LA Galaxy Communications

LA Galaxy Starting XI

Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole; Mike Magee, Nigel de Jong, Steven Gerrard, Gyasi Zardes; Sebastian Lletget, Robbie Keane ©

Subs

Clement Diop, Dave Romney, A.J. DeLaGarza, Rafael Garcia, Baggio Husidic, Emmanuel Boateng, Alan Gordon.

Lineup Notes

In the second home match of the season, Bruce Arena will see one change in the Starting XI from last weekend’s side that faced Colorado Rapids on the road in Denver as Ashley Cole returns.
Former UCLA star and Week 2 MLS Save of the Week winner Brian Rowe will again start in net for the Galaxy for the injured Dan Kennedy. Rowe recorded a career high eight saves on the road in Colorado last weekend. Since joining LA in 2012, Rowe has played in 16 MLS matches for the club and made 49 saves, going 7-6-3.
Well-dressed defender Robbie Rogers will continue at right back on Saturday against San Jose after making the switch from the left side in which he played last season. After making the move to defense full-time with a start against Chivas USA on June 8, 2014, the Galaxy have gone 25-10-12 in all MLS competitions in which Rogers appeared, including MLS Cup Playoffs and the MLS Cup Final.
Belgium defender Jelle Van Damme makes his second-straight MLS start for the Galaxy on Saturday against SJ. The versatile defender joined the Galaxy this offseason and has helped lock down the Galaxy defense.
Defender Daniel Steres continues in the Starting XI, making his third-consecutive start to kick off the MLS season. The former LA Galaxy II captain, who was named Los Dos Defender of the Year for the previous two season, has impressed in MLS to start the season, making his debut against D.C. United in the opening match.
Defender Ashley Cole will make his second MLS appearance when the Galaxy host SJ Saturday. The Englishman sat out last weekend’s match in Denver due to some back tightness. In his MLS debut, Cole impressed in a 4-1 win over D.C. United, earning MLS Team of the Week honors.
Bradley Cooper look-a-like Mike Magee will start in the midfield on the right side, returning to the position he oft played when the Galaxy were back-to-back champs. Last time out at StubHub Center, Magee played the hero, propelling LA to four unanswered second-half goals.
2016 acquisition Nigel de Jong will start in midfield. The Lawnmower has played at the highest level throughout his career, featuring for Ajax, Manchester City, A.C. Milan and the Netherlands before coming to the City of Angeles.
Next to de Jong will be English legend Steven Gerrard. The midfielder will pair with de Jong in what is the most accomplished central midfield duo in MLS. Gerrard has played the full 90 in the Galaxy’s first two matches, notching an assist in the opening match vs. D.C.
On the left side of midfield, LA Galaxy Homegrown Player and USMNT regular Gyasi Zardes gets the start. The Hawthorne product, who invited a third-grade class from Hawthorne to Saturday’s match, has tallied 26 total goals and added 10 assists in just 90 MLS games played for LA.
Starting up top will be Da’ Boy Sebastian Lletget, who has impressed since joining LA mid-year in 2015 from English side West Ham. Lletget has notched seven goals, added three assists and has seen hundreds of the word “the” changed to “da” during his limited time with the Galaxy.
Unfairly-handsome Irishman Robbie Keane captains the Galaxy Saturday night in the California Clásico and will lead the Galaxy in the attack. Keane is approaching 100 goals in all competitions with the LA Galaxy, currently having scored 95 goals in just 145 total appearances. The forward has scored in eight of his last nine matches (14 total goals) at StubHub Center.

Game Notes

The Galaxy are 28-20-12 all-time against the Earthquakes, scoring 85 goals and allowing 81.
In home matches against San Jose, LA have gone 18-5-5 with a +21 goal differential.
San Jose is one of three teams in MLS with a perfect 2-0-0 record, having defeated Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers to start the season.
This season, the Galaxy are 1-0-0 at StubHub Center, scoring four goals while allowing just one.
In last year’s California Clásico at StubHub Center, the Galaxy earned a 5-2 win over the Earthquakes on July 17 in Steven Gerrard’s MLS debut.
The Galaxy have been one of the most successful MLS teams at home during the last four seasons, scoring 121 total goals at StubHub Center, the most of any team.
The Galaxy’s home MLS record throughout the last four seasons is 36-5-11, with 121 goals for and just 39 against.
Since 2014, the Galaxy have only lost three MLS games at StubHub Center.

Storylines

How will the Galaxy rebound after a tough road loss to Colorado?
What will Sebastian Lletget and Robbie Keane yield up top for LA?
How will Mike Magee play on the right side of midfield?
Will the Galaxy continue their impressive form at StubHub Center?
Can Brian Rowe continue to impress in net?
Will Joe Tutino bring three separate flavors of gum to the broadcast booth?

Quick Hits

Quotable

Robbie Keane: “I think the more the league grows, the more you’re going to get bigger rivalries. I think when everybody plays against LA Galaxy, I think it’s their rivalry. Everybody wants to beat us. That’s a challenge that we as a team have to deal with and accept. These are always good games to be a part of.”
Robbie Rogers: “The guys are going to have to be ready for a real fight. San Jose started well this season. It might not be the prettiest game, maybe it will, but they’ll probably try to make it really ugly and just try to battle. We have to be ready for that.”
Jelle Van Damme: “I know there’s a rivalry. I prefer games like this than the other way around, without atmosphere or rivals or whatever. It only helps the games to be better.”

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Starting XI: LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes | March 19, 2016