St. Louis City head coach Bradley Carnell is aiming to continue the "buzz" around their Citypark home when Los Angeles FC visit for the midweek MLS clash.

Carnell's side maintained their unbeaten run at home this campaign after sweeping aside Chicago Fire 3-1 in their last outing.

They have four wins and three draws at Citypark in the league this year – with Carnell desperate to keep that streak up.

"There's a certain buzz and an energy in this stadium and a certain enjoyment and how we like to play," Carnell said.

"I'm very happy with the way we are continuing to apply the principles, to apply the game plan, and very happy to have a response when we conceded the equalizer [against the Fire]."

St. Louis, who are ninth in the Western Conference standings, may fancy a third straight home win at Citypark but LAFC have also won their last three matches.

Steve Cherundolo's men eased past Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on Sunday thanks to Cristian Olivera's brace.

"It's been a long road for Kike [Olivera] to become more prolific. He's put a lot of individual work in the training field with coaches," said head coach Cherundolo.

"He has the ability also to learn and get better. I think that's what you're seeing, so we're very happy with his progression and his production."

Full-back Sergi Palencia, who plays behind Olivera on the right flank, echoed Cherundolo's sentiment.

"It's just marvellous to see how hard this man works," Palencia added. "We have to tell him to take it easy and slow down at training because this guy only goes one level and that's full intensity."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Rasmus Alm

Rasmus Alm scored 84 seconds into St. Louis City’s 3-1 win over Chicago, the earliest goal in MLS play for City.

Alm's strike was 28 metres from goal, the longest non-free-kick goal in club history – a warning sign that LAFC must heed from set-piece chances.

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga notched three assists against the Whitecaps, his sixth MLS game with three or more goal contributions since the beginning of last season.

No other MLS player has more than four such games in that time (Lionel Messi, Christian Benteke – four each).

MATCH PREDICTION – ST. LOUIS CITY WIN

St. Louis are the favourites for this clash, coming off the back of their 3-1 win over the Fire.

Carnell's side are unbeaten in their last 19 MLS matches when not conceding multiple goals in a game, with that defensive solidity the key to St. Louis' success.

Yet it is by no means a foregone conclusion for another home win here.

LAFC collected four points in two meetings with St. Louis City last season, winning 3-0 at home and playing a scoreless draw away, becoming only one of four teams to keep a clean sheet at Citypark in the regular season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City win – 44.5%

Los Angeles FC win – 28.1%

Draw – 27.4%

Olivier Giroud will join Los Angeles FC once his contract with Milan expires.

It was confirmed on Monday that Giroud would be leaving Milan to head to Major League Soccer.

And LAFC have now been revealed as the 37-year-old former Arsenal and Chelsea striker's destination.

Giroud has signed a one-year deal with LAFC, with the option to extend his stay through to 2026.

"His championship ambition and his qualities as a man and as a player directly align with ours as a club," LAFC general manager John Thorrington said.

Giroud, who has scored 14 Serie A goals this term, is France's record goalscorer, and is set to appear for Les Bleus at Euro 2024.

He will link up with his long-time international team-mate, Hugo Lloris, at LAFC.

After midweek cup triumphs for both teams, all eyes turn to MLS this Saturday as Western Conference hopefuls Los Angeles FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps meet at BMO Stadium.

Ahead of Saturday's contest, Vancouver sit fourth in the West with 18 points from 10 games, with LAFC three points further back despite playing an additional match.

Vanni Sartini's hosts were in Canadian Championship action on Wednesday, beating Calgary 2-1 in the first leg of a quarter-final tie with a starting lineup containing five Canadian players. 

Sartini believes the experience of that match will serve his young players well, saying: "We want to do well in that competition and it fits with what we want to do, which is developing a lot of young players, guys who haven't played a lot for us.

"I'm really happy that we could play five of them, also because I think in this competition, if they have to give one per cent more to win, they will because it's their national competition."

LAFC, meanwhile, beat the Las Vegas Lights 3-1 to reach the last 16 of the U.S. Open Cup, a tournament they have never previously won.

Forward Kei Kamara scored his first LAFC goal in that match, and he hopes it will serve to kickstart his campaign.

"It was a battle but it's good for us to come here and get the win and move onto the next round," he said.

"Personally, it was nice to get a goal and wash that drought off, even though it was in the cup, to pick the team up and help us into the next round." 

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga 

Bouanga has scored seven goals in six career matches against the Whitecaps in all competitions, including scoring in all four MLS encounters with them (including playoffs). 

The only player to score in five straight MLS meetings with Vancouver is Raul Ruidiaz, who did so between 2020 and 2022.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

White has scored in each of the Whitecaps' last three away matches. Only three players in team history, including White himself in 2023, have scored in four straight on the road in regular-season play.

MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WIN

LAFC have won four of their last six matches against Vancouver in all competitions (one draw, one defeat) with all four wins coming in the CONCACAF Champions Cup or MLS Cup Playoffs. 

In regular-season play, LAFC have won only one of their last eight against the Whitecaps, drawing three and losing four. However, they are favourites to improve on that record here.

Saturday's hosts are unbeaten in nine straight home matches (seven wins, two draws) dating back to the end of last season. LAFC have previously recorded three runs of 10 or more home matches without defeat in their history, and they will fancy their chances of repeating the trick.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Los Angeles FC – 56.8%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 18.5%

Draw – 24.7% 

Colorado Rapids twice came from behind to beat Los Angeles FC 3-2 in Saturday's thrilling MLS clash at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Djordje Mihailovic was the Rapids' hero, with two goals in the space of six minutes late in the first half.

Moise Bombito's first-half header had pulled Colorado level in the first half, cancelling out Eduard Atuesta's early strike.

David Martinez had put LAFC seemingly in control, yet the LAFC substitute turned from hero to zero when he was sent off in the 85th minute, paving the way for Mihailovic to follow up a stunning equaliser with a close-range winner.

The Black and Gold made a quick start as Denis Bouanga hit the bar with a wayward cross shortly before the opening goal.

Atuesta rifled his long-range shot into the bottom-right corner, netting his second goal in as many games for LAFC.

The momentum shifted in favour of the Rapids in the later stages of the first half, and they capitalised on it as Bombito rose highest on a corner to score his first MLS goal – a thumping header past Hugo Lloris into the near post.

Bouanag was denied by Zack Steffen, but the visitors got their goal when Martinez capped off a mazy run with a low finish beyond the Rapids goalkeeper.

Yet Martinez's day was soon to turn sour as, after Mihailovic's excellent free-kick had restored parity, he picked up a second yellow card in the space of seven minutes.

The Rapids made their numerical advantage count, with Mihailovic stretching out a leg to prod home in the 89th minute, sealing a memorable win that took Colorado into third place in the Western Conference.

Colorado find their shooting boots

It looked like Colorado's poor streak on home turf was going to be extended, but Mihailovic's double ensured they would pick up their first three points in Denver season.

A lack of a clinical edge seemed set to cost them again, with Colorado having managed just five goals from their five games before Saturday's encounter, but the floodgates opened this time around.

Coach Chris Armas has pointed to their finishing as a problem area, so he will undoubtedly be thrilled to see the work pay off, as the Rapids also made it five straight wins against LAFC at home.

LAFC's misery on the road continues

For the third time this season, the Black and Gold lost on the road, and Steve Cherundolo will be rueing their missed opportunities.

Despite making a bright start in both halves, they struggled to maintain their momentum, especially after Colorado's equalisers.

A win would have taken them top in the Western Conference, temporarily at least, but their dropped points mean they sit in eighth, with seven points from their six games so far.

Hugo Lloris has brought his time at Tottenham to an end after he completed a move to Los Angeles FC on a free transfer.

Lloris signed for Spurs in 2012 and went on to make 447 appearances for the Premier League club, but had not played since April after he made clear his desire to take on a new challenge at the end of last season.

Ange Postecoglou gave the green light for Lloris to leave this summer and, while no transfer materialised, Tottenham entered talks with the MLS outfit earlier this week and their veteran goalkeeper has now departed.

Lloris said in a club interview: “This is a personal message to all the Spurs fans. I just wanted to say thank you for all your support since day one.

“It has been a great privilege to be one of yours and one of your captains for many years and it’s the end of the chapter, but you will be always in my hearts. Spurs will always be a special place for me and all my family.

“On behalf of them I would like to say thank you for all memories that we had together, all the emotions we went through and I just want to wish you the best for the next decade because you deserve the best.”

Lloris will take to the pitch at half-time of Tottenham’s home clash with Bournemouth on Sunday to say farewell to the supporters.

It represents the latest changing of guard at the north London club after record goal-scorer Harry Kane left in August.

Spurs signed Lloris from Lyon in 2012 and he went on to become a stalwart, taking the captaincy under Mauricio Pochettino and leading the team to two League Cup finals and most notably the Champions League final in 2019 in addition to several top-four finishes.

Lloris, 37, last played for Tottenham during the 6-1 loss at Newcastle in April, where he was replaced at half-time with a thigh injury.

After World Cup-winner Lloris stated his desire to move on in the summer, Lazio and Nice were among the clubs to register an interest, but no transfer occurred and he was replaced as captain by Son Heung-min before the new campaign.

Postecoglou regularly talked up Lloris’ professionalism but quickly made summer recruit Guglielmo Vicario his first-choice goalkeeper and selected Fraser Forster as back-up, while academy graduate Brandon Austin has even been named on the bench this term.

Lloris, who guided France to the World Cup final in Qatar last December before he retired from international football after the tournament, leaves Spurs sitting in eighth place in their list of all appearance holders after spending 12 seasons in N17.

Former Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris is closing in on a move to Los Angeles FC.

Lloris has made 444 appearances for Spurs but not played for the club since April after he made clear his desire to take on a new challenge at the end of last season.

Boss Ange Postecoglou gave the green light for Lloris to leave this summer and, while no transfer materialised, Tottenham are in talks with MLS outfit LA over the veteran goalkeeper making the switch to America, the PA news agency understands.

The deal could be wrapped up by next week if discussions continue to progress as planned and the World Cup winner would leave on a free transfer.

Spurs signed Lloris from Lyon in 2012 and he went on to become a stalwart for the Premier League club, taking the captaincy under Mauricio Pochettino and leading the team to two League Cup finals and most notably the Champions League final in 2019 in addition to several top-four finishes.

Lloris, 37, last played for Tottenham during the 6-1 loss at Newcastle in April, where he was replaced at half-time with a thigh injury.

After Lloris stated his desire to move on in the summer, Lazio and Nice were among the clubs to register an interest in his services, but no transfer occurred and he was replaced as captain by Son Heung-min before the new campaign.

Postecoglou has talked up Lloris’ professionalism but not selected the Frenchman for any matchday squad, with Guglielmo Vicario quickly becoming his first-choice goalkeeper and Fraser Forster made back-up.

Lloris, who guided France to the World Cup final in Qatar last December before he retired from international football after the tournament, will depart Spurs sitting in eighth place in their list of all appearance holders.