LAFC vs LA Galaxy
Saturday, September 16 at 7:30 pm PT
Location: BMO Stadium - Los Angeles, California
Radio: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera
After a 2-0 defeat on the road to the Portland Timbers last Saturday night, LAFC looks to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts rival Galaxy on Saturday, September 16, at BMO Stadium.
Despite winning the possession battle (61-39 percent), the Black & Gold were unable to generate enough scoring opportunities at Providence Park, resulting in the Club’s third three-game losing streak of the season, across all competitions.
LAFC remains in third place in the Western Conference Standings with 40 points and seven matches to play. Saturday marks LAFC’s last home MLS match until its Oct. 1 date with Real Salt Lake.
Galaxy and LAFC square off for their fourth meeting this season across all competitions, with the Carson-based club taking the most recent match, 2-1, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on the Fourth of July.
GALAXY IN-DEPTH
Led by head coach Greg Vanney, the Galaxy are on a four-game unbeaten run and are looking to make a late-season surge toward the postseason. The Club currently sits in 13th place in the Western Conference with 30 points after playing to a 2-2 draw against St. Louis City SC last Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
After losing Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Gaston Brugman, and Martin Caceres to season-ending injuries, the Galaxy have added Diego Fagundez (trade with Austin FC), Billy Sharp (free transfer), Maya Yoshida (free transfer), and Michael Barrios (trade with Rapids) in hopes of claiming one of the nine available MLS Cup playoff spots.
THE BLACK & GOLD WILL WIN IF
It can score first. LAFC are an impressive 16W-1L-3D (in all competitions) when it gets on the scoreboard before its opponent. (LAFC’s lone loss when scoring first came against Monterrey, in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal.) With just two goals over its last three matches, LAFC’s attack would benefit emotionally, tactically, and otherwise – if it can create a 1-0 advantage over its local rival. The return of forward Denis Bouanga from international duty should help.
GALAXY CAN WIN IF
Riqui Puig and Tyler Boyd continue to create promising chances. Puig has not only scored in his last two matches against LAFC but has been involved in at least one goal in seven of his last eight regular-season matches. Boyd has also made a name for himself in this derby, scoring in all three meetings with LAFC in 2023.
