Amid a busy month of May, the Vancouver Whitecaps (5-2-3) will put their unbeaten road record on the line when they visit a familiar foe on Saturday in LAFC (4-4-3).

B次元官网网址淟ast year, it was probably our biggest rivalry of the year,B次元官网网址� said Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini following a training session in Vancouver on Thursday.

B次元官网网址淲e played in every competition B次元官网网址� Champions Cup, regular season, playoffs. So IB次元官网网址檓 really looking forward to this game.B次元官网网址�

The 2022 MLS Cup Champions, LAFC went back to the 2023 Cup Final after sweeping the Whitecaps out of the first round last November. They also took out Vancouver on their way to the final of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.

This season, the Falcons sit seventh in the Western Conference standings. But they have dominated at BMO Stadium, boasting a home record of 4-0-2.

B次元官网网址淲e know them really well,B次元官网网址� said centre back Ranko Veselinovic. B次元官网网址淲e know itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a tough game in that stadium. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to have to be focused all 90 minutes, to work hard all 90 minutes because nothingB次元官网网址檚 going to come easy on that field.B次元官网网址�

The WhitecapsB次元官网网址� last MLS outing was a 0-0 home draw against Austin FC last Saturday, where newcomer Fafa Picault played the full 90 minutes in his fifth start of the year. With three goals and two assists, he has added another layer of offence for Vancouver, which has logged a solid 18 goals in its 10 games to date.

Now 33, Picault says his role in Vancouver is similar to his past MLS stops, most recently in Nashville. B次元官网网址淚 still feel extremely young, but IB次元官网网址檓 definitely a seasoned vet now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 get to play the part of leadership and also just blending in with the group and knowing what I have to do both on and off the field as a player.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver has also been strong defensively. Goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka has allowed just 10 goals in 10 MLS matches and is tied for the MLS lead with four clean sheets.

B次元官网网址淚n terms of shot-stopping, we could see that he was a very good goalkeeper,B次元官网网址� Sartini said, explaining that TakaokaB次元官网网址檚 ability to defend the space behind the line allows the Whitecaps to play higher with or without the ball.

B次元官网网址淚 think that his all-around usefulness for the team makes him one of the best fits in the league for us,B次元官网网址� he added.

The Whitecaps have a heavy eight-game schedule in May. As the two-time defending Canadian Championship winners, they began the defence of their title with a 2-1 road win over Cavalry FC on Tuesday.

Isaac Boehmer guarded the net in that match, and SartiniB次元官网网址檚 other lineup changes included the first start of the year for Levonte Johnson, who scored both goals, and inserting newly acquired Australian teenager Giuseppe Bovalina for his first minutes with his new squad.

B次元官网网址淚 really love when we have a lot of games,B次元官网网址� said Sartini, who embraces the value of high-pressure situations and the opportunity to rotate more players into match action. B次元官网网址淚f things are going well, we can keep momentum. If things are not going well in some games, we have the possibility to bounce back immediately.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited for this month.B次元官网网址�

CANUCKS FEVER

With hockey fever sweeping Vancouver, Sartini was in the stands at Rogers Arena on Wednesday for the CanucksB次元官网网址� 5-4 comeback win over the Edmonton Oilers. B次元官网网址淭he environment was beautiful,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 another, I would say, proof that when thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of belief B次元官网网址� everyone was pushing to try to get this comeback and they did it.B次元官网网址�

INJURY UPDATE

Sartini characterized the calf strain which Sam Adekugbe suffered against Austin last Saturday as B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址榤ild,B次元官网网址� and expects him to miss a few weeks. Damir Kreilach (ankle) also wonB次元官网网址檛 travel to Los Angeles. Sartini is hopeful that he can re-join team training in about a week.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 match will be the first of three meetings between the two sides this year. TheyB次元官网网址檒l meet twice in Leagues Cup play: in Los Angeles on July 30, then at BC Place on Aug. 24.

Carol Schram, The Canadian Press