Los Angeles FC vs Esperance de Tunis predictions: North Africans could be nullified
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- Los Angeles FC have lost only only of their last 11 matches
- Esperance de Tunis have lost five of seven Club World Cup matches
- Recommended bet: Los Angeles FC to win
There is minimal room left for error for Los Angeles FC and Esperance de Tunis, who face each other knowing that a poor result could result in group-stage elimination from the Club World Cup.
Both sustained 2-0 reverses in their opening games, with the Black and Gold succumbing to Chelsea and the Tunisian champions losing out against Flamengo.
Club World Cup football is a new experience for Los Angeles, who clinched their place at the tournament with a 2-1 success over Mexican outfit America earlier this month.
Esperance are taking part for the fourth time but have had minimal success, winning just one of their seven games in the competition.
Team news
Oliver Giroud is pushing for his first start of the tournament after appearing as a half-time substitute in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. Nathan Ordaz was forced off against the Blues and could make way for 19-year-old attacker David Martinez. Defender Lorenzo Dellavalle misses the tournament with a long-term knee injury.
Esperance de Tunis attackers Abdramane Konate and Elias Mokwana are in contention to replace Yan Sasse and Chiheb Jebali, who were withdrawn at half-time during the 2-0 loss to Flamengo. Rodrigo Rodrigues led the line in the North Africans’ opening game but faces competition from Achref Jebri.
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The stats
Los Angeles FC have scored at least two goals in 10 of their last 11 matches.
Both teams have scored in four of the last five matches involving Los Angeles FC.
Six of the last seven games involving Los Angeles FC have generated at least three goals.
Esperance de Tunis have scored in 23 of their last 25 matches.
Prediction
Los Angeles were not too disheartened by losing to Chelsea in their Club World Cup opener and they can get their campaign up and running by defeating Esperance de Tunis in Nashville.
Having to start off against the big-spending Blues was a tough challenge for the Black and Gold, but they played with a positive mindset and mustered seven shots, four of which were on target.
Experienced Los Angeles head coach Steve Cherundolo will be looking for an even more front-foot performance against the Tunisian champions and has the firepower to get the job done.
Olivier Giroud could be poised for a start but the main threat to Esperance comes from Gabonese striker Denis Bouanga, who has bagged 49 goals in 85 MLS appearances.
While Los Angeles have shown quality in the final third, their opponents look short of potency.
Esperance were toothless in their uninspiring loss to Flamengo and their stay in the States could be short-lived.
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