Los Angeles FC v Colorado Rapids: Armas excited for ‘benchmark’ challenge

LAFC were knocked out of the group stage in the revamped competition after defeats to Chelsea and ES Tunis and a draw against Flamengo.

They were one of three MLS sides to feature in the Club World Cup, alongside the Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami.

The Rapids have already played LAFC twice this season in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Colorado won the first match 2-1 at home before LAFC responded with a 1-0 victory of their own, which was enough to progress on away goals.

Armas and his side are looking forward to testing themselves against LAFC again, but also want to build on their attacking performance from their last match.

Despite losing 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City, the Rapids accumulated 4.07 expected goals (xG) in the defeat.

Armas said: “We are excited for this one for many reasons. One, [there is] not too much delay from our last game, to get right back out there.

“We think that although the result was not there against Kansas City, it is one of the historic games in MLS in terms of creating chances, xG, really getting our offence going so we really want to capitalise on a little momentum.

A midweek trip to the City of Angels for our first league clash of the season against LAFC Everything you need for kickoff lives in our Game Preview » https://t.co/Uaul93cmcV#Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/xcUK3SNBvt

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 8, 2025

“At the same time, there is a real burning desire to win games, get points, and inch closer to our goal, which is the playoffs.

“You always love putting yourself up against the best. The best players in the league, the best coaches in the league and we think they [LAFC] are the benchmark.”

Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett added: “We’re excited. This is a team we know very well, we have already played them twice this year.

“It’s going to be a tough test in Los Angeles but we’re forward to building on our performance on the ball from the last game, and hopefully adding a few more goals to that.”

Both teams are on 26 points in the West, but LAFC are two places above the Rapids in seventh and have played four matches fewer.

Since returning to MLS action, LAFC have beaten Sporting Kansas City and drawn with CF Montreal.

Denis Bouanga has been a key player for LAFC this season. He is the side's top scorer with eight goals.

He scored the team’s only goal at the Club World Cup, finding the net in their draw against Flamengo.

Bouanga has also laid on five assists in the league this year, so the Rapids will do well to keep him quiet.

Rafael Navarro has been one of Rapids’ leading attacking threats this season, scoring seven times so far.

Navarro has scored in consecutive regular-season appearances for the third time this season, also doing so in March and April. His only longer goalscoring streak in league play was a five-match run in May 2024.

LAFC have won all eight of their home matches against Colorado across all competitions, outscoring the Rapids, 22-2.

They have also kept clean sheets in their last five home matches against the Rapids, last conceding a goal against them in 2021.

Colorado are winless in six straight away matches (D2 L4), conceding multiple goals in all of those games. The Rapids have lost 12 of their last 13 midweek road fixtures, including the last seven in a row.

LAFC, meanwhile, have six wins, one draw, and two losses this season in nine MLS contests at home.

LAFC – 63.0%

Draw – 19.6%