The day is finally here.
Wednesday's match will be the Galaxy's first competitive game of 2016 after going 2-2-1 during their preseason preparations. Santos Laguna arrive at StubHub Center in midseason form with a 3-3-1 record in the Clausura.
Below are links and notes to watch ahead of tonight's match:
NOTES & LINKS:
Santos Laguna will be without forward Andres Renteria, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Renteria has appeared in all seven games for Santos this season with one goal and two assists. The Guerreros also have goalkeeper AgustÃn MarchesÃn, defender Adrian Aldrete, defender Néstor Araujo, midfielder Diego Gonzalez, midfielder Jesus Molina, midfielder Nestor Calderon, and forward Djanny on yellow card watch. The Galaxy have zero players in threat of being suspended due to yellow card accumulation for the return-leg.
Giovani dos Santos says that he's relishing the opportunity to take on a Mexican opponent for the first time in his career.
Robbie Keane has a special message for LA Galaxy fans ahead of Wednesday: Create a true home-field advantage.
*LAGalaxy.com's Larry Morgan provides a preview to Wednesday's match.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Giovani dos Santos vs. Jorge Villafana
Dos Santos has yet to find the back of the net this preseason but has shown spurts of dangerous attacking play to date. He'll likely be a focal point of the Galaxy attack when he matches up against the former Portland Timbers and Chivas USA man along the right side of midfield. If Dos Santos can be a threat, it may give the Galaxy attack the kick start that they need to pull ahead in the series.
Djanny vs. Jelle Van Damme
The Galaxy's newest defender will have his hands full on Wednesday as he takes on the in-form Djanny. The striker from Cape Verde has two goals and one assist this season and undoubtedly seek to find spaces behind the Galaxy's back four on Wednesday. To stop the Santos forward, Van Damme will need to be more disciplined defensively than he was against Seattle.
Robbie Keane vs. Nestor Araujo
It's experience vs. youth as the veteran Irish forward takes on the 24-year-old Mexican center back in a match that may define the series. The 6-foot-2 Santos defender is not the fastest central defender, but his physicality and skill on the ball should make him a worthy adversary for Keane. Expect the Galaxy captain to combine with striker Gyasi Zardes to find gaps behind Araujo and the rest of the Santos backline.
