't be any surprises as to how good LAFC is compared to FCD this season. The one thing that Dallas may have an edge on in this one will come down to them winning duels.

Potential Lineup:

Could we actually see two former FC Dallas players in this one? Maybe.

Lloris, Palencia, Segura, Tafari, Hollingshead, Tillman, Jesus, Delgado, Ordaz, Son, Bouanga

Keys To Three Points over LAFC

1. Play the wings on the counter: The one thing we're seeing out of this new formation from Eric Quill is that he wants to have his team absorb the pressure and not possess the ball a ton, but when they do it is getting the team to break out along the wings with speed on the counter attack. LAFC does have some solid defensive players but has been known to be stretched at times in games along the wings. Dallas can use this to their advantage on Saturday in the Texas heat to wear out LAFC.
2. Continue to remain together on defense: The last few games (outside of the terrible NYCFC loss) have been good defensively for FC Dallas. They're eliminating chances, not allowing a lot of good open looks inside the penalty area, and most importantly, the group is collectively playing together more by communicating with one another. Against a top attacking team like LAFC, this group is going to have to continue to stay on top of things together and not allow LAFC to get runners in behind the three center backs, or get exposed more along the left wing.
3. Finish your chances: I think we're still going to see a Dallas attack that has limited chances in front of the net for a second straight week. Part of that could be due to a limited Petar Musa, but the other part of it may be how LAFC defends when FC Dallas is actually attacking their their defensive third. Dallas has to find a way to improve on the two shots on target from their draw in Austin last weekend and actually test Hugo Lloris. There is also nothing wrong with attempting a few shots from distance, too. Patrickson Delgado had a good chance late against Austin that forced Brad Stuver to make a stop, I'd like to see more of that on Saturday.

1 Note: MLS has a injury report deadline that doesn’t hit until the day before each game. Our scouting reports will include last week's report and will be fully updated the day before with our injury report for FC Dallas.