Sunday, September 6, 2020
7:30pm PT
TV: YouTube TV, TUDN, Unimás
Radio: ESPN LA 710AM, ESPN App, KFWB 980 AM
Just three days after suffering a deflating 3-1 loss in Seattle on Aug. 30 that left head coach Bob Bradley frustrated and admitting that the Club was going through “a very difficult time,” LAFC snapped its three-game losing streak in a definitive way at Banc of California Stadium on Wednesday night, exploding for five goals in a dominating 5-1 performance over the San Jose Earthquakes. Next up for the Black & Gold is a Galaxy team undergoing a resurgence of their own, in what is shaping up to be a must watch battle at Dignity Health Sports Park Sunday night.
The last meeting saw the Galaxy claw back a 2-0 win at Banc of California Stadium on Aug. 22 snapping LAFC’s two-game winning streak over the Galaxy and outscoring them 11 – 5 in the process. The bitter, crosstown rivals have already met seven times in the regular season, with LAFC owning a 1-3-3 record.
After failing to earn three points in their first five games of the 2020 MLS regular season, the Galaxy have been on a tear, winning three straight matches since returning home from the MLS Is Back Tournament. The club opened the year with a 1-1 tie against the Houston Dynamo and 1-0 loss to Vancouver before going winless in their three games in the MLS Is Back, including a historic 6-2 loss at the hands of LAFC. After consecutive victories against LAFC, San Jose and Portland, Galaxy currently sit fifth in the Western Conference with 11 points overall (3-3-2).
The Black & Gold downed the Earthquakes 5-1 on Wednesday, breaking a three-game losing streak across all competitions, the Club’s second-ever such streak in its short history. The Club opened the 2020 MLS Season with a win over expansion Inter Miami FC and a draw against the Philadelphia Union before the season was suspended on March 12th as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the MLS Is Back Tournament, the Black & Gold were sent home by Orlando City SC in the quarterfinals by way of penalties, but not before picking up five regular season points in the group stage with ties against Houston and Portland and a win over the Galaxy. The Club suffered back-to-back losses to the Galaxy and Seattle Sounders before bouncing back against San Jose in the latest regular season restart and currently sits third in the Western Conference with 12 points overall (3-2-3).
GALAXY IN-DEPTH
It has been 15 days since LAFC last met their crosstown rival, but since then Galaxy have looked like a completely different squad from the one at the MLS Is Back Tournament. Offensively, much can be attributed to the recent form of Argentinian forward Christian Pavon, one the top talents in MLS. In the past three matches, Pavon has tallied two goals and two assists, driving the offense and creating countless headaches for opposing defenses. Defensively, the Galaxy are an active and well-organized pressing team that tries to impose themselves on the opposition with their big, physical backline.
STOCK ON THE RISE
With LAFC’s reigning MVP Carlos Vela and MLS Best XI midfielder Eduard Atuesta still sidelined with injuries, it has been imperative for the Club to showcase its depth with players stepping in off the bench to keep head coach Bob Bradley’s system running effectively.
In the last two matches, LAFC’s 21-year-old midfielder Jośe Cifuentes has stepped up in spades in his first two career MLS starts. He tallied an assist against Seattle Sounders FC, created a turnover that lead to the Club’s first goal against San Jose and bagged a goal of his own against the Earthquakes in the 64th minute. After the match, Cifuentes earned praise from Bradley.
“Cifu continues to make progress,” Bradley said. “He got his first goal and showed some really good ability, excellent work there.”
LAFC WILL WIN IF…
If the Club’s offensive marking is well coordinated. LAFC’s attacking style employs a high line, but with that also comes a risk of being caught on dangerous opposing counter attacks. With any potential turnover, the Black & Gold will need to keep track of players like Christian Pavon, who has the ability to produce instant offense. If LAFC is able to manage these moments effectively they will find success.
GALAXY CAN WIN IF…
They continue to keep their form compact and stay conservative. Last time against LAFC, they really limited the Black & Gold’s ability to move up the field and prevented chances throughout the majority of the match. They had a disciplined defense core that rarely ventured forward at any point - making it very difficult for LAFC to counterattack effectively. The Galaxy forwards also did well in tracking back to help defensively, and LAFC has struggled in the past with clubs with conservatively defensive squads.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT…
The likely battle between Latif Blessing and Christian Pavon will be an interesting element to watch. This will be a game where the ball will be coming to Blessing’s side defensively more often. In the last meeting, Pavon was usually matched up against Tristan Blackmon, a less active offensive player who the Galaxy did not make a priority to track back against on defense. With the speedy Blessing potentially playing right back on Sunday and Blackmon in central defense, LAFC will pose more of a counterattacking threat to make Pavon work more on defense.
Galaxy star striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has been sidelined since injuring his right calf in training on July 16 in the MLS is Back Tournament. Earlier this week, Galaxy coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto in a video conference alluded to the possibility of his return for the LAFC match Sunday.
"Today I've been talking with him and with the doctor," Schelotto said. "He was training in the gym and on the pitch and training well, he's growing every day and I think this week he will take some big risks to take some steps forward."
