Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 11/4
Bookmaker: BetUS
On Tuesday night, Los Angeles Galaxy will face city rivals Los Angeles FC at the Rose Bowl Stadium in what will be the 20th match of the season for each of the two teams, who currently find themselves close to the opposite ends of the table in Western Conference of the MLS.
Los Angeles Galaxy
The originally planned LA Derby was postponed due to an extratropical cyclone that caused widespread devastation in the United States in February. That’s why the match takes place at this stage of the season.
The postponement may have been welcomed by some Galaxy fans, as their team has struggled in recent matches. Although they have shown improvement under head coach Greg Vanney, the Galaxy have struggled to turn draws into victories. They have had a series of draws against St Louis City, Sporting KC, Colorado Rapids, and the Earthquakes in their most recent match.
Despite their unbeaten streak in MLS extending to five matches, the Galaxy find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, sitting in 13th place. They are only two points above Colorado, who currently occupy the last spot in the standings. In the Supporters’ Shield standings, which ranks teams across the entire league, the Galaxy are also near the bottom.
With only three wins so far this season, the Galaxy’s position in the standings reflects their struggles. They have managed to win two of those matches at home, but the upcoming derby will be played at the neutral ground of Rose Bowl, where both teams will have an equal chance to secure a positive result.
Team News
With no Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who is still recovering from an ACL rupture, the Galaxy will have to rely on the goalscoring abilities of American forward Preston Judd. Judd scored his second goal of the season in their previous match and will be hoping to replicate that performance at Rose Bowl.
While Judd’s recent form may keep Dejan Joveljic out of the starting lineup, the Serbian striker has been a productive scorer in the El Trafico rivalry, with four goals to his name, second only to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s nine goals for the Galaxy.
The nominal hosts will be without Memo Rodriguez, who is dealing with a thigh injury, and Martin Caceres, who is recovering from a knee issue. Raheem Edwards is expected to continue at left-back instead of 20-year-old Julian Aude.
Los Angeles FC
After a brief period of success with victories over Sporting KC and Seattle Sounders in June, LA FC have struggled to maintain their form. They suffered a 2-3 defeat at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps and faced defensive issues once again in their match against Dallas, where they conceded goals to Bernard Kamungo and Samuel Junqua.
LA FC have only managed to win two matches in their last 10 outings, including a defeat in the CONCACAF Champions League final against Leon. Despite their recent struggles, they currently sit in second place in the Western Conference, three points behind St Louis City.
The team’s difficult run began with a 2-0 loss to their bitter rivals Galaxy, in the U.S. Open Cup on May 24. Prior to that defeat, they had enjoyed three consecutive victories in El Trafico matches. With the upcoming clash being between these fierce rivals on the Fourth of July, an exciting and intense encounter can be expected.
Team News
LA FC will continue to play without centre-back Aaron Long, who is still unavailable due to his international commitments with the United States. Meanwhile, Sergi Palencia, Jesus Murillo, and Maxime Crepeau will be absent due to injuries.
Carlos Vela, who has faced criticism for his recent performances, made a substitute appearance in the last match against Dallas. However, the experienced former Arsenal player, who holds the record for the most goals in El Trafico with 12, is expected to return to the starting lineup in this upcoming fixture.
Conclusion
With the history of high-scoring matches between the two Los Angeles teams and the defensive vulnerabilities of LA FC, Galaxy can certainly be optimistic about finding the back of the net.
However, considering the significance of the match and the rivalry at stake, it is plausible to expect an entertaining draw, with both teams earning a point and keeping their positions intact.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 11/4
Bookmaker: BetUS
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