Austin FC head coach Nico Estevez believes his side are edging closer to finding their identity after their fine start to the 2025 MLS season. 

Estevez watched on as Austin beat San Diego FC 2-1 last time out, a result that saw them move up to second in the Western Conference after five games of their campaign. 

Having endured a difficult start with rivals FC Dallas last year, Estevez was relieved of his duties but has since stamped his style with Austin, but acknowledged that his team were still finding their feet and could still improve further. 

"We are still in the process of getting better. We are a new group, and we have new players, new staff, and we are building towards something that we believe can create an identity with everyone," Estevez said. 

"Everyone knows what we are trying to do, and it is recognisable to them. We are not there yet. We have seen some things that are difficult to beat, a team that has a good mentality when they don't have the ball and they work hard. 

"I think we are getting some of those things that help us build our identity, but we need to be a little bit more consistent in some of those areas. We also need to play more together with all of the players. For me, that is the key."

St. Louis City have also enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, sitting just one point but three places behind Austin heading into their clash at Energizer Park this weekend. 

And head coach Olof Mellberg believes there are similarities between the two sides, citing that both teams have the ability to adapt in certain situations. 

St. Louis' success has been built from the back. They are the fifth team in MLS history to allow just one goal in their first five matches of a season. But their eight points (W2 D2 L1), however, are the fewest of those five teams.

"I think you could actually make comparisons to Austin," Mellberg said. "We are very similar.

"They have had a good start results wise, and we are two teams that are able to play on the ball and also haven't got a problem with defending deep, and defending well. 

"You have seen, in the last couple of games, they have had very low ball possession but have won games. They are a good team on the ball, and that is similar to us, I would say. 

"We have been able to mix it up and be unpredictable to ensure we can do everything we can to win games."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Marcel Hartel

Though St. Louis have been brilliant at the back, they have failed to shine in the final third, scoring just four goals this season. Only the Houston Dynamo (three) have scored fewer, and Hartel will be key to their chances this weekend.  

He ended their defeat against the Philadelphia Union having played more crosses (five) than any of his team-mates, but it mattered little as St. Louis ended the contest with a measly expected goals (xG) total of just 0.16. 

Austin FC – Brandon Vazquez

Vazquez opened his Austin account since his move from Monterrey last time out and impressed in the contest, ending the game with team-high totals for shots (five), touches in the opposition box (six) and fouls won (three). 

The American has, however, lost his one and only game against St. Louis, but he will be hoping his confidence-boosting goal can help guide his side to victory. 

MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CITY WIN

St. Louis are unbeaten in four all-time meetings with Austin (W3 D1), scoring 12 goals over the four games. They have also won their two previous home games against them by a combined score of 7-1.

But their 1-0 defeat to Philadelphia last time out was the first time in club history that they have lost one of their first five games of a season. Entering that match, Mellberg's side had a record of W8 D6 L0 in the first five matches of seasons in club history.

Austin, meanwhile, have recorded consecutive wins with victories over Los Angeles FC and San Diego. This is the ninth time since the start of the 2023 season that they have won two straight matches in all competitions, but the Verde's last three-match winning run was between June and July 2022 (four straight).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City – 48.8%

Draw – 25.7%

Austin FC – 25.5%