Preview: Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids – Prediction, Team News, Lineups

We are entering the day of decision Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season, with the Colorado Rapids will look to move up to fifth place in the Western Conference when they travel to Q2 Stadium for a date with them Austin FC on Saturday.

Austin, already eliminated from the playoffs, was beaten 2-1 by the Los Angeles Galaxy in its last league game and is in 10th place, while Colorado is sixth after a 1-0 defeat, one point behind the Houston Dynamo five is against the Seattle Sounders.

Game preview

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Another campaign without a postseason appearance was too much for the Austin front office and fired the manager Josh Wolff.

The only coach in this club's history had not had much success since leading it to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, its only playoff appearance in franchise history.

Assistant coach Davy Arnaud will be the interim manager for the final game of the season before the club begins the search for a new permanent boss.

The Verde and Black have only managed one win in their last seven league games (1-0 against the Portland Timbers) and have picked up points in just three of those encounters.

With a single point this weekend they will at least surpass their point total from a year ago (39) and reach the 40-point mark for the second time in the competition.

Austin has remained winless in its last four MLS games against the Rapids, with its last win against them coming in 2022 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (3-2).

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It's been a season of redemption and drastic improvement for the Colorado Rapids, who will be in the postseason for the first time since 2021.

For Chris ArmasIt's a great story of rehabilitation after being fired early in his inaugural season as Toronto coach in 2021, with the former New York Red Bulls manager making the most of his opportunity with the Rapids.

Going into this weekend, the Burgundy Boys are assured of a worst-case scenario of finishing seventh, currently sitting one point ahead of Minnesota United in sixth. However, a win combined with a loss to Houston would give them fifth place.

While they have picked up almost twice as many points in 2024 (50) as they did the previous season (27), the Rapids are in the doldrums this weekend after losing three league games in a row.

After 33 MLS games, the Burgundy Boys have scored 59 goals, the most in a 34-game regular season and three fewer than their previous best tally from 1998 (62).

Colorado has never lost a domestic game against the Verde and Black at Q2 Stadium, although their only win came in the Texas capital in 2021 (1-0).

Austin FC Major League Soccer form:

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:

Team news

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Austin will likely miss the game due to a lower extremity injury Mikkel Desler for this regular season finale, during Leo Vaisanen canceled due to foot problems.

Deep in injury time of their last encounter, Guilherme Biro has been issued a red card and will be suspended for this game.

Sebastian Driussi scored the equalizer for the Verde and Black against the Galaxy, his sixth of the MLS season, one goal less Jader Obrian.

The Rapids were without one against Seattle Cole Bassettwho remains questionable with a quad problem, and Kevin Cabral He was also sidelined for this game as he recovers from an elbow injury.

On matchday 33 we saw three new faces in the starting line-up Keegan Rosenberry, Sam Vines And Jonathan Lewis substitute Reggie Canon, Jackson Travis And Omir Fernandez.

Rafael Navarro and Bassett each scored a goal in their last meeting with Austin this season Zack Steffen Didn't have to make a single stop to concede a goal in their 2-0 triumph.

Possible Austin FC starting lineup:
Stuver; Hines-Ike, Svatok, Cascante, Jimenez; Pereira, Wolff, Driussi; Obrian, Rubio, Gallagher

Possible Colorado Rapids starting lineup:
Steffen; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Maxso, Travis; Ronan, Larraz; Harris, Mihailovic, Fernandez; Navarro

We say: Austin FC – Colorado Rapids 1:1

On the one hand, Austin simply wants to end another disappointing season while the Rapids try to avoid serious injuries in the postseason, so we're not expecting a very entertaining game between the two this weekend.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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