While LAFC are on a four-match unbeaten run and the New England Revolution have only just snapped a nine-match winless stretch, it's the Revs who appear to be feeling chesty after their 1-0 away win at New York City FC last week, ahead of the teams' clash on Saturday night at Banc of California Stadium (10:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info).
"They’re beatable," said Revs goalkeeper Brad Knighton told reporters this week. "Whether they’re home or away, they’re a very beatable side, and we know that and we’re game planning this week to go in and give them their second [home] loss. Everyone was talking last week about New York City not having a loss at home, and then we went in there and disrupted that, so we’re looking to build off of that and see if we can give them their second loss."
Just why are the Revs so confident? Coach Brad Friedel points to what his counterpart Bob Bradley's group has done — or not done — defensively.
"They concede an awful lot of goals in transition," Friedel said. "It's a team that has some weapons going forward, but it's a team that can definitely be hurt defensively. We're going to have to be very aggressive, very resolute, brave on the ball, and hopefully we're first to all the second balls. I think we can have a very good night."
The Revs enter the weekend three points beneath the playoff line and the sixth-place Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference, while LAFC come in sitting fourth in the West.
