LA Galaxy Starting XI

Brian Rowe; A.J. DeLaGarza, Dave Romney, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole; Jeff Larentowicz, Nigel de Jong; Mike Magee, Steven Gerrard ©, Giovani dos Santos; Alan Gordon.

Substitutions

Clement Diop, Rafael Garcia, Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget, Emmanuel Boateng, Jack McBean.

Lineup Notes

• Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena will again shift his lineup after a short turnaround from a midweek match, making five changes from Wednesday’s squad: Ashley Cole, Jeff Larentowicz, Mike Magee, Steven Gerrard and Alan Gordon start in place of Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget, Emmanuel Boateng and Jack McBean. The Galaxy have yet to start the same two lineups in consecutive matches this season.
• Brian Rowe makes his 15^th appearance of the season Saturday, which is more than double his previous season high for appearances in a single-season. Rowe has been a stud for the Galaxy since taking over in net, with a 1.05 GAA and 48 saves on the year in addition to three shutouts.
• On the right, veteran defender A.J. DeLaGarza starts in his 10^th game of 2016. On the current LA roster, no player has made more appearances for the Galaxy than DeLaGarza (189).
• Belgium Jelle Van Damme will get the start alongside Romney in the center of the defense. Van Damme has been a key addition to the Galaxy defense after joining from Standard Liège this offseason, starting in 13 matches.
• On the left side of the back line, Englishman Ashley Cole gets the start. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and Roma defender has been the top left back in Major League Soccer this season.
• Ironman and MLS vet Jeff Larentowicz gets the start in midfield against San Jose. Larentowicz has been one of the most consistent players in MLS since his debut. Saturday will mark his 295^th MLS start, the most of any player on the Galaxy.
• Alongside Larentowicz in the center of the field, midfielder Nigel de Jong makes his 11^th MLS start since joining ahead before the beginning of the season. De Jong has been a rock in the LA Galaxy midfield.
• Out wide on the right, Mike Magee will make his 13^th start this season and his 16^th appearance overall. Magee just passed the 300 mark in MLS appearances; Saturday will mark his 302^nd appearance in MLS all time.
• Steven Gerrard will look to help the Galaxy create chances Saturday in what will be his 9^th start of the season. With two goals and four assists this year, Stevie G has already matched his 2015 totals and then some.
• The Galaxy will look to playmaker Giovani dos Santos Saturday against San Jose as the Mexican makes his 12^th start of the season. In the process, the Galaxy #10 has scored six goals and added five assists, both of which lead LA on the season.
• A man who is no stranger to the California Clásico, Alan Gordon makes his second start of 2016 Saturday. Gordon has played on both sides of this in-state rivalry during his 10+ year MLS career, tallying 49 goals in his 231 appearances.

Game Notes

• LA have lost just twice in their previous 13 MLS matches.
• In their previous three matches, the Galaxy have given up just one goal.
• Despite a scoreless streak of three games, the Galaxy continue to be tied for the MLS lead in goals scored (27).
• With a goal Saturday, the Galaxy would score their 100^th goal all time against San Jose In 62 meetings all time between LA and SJ, the Galaxy have gone 29-20-13, with 99 goals for and 83 conceded.
• With a 195-118-80 record all-time, LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena is five games away from 200 MLS wins, which would make him only the second coach to reach that milestone.
• This season on the road, the Galaxy have gone 1-3-3 with nine goals scored.
• On Saturday, the Galaxy 18 will feature three players who have joined from LA Galaxy II (Diop, Romney, McBean).

Storylines

• Can the Galaxy find a win on the road?
• Will the Galaxy break their scoring slump Saturday on the road?
• How will the return of both Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard to the XI affect LA?
• Can Alan Gordon provide more Cali Clásico magic?

Quick hits

• Match preview
• LA-SJ – By the Numbers
• Pretty cool – the LA Galaxy signed 20 new players earlier this week
• Story Time – Alan Gordon tells different tales from the Cali Clásico
• Steven Gerrard and Bruce Arena welcome the Galaxy’s newest signings

Quotable

Nigel de Jong:

• “We need to provide the offensive line … with more creativity. It’s not only the problem with the forwards. It has to come from somewhere - the back and the midfielders as well. I’m happy Stevie is back for the next game because he will provide that piece of creativity. Let’s try to get a streak with everybody fit and that we can play with each other for at least 3-4 games so we can get to know each other and just get the hang of the movements of each other … because you need that if you want to be a championship team.”