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).

91裸聊视频淟ast year, it was probably our biggest rivalry of the year,91裸聊视频� said Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini following a training session in Vancouver on Thursday.

91裸聊视频淲e played in every competition 91裸聊视频� Champions Cup, regular season, playoffs. So I91裸聊视频檓 really looking forward to this game.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e know them really well,91裸聊视频� said centre back Ranko Veselinovic. 91裸聊视频淲e know it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a tough game in that stadium. We91裸聊视频檙e going to have to be focused all 90 minutes, to work hard all 90 minutes because nothing91裸聊视频檚 going to come easy on that field.91裸聊视频�

The Whitecaps91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淚 still feel extremely young, but I91裸聊视频檓 definitely a seasoned vet now,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚n terms of shot-stopping, we could see that he was a very good goalkeeper,91裸聊视频� Sartini said, explaining that Takaoka91裸聊视频檚 ability to defend the space behind the line allows the Whitecaps to play higher with or without the ball.

91裸聊视频淚 think that his all-around usefulness for the team makes him one of the best fits in the league for us,91裸聊视频� 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 Sartini91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 really love when we have a lot of games,91裸聊视频� said Sartini, who embraces the value of high-pressure situations and the opportunity to rotate more players into match action. 91裸聊视频淚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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really excited for this month.91裸聊视频�

CANUCKS FEVER

With hockey fever sweeping Vancouver, Sartini was in the stands at Rogers Arena on Wednesday for the Canucks91裸聊视频� 5-4 comeback win over the Edmonton Oilers. 91裸聊视频淭he environment was beautiful,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 another, I would say, proof that when there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of belief 91裸聊视频� everyone was pushing to try to get this comeback and they did it.91裸聊视频�

INJURY UPDATE

Sartini characterized the calf strain which Sam Adekugbe suffered against Austin last Saturday as 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频榤ild,91裸聊视频� and expects him to miss a few weeks. Damir Kreilach (ankle) also won91裸聊视频檛 travel to Los Angeles. Sartini is hopeful that he can re-join team training in about a week.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Saturday91裸聊视频檚 match will be the first of three meetings between the two sides this year. They91裸聊视频檒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