It’s derby time for St. Louis City SC. Olof Mellberg’s men are heading to Kansas to square off with their rivals for the first time this season and it’s a more intriguing match up than you might think. Let’s dive in!
On paper, you’d expect City to be the heavy favorites. St. Louis sits 9th in the West with 8 points through six matches. Sporting, meanwhile, have yet to win a game and have just one point as they are last in the West heading into this contest. City has dropped back to back games while Kansas City have just one draw in their last thirteen.
For the visitors, the biggest questions heading into this match are depth and offense. City will be without Roman Bürki, Tomas Totland, Jannes Horn, Eduard Löwen, Chris Durkin, and Rasmus Alm. The depleted midfield will test the both the depth of the squad and the creativity of Mellberg, who continues to try to find the best way to get consistent offense from his team. Speaking of the offense, Cedric Teuchert should provide a boost in that area as he returns after missing last weekend’s clash with Austin FC. St. Louis has struggled to consistently score this season, being shut out in four of six matches so far. After sending out an XI filled with 8 defensive players at home against Austin, it will be curious to see how Mellberg sets up his side to play on Saturday night.
The hosts come into this tilt hoping for a new manager bounce after Sporting agreed to mutually part ways with Peter Vermes after 15 years earlier this week. Long time assistant and former player Kerry Zavagnin takes over as interim head coach after serving under Vermes since 2009. His first task will be finding a way to end the clubs’ record 13 game winless streak dating back to September 2024. A key component to that will be improving the defensive form as Kansas City has conceded a league high 12 goals through six matches. On the flip side, Sporting’s offense has been a little better than City; scoring 5 goals so far. Offseason acquisition Dejan Joveljić and Daniel Sallói lead the club with two goals each as they look to test the City backline that has only allowed one goal from open play through six matches.
Starting XI and Prediction
Mellberg has shown he’s willing to take risks in the way he sets up his team. In the last match against Austin, his named starting XI included eight defensive players and just a couple of attackers. Who he names in this squad might be less about his preferred tactics and more so about squad health and how he wants them to play based on available players. With both of the City starting central midfielders set to miss this match we could see another more defensive set up and based on player availability it would not shock me if he goes that direction.
I don’t expect any major tactical shift in this match either. I think Mellberg wants a side that is defensively strong and clinical in finishing. I don’t know that he’s looking for a specific quantity of chances but rather good enough quality and more conversion of those chances. For this match, I think he sticks with a 3-4-2-1 formation. Ben Lundt will be in goal. In front of him, I’d love to see Timo Baumgartl get a run out but I don’t see him starting. I think the back three will be Joakim Nilsson, Henry Kessler and Kyle Hiebert. After playing more centrally against Austin, I think Conrad Wallem returns to the left side with Alfredo Morales and. Tomáš Ostrák between Wallem and Akil Watts on the right side. In front of them, I would like to see Marcel Hartel and Cedric Teuchert playing under João Klauss as they try to test the Sporting backline and find a little more possession and quality in the final third.
Where’s Célio? Why aren’t you putting him in the XI? I think Célio had a solid game against Austin. He did more than enough in that match to earn a look and even get a shot for a start. However, I think Mellberg values him as substitute who can impact the game with a spark of energy late in matches. I would love to see him in the XI, but I just don’t expect it with Teuchert returning to fitness.
Now that we have the lineup, it’s time for the prediction. New coach bounce? Who cares! No way I’m picking Sporting to get a win over City. I think this is the match Klauss ends his goal drought and that St. Louis takes a 2-0 win at Children’s Mercy Park.
Taking his passion for soccer and St. Louis to the next level, Jeremy aims to provide analytical coverage of all this St. Louis City SC.
