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Steffen Schmidt - July 20, 2023
Austin vs Mazatlan
Leagues Cup
Date: 22 July 2023, Saturday
Kick-off at 01:30 UK / 02:30 CET
Venue: Q2 Stadium (Austin).
Austin dispatched Sporting KC last weekend to boost the spirits ahead of their Leagues Cup debut.
The team from Texas will battle two Mexican sides in Group South 1 of the competition. Their first game is scheduled for Friday evening when Liga MX strugglers Mazatlan come to visit Q2 Stadium.
Mazatlan are not pulling up any trees at the start of the 20923/24 Mexican Liga MX season. They are yet to celebrate their maiden league win, claiming just two points from the inaugural three rounds.
The team led by Spanish manager Ismael Rescalvo (took charge in April this year) have only scored one goal in three domestic league outings.
They will go into this off the back of a tough 0-3 home loss to Monterrey, mainly caused by an early Luis Amarilla red card.
If we count pre-season friendlies and the end of the last season, Mazatlan are now winless in six subsequent matches.
They will hardly be able to threaten Austin with such form, especially if we know that the Texas outfit won four of the last five home outings in the MLS.
Austin bagged at least two goals in each of the wins during the mentioned home streak. They play attractive football under Josh Wolff as each of the last four matches they played saw goals scored at both ends.
After all, you would not expect anything less with the likes of Sebastian Driussi and Gyasi Zardes leading the line for the hosts.
It is very hard to look past the home win pick if we know the hosts will enter the tie in much higher spirits. They have a couple of predators in the final third in the likes of Driussi and Zardes.
Those who like bet builder picks can chase massive 4.50 odds for both Driussi and Zardes to register Over 0.5 shots on target and for Austin to have the lead at the half time and win the match at the end. The home win is well worth backing at the 1.85 odds while we will also take Driussi to score anytime at the 2.05 odds.
