Don't Remind Me of 0.04 xG: Previewing Austin FC @ Seattle Sounders FC
Fourteen days after their last game, Austin FC returns to action in the form of an away trip to one of their biggest bogey teams, the Seattle Sounders. It is a must-win for the Verde and Black thanks to numerous injuries for the Sounders and a quite intense schedule on their part compared to a very, very light one for Austin FC. Read more on each team below.
Austin FC will be looking to capitalize on the Sounders recent difficult schedule and poor form. In the last six games, Seattle has faced the following sides: San Diego, Minnesota, and Vancouver — who are currently first, second, and third in the Western Conference — followed by Botafogo, the current champions of South America, Atlético Madrid, one of the best sides in Spain, and Paris Saint Germain, the current champions of Europe, who are widely regarded as the best team in the world at the moment. Additionally, all 6 of those games came in under one month. There could not be a better time for Austin FC to play Seattle away from home. With nearly every player on the squad fit and ready to go aside from Myrto Uzuni, who picked up a slight hamstring injury over the break, the Verde and Black have an opportunity to take points from a side that they have slain just once in their 4-year history.
Sounders enter the match against Austin returning from the FIFA Club World Cup, where they took on the likes of Botafogo, Atlético Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain, and though the team was able to stay competitive against all of the teams, the club is on a five-game losing streak in all comps. The Sounders have been dealt a tough hand with injuries this season, first to the attack and now the defense, where Ragen is the only available fit natural center back going into the game, with Alex Roldan expected to fill in for his start his first ever game at CB. Finally, Jordan Morris is returning from injury after being out since March and a single appearance in May, which led to re-injury.
This matchup has played out 8 times since the Verde and Black joined Major League Soccer, and only once have they managed to steal 3 points from the giant of the PNW. Seattle has picked up 4 wins and 3 draws from the remaining 7 fixtures and has only conceded in 3 of the 8 historical meetings. Saturday night will be a tough game for both sides, but with the significant difference in squad health, there is an obvious favorite for who will get the 3 points.
A big thanks to House of Sounders and Seattle Frickin’ Sports for writing the Seattle Sounders portion of this preview. Check them out here: https://www.instagram.com/houseofsounders & https://www.instagram.com/seattle.freakin.sports
Kickoff is at 9:30 p.m. CT, and the match can be streamed on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.