It’s Wednesday night at BMO Stadium, also Hello Kitty Night, as LAFC host Austin FC. The last time the two sides met was back in March, a 0-0 draw at Q2 Stadium in Austin. At the time, Marc Dos Santos was managing LAFC and Nico Estévez was in charge of Austin FC. Since then, both clubs have parted ways with their managers and turned to interim alternatives. Xavi Tamarit has managed only one match since being appointed LAFC’s interim manager after Dos Santos’s sacking in late September. Austin’s Davy Arnaud, on the other hand, has been in charge of his side since the club fired Estévez back in late May. Tamarit’s first match as LAFC’s interim manager was a frustrating one. Facing the Vancouver Whitecaps, who lead the Western Conference table, was already a tough task. Seven minutes into the match, former LAFC player Tristan Blackmon was sent off for fouling Jacob Shaffelburg and denying him a clear scoring opportunity. That didn’t stop Vancouver, as Oliver Larraz scored in the 43rd minute, and for the entire first half it barely looked like they were a man down. Denis Bouanga equalized right after the start of the second half, but the Black and Gold were unable to find a winner and drew 1-1 with a side that played almost the entire match a man down. After the draw, they sit 6th in the Western Conference with 42 points, from 11 wins, 9 draws, and 9 losses. Bouanga continues to be the star of the team with 15 goals and 5 assists in just this MLS season, with 22 goals and 5 assists in all competitions. Since Arnaud took over, he has done a decent job, picking up 7 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses in all competitions. At one point, Arnaud had the club on an eight-game unbeaten streak, which included a shocking win away at Vancouver’s BC Place. He also led a good Leagues Cup run, with Austin being one of four MLS clubs to reach the quarterfinals before being eliminated by eventual winners Toluca. Unlike LAFC, Austin already has a manager lined up for next season: former Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin, who brings plenty of MLS experience. Austin are coming off a match they will want to forget, a 4-1 home loss to Nashville SC. Being down 1-0 at halftime wasn’t so bad, but Nashville pulled away in the second half with a dominant performance. Austin currently sit 13th in the Western Conference with 31 points, from 7 wins, 10 draws, and 11 losses. These two sides have met 16 times, and the fixture has historically favored the Black and Gold, who have won 9 of those matches, compared to 4 for the Verde and Black, and 3 draws. A win would mean a lot to both sides. LAFC want to reach the top 4 in the Western Conference, and a victory would keep them in contention. For Austin, a win would keep their playoff hopes alive, while a loss would make playoff contention even more difficult.