Preview: Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC | MLS is Back Tournament, Round of 16

MLSsoccer staff

2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Round of 16
Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Mon., July 27 – 11:00 PM ET

TV: FS1, TUDN, FOX Deportes, UniMás; TSN, TVAS in Canada

STREAMING: FOX Sports App, TUDN App; TSN App, TVAS App in Canada

It's another meeting between two of the Western Conference's most dominant teams, not to mention the reigning MLS Cup champs vs. the reigning Supporters' Shield winners. The Sounders are perhaps the ultimate tournament team in MLS, and LAFC will be looking to avenge the ending to their record-setting season last fall. Buckle up, folks, it's gonna be a good one.

Predict 6 presented by BetMGM fan predictions

SEA win: 37.20%
LAFC win: 56.27%
Draw: 6.53%
Total goals: 3 (29.63%), 4 (28.53%), 5 (28.47%), 2 (5.54%)

It’s a short history, but oh-so-sweet. It all started with LAFC’s surprise 1-0 win at CenturyLink Field to kick off their expansion season in March 2018, and most recently saw Seattle return the favor and then some, eliminating the previously-dominant 2019 Supporters’ Shield winners in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with a 3-1 win at Banc of California Stadium. LAFC still hold the overall series advantage in this one, though, at 3W-1L-1T when adding that one playoff meeting to the regular-season total.

Seattle Sounders FC

If you’ve paid attention to any of their MLS Cup runs, it won’t surprise you to learn that Seattle have grown into the MLS is Back Tournament as it’s progressed. After lackluster showings against San Jose and Chicago that netted them a grand total of one point, they turned on the afterburners to paste the Whitecaps and claim their spot in the next round. Now, they have an even bigger test on their hands in the form of LAFC. But with so much big-game experience in the squad and Jordan Morris on a tear, there will be plenty of confidence in the Seattle camp that they are primed for a run to yet another trophy.

Preview: Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC | MLS is Back Tournament, Round of 16 - Project Starting XI

Updated team roster

Injury Report:
- OUT: João Paulo (M) - right quad strain
- OUT: Danny Leyva (M) - left foot fracture
- OUT: Alex Roldan (M) - right quad strain
- OUT: Yeimar Gomez Andrade (D) - left hamstring strain
- QUESTIONABLE: Xavier Arreaga (D) - concussion
- QUESTIONABLE: Will Bruin (F) - right knee injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Joevin Jones (D) - left adductor strain
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

LAFC

There were certainly questions asked during the group stage, but LAFC answered them as they so often do: with goals. They came back from two down to tie 3-3 with Houston, came back twice before going on to rout their El Trafico rivals 6-2, and nearly came back to beat the Timbers, if not for a late equalizer. Bob Bradley and his staff have ensured they haven’t missed a beat going forward without Carlos Vela, and Bradley Wright-Phillips is quickly making his case as the signing of 2020. Questions remain about their defense — and some sketchy history as favorites in their two playoff runs so far — but they are very clearly still among the top two or three favorites to take home the title.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Adama Diomande (F) - right foot injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Danilo Silva (D) - right hamstring strain
- QUESTIONABLE: Adrien Perez (F) - right hamstring strain
- UNAVAILABLE: Carlos Vela (F)
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None