San Diego FC Hand Anders Dreyer the Keys Against Seattle as Both XIs Confirmed

San Diego FC and Seattle Sounders FC have confirmed their starting XIs for Sunday's Major League Soccer Round 31 meeting at Snapdragon Stadium, and the two shapes tell the story before a ball is kicked. San Diego line up in a 4-3-3. Seattle set up in a 4-2-3-1.

The home side's front three carries the attacking weight. Anders Dreyer and Amahl Pellegrino are both named in the San Diego XI, giving the 4-3-3 two wide runners to stretch Seattle's back line and pin the full-backs. Alejandro Alvarado is also in the side, and his inclusion points to San Diego wanting a midfielder who can receive between Seattle's lines rather than simply circulate possession in front of them.

Seattle's 4-2-3-1 puts Albert Rusnák in the central attacking role, the position that decides whether the two holding midfielders behind him can control tempo or spend the night chasing. In a 4-2-3-1, the No. 10 is the hinge: if Rusnák finds pockets between San Diego's midfield three and back four, Seattle's wide players get isolated one-on-one; if San Diego's midfield screens that space, Seattle's build-up flattens into sideways passing and the striker is starved.

That is the central contest of the first half. San Diego's 4-3-3 gives them a natural three-versus-two in central midfield against Seattle's double pivot, but it also means the San Diego No. 6 has to decide whether to step onto Rusnák or hold position. Step too early and Seattle play through the gap; sit too deep and Rusnák turns unopposed.

Andrew Thomas is named in the San Diego XI, and his presence behind a 4-3-3 matters for how aggressively the home side can press. A goalkeeper comfortable playing out allows San Diego's full-backs to push higher and the front three to press Seattle's centre-backs without the fear of a long ball turning into a footrace. Thomas's distribution under Seattle's first line of pressure is one of the quieter swing factors in this match.

Seattle's 4-2-3-1 is designed to make that pressure awkward. The two holding midfielders can drop either side of the centre-backs to create a back four in possession, which pulls San Diego's wide forwards inside and opens the touchline for Seattle's full-backs. If San Diego's front three do not press with coordination, Seattle will advance the ball to the halfway line without a duel.

Both teams have gone with recognisable, first-choice shapes rather than a reactive setup. San Diego's 4-3-3 is an attacking declaration at home: three forwards, a midfield three asked to win the ball high, and full-backs expected to overlap. Seattle's 4-2-3-1 is the counter-punch: two holders to survive San Diego's press, Rusnák to spring the transition, and the wide attackers to attack the space San Diego's advancing full-backs leave behind.

The match at Snapdragon Stadium kicks off at 2:30 AM UTC on Sunday, October 25, with Seattle entering as the outsider at a 33% winning probability and San Diego the slight favourite. Form lines and home advantage point one way; the shape matchup points to a game decided in the 20 metres either side of Rusnák.