Our MLS prediction, preview for Copa Tejas

Austin FC needs a win.

Whether or not it comes Saturday at Q2 Stadium in a derby match with its northern rival FC Dallas won’t necessarily make or break the Verde & Black’s season, but they would be better off to grab three points sooner rather than later.

As Austin FC (0-2-3, 3 points) looks to Copa Tejas to jumpstart its season following a subpar performance in a 2-0 loss at Orlando, here’s what you need to know about the match and our prediction:

Pereira, Cascante back in the fold

Both midfielder Dani Pereira (Venezuela) and center back Julio Cascante (Costa Rica) return to the club after missing the Orlando match on national team duty.

In his weekly meeting with the media, Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff hinted both players would likely start, even though Cascante just played 90 minutes against Argentina Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Even if Cascante can only play the first half, the return of both players is a huge boost for the club.

Cascante and Matt Hedges have formed a solid center back pairing, while Pereira will presumably start alongside midfielder Sebastián Driussi and forward Diego Rubio for the first time this season.

It will be interesting to see how that trio works together for an extended amount of time, but it’s something that should only be beneficial for the club from an attacking standpoint.

Frankly, even with defenders Leo Väisänen and Jan Komanic out with significant injuries, this is the best shape roster-wise Austin FC has been in since the season opener.

Driussi progressing

Wolff noted Driussi is healthy after playing 70 minutes last week — which he also stated was more than the club wanted him to play — and the media witnessed him walking off the training field Thursday with a big smile on his face.

More: As Austin FC gets set to begin the season, sporting director Rodolfo Borrell preaches patience in the process

It might take him a couple of more weeks to play a full match and get back to his dominant self, but he doesn’t appear to have any lingering issues from the hamstring injury he suffered in the preseason.

Stay honest as always

In talking with the media Thursday, goalkeeper Brad Stuver was his usual frank self.

He noted that the players are frustrated with the season’s results, but said they have to be forward-looking and produce good practices.

“For me, it’s about letting yourself process what happened in the game, but then you have to make sure that everybody’s mentality is OK,” said Stuver, who leads the league in saves with 26. “It’s then focusing on what we have to do to get the points this weekend, and what we have to do to make ourselves better. … I’m going to put the work in on the training field and hold the guy accountable there. Because if we don’t hold guys accountable in training, then we can’t hold each other accountable on game day.”

Copa Tejas… it just means more

If you aren’t familiar with it or don’t remember, Copa Tejas is an in-season competition between the three Texas MLS clubs based off of their six league matches against each other.

Austin FC has won the event the last two years, famously claiming its first trophy in 2022 by celebrating in the parking lot of Toyota Stadium in Frisco with Verde & Black fans when FC Dallas wouldn’t allow it to celebrate on the field.

Last season’s trophy came in more muted circumstances, as with Houston and Dallas only meeting twice, Austin FC’s first matches with its rivals — both losses — didn’t count in the competition. And the final standings weren’t decided until late in the season when Houston and Dallas played to a tie, which was in the middle of the Verde & Black’s second-half slump.

Still, a trophy is a trophy, and Austin FC didn’t make the MLS schedule or the competition’s rules.

And while the game doesn’t have any more impact in the league standings than any other contest, the Verde & Black would do themselves a favor with a fan base that is getting restless with a win in a rivalry match.

Both Stuver and Wolff noted that the days leading up to Copa Tejas matches have a little bit more of an edge to them.

“You see more tackles in training,” Stuver said. “Some guys will probe each other and try to get under each other’s skin just to mimic what’s going to happen in the game. … We hold the cup and don’t want it to go anywhere. We know the importance of this game.”

MLS needs to figure out international breaks

Last week was a bad look for the MLS to have so many of its key players missing a matchday due to national team duty.

The simple solution is — like most other leagues around the globe — not to have games during the international schedule.

Stuver, who is Austin FC’s player representative for the MLSPA, said he understands the league is trying to ease schedule congestion and travel, but thinks there needs to be a balance.

“I don’t want players to kind of get into where they feel obliged to choose one over the other,” he said. “It’s a great honor to play for your national team. … (International breaks are) something we’re always discussing. It’s a nuanced issue that is kind of hard to navigate, especially with our calendar.”

Austin FC vs. FC Dallas prediction

Austin FC 2, FC Dallas 1: While predicting a win coming off last week’s subpar performance may not seem wise, Austin FC has generally played well at home this season outside of the first half against Minnesota. Pereira and Cascante being on the field will help significantly, and unlike vs. In Orlando, the team actually has options on the bench. Plus, Austin FC should be motivated as these clubs don’t particularly like each other.