Lineup Notes:
- In net is England’s second-most famous J. Bond of all time: Jonathan Bond. He has made 21 appearances (21 starts), ranking third in the league in wins (10) amongst all league goalkeepers in 2021.
- Playing as a right wingback is Julian Araujo, who participated in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game. Araujo ranks tied for second in the league in assists (6) amongst all defenders.
- Playing as part of a three-man back line Séga Coulibaly, who has started six consecutive matches dating back to Aug. 4.
- Next to Coulibaly is Daniel Steres, who makes his first start since playing 90 minutes against FC Dallas on July 24.
- Alongside Steres is Derrick Williams, who has tallied three assists in 14 games played (13 starts) in his first season for the Galaxy.
- Playing as the left wingback is Jorge Villafaña, who makes his first start since playing 65 minutes against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Aug. 8.
- In midfield is Jonathan dos Santos, who will make his 93rd appearance (80 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy.
- Playing next to Dos Santos is Sebastian Lletget, who tallied an assist in the 3-3 draw against LAFC on Aug. 28.
- On the opposite wing is Kévin Cabral, who has notched three goals in his last four appearances dating back to a 1-1 draw against Vancouver on Aug. 8.
- Opposite Cabral is Victor Vázquez, who leads the Galaxy with 37 chances created during the 2021 campaign.
- Making his first start since tallying two goals against San Jose on June 26 is Chicharito, who has tallied 10 goals in 10 games played for LA this year.
Game Notes:
- The LA Galaxy are 11-8-3 (36 pts) this season, sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
- Saturday’s match marks the 79th MLS regular-season meeting between LA and the Colorado Rapids, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 37-30-11.
- In 38 regular-season road matches against Colorado, LA holds a 13-20-5 record.
- In the last six road matches against the Rapids dating back to Aug. 20, 2014, the Galaxy hold a 3-3-0 record.
- Dating back to a 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on July 30, the LA Galaxy hold a 3-2-2 record.
- During that time frame, LA ranks tied for third in the league in goals scored (12).
- In 10 games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, the Galaxy hold a 4-4-2 record.
- LA’s four road wins ranks fifth in the league, while its 15 goals scored on the road ranks tied for fifth in MLS.
- Dating back to July 21, the Galaxy are 1-1-2 in their last four road matches played in league play.
- The Galaxy rank tied for fifth in the league in goals scored (35) this season.
- Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 2-3-1 record in six MLS regular-season games managed against Colorado during his time as a manager in MLS (2014-Present).
- Dating back to the beginning of the 2015 MLS regular season, Vanney ranks first amongst all MLS head coaches in wins (96). Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes ranks second (90), while Philadelphia’s Jim Curtain ranks third (85). Orlando’s Oscar Pareja (83) ranks fourth, while Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer rounds out the top five (79).
- With two more wins, Greg Vanney (98-76-51, .549) will become the 11th coach in MLS history to win 100 career MLS regular-season games.
- Greg Vanney and Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser played together for five seasons on the LA Galaxy (1996-2000), where they won a Supporters’ Shield (1998) and the Concacaf Champions’ Cup (2000). Notably, Vanney and Fraser were both named to the MLS Best XI during the 2000 season.
- Seventeen different players have made their Galaxy debut this season under Head Coach Greg Vanney.
- Dejan Joveljić opened his Galaxy goal-scoring account by registering a brace in his first career start against LAFC on Aug. 28.
- After tallying the game-tying goal against LAFC on Aug. 28, Kévin Cabral has now tallied a goal in three of his last four games played.
- Since notching a goal against Vancouver on Aug. 8, Cabral ranks tied for sixth in the league in goals scored (3) during that span.
- Rayan Raveloson ranks second on the team with five goals scored in 12 games played (12 starts) in his first season with LA.
- Amongst all MLS goalkeepers, Jonathan Bond ranks third in wins (10) and ranks second in saves (87) during the 2021 campaign.
- Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ranks tied for fifth in MLS in goals scored (10) during the 2021 season.
- Chicharito ranks second in MLS in goals per 90 minutes played (1.04) with a minimum of 400 minutes played, behind only D.C. United’s Ola Kamara (1.21).
- In five games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, Chicharito has tallied five goals
- Across 12 seasons played in MLS (2006-10, 2015-16) Sacha Kljestan has made 299 regular-season appearances (262 starts), ranking eighth all-time in league history in assists (97) and adding 41 goals.
- With his next appearance, Kljestan will become the 49th player in league history to appear in 300 MLS regular-season games.
- Additionally, Kljestan would be the 12th active player in MLS to appear in 300 league games.
- Sebastian Lletget, who tallied an assist against LAFC on Aug. 28, has tallied one goal and four assists in 14 games played (13 starts).
- Lletget tallied a goal off the bench in the USMNT’s 4-1 win over Honduras on Sept. 8.
- Samuel Grandsir is the only Galaxy player to play in every match this season (22).
- Grandsir is tied for third in the league in shots hitting the woodwork (4).
Storylines:
- How many goals will Chicharito score in his return from injury?
- Can Kévin Cabral continue his run of form of three goals in his last four appearances?
- Can Dejan Joveljić build off his two-goal performance against LAFC?
- LA Galaxy defenders Danilo Acosta (Honduras), Oniel Fisher (Jamaica) and Niko Hämäläinen (Finland) and midfielders Carlos Harvey (Panama), Sebastian Lletget (United States), Jonathan dos Santos (Mexico) and Rayan Raveloson (Madagascar) return back to the club after participating in FIFA World Cup Qualifying for their respective countries.
Quick hits:
- Galaxy’s Javier Hernandez set to return after 11-week absence: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/09/10/galaxys-javier-hernandez-set-to-return-after-11-week-absence/
- How the LA Galaxy rebuilt their roster to accelerate the Greg Vanney era: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/how-the-la-galaxy-rebuilt-their-roster-to-accelerate-the-greg-vanney-era
- Chicharito set for LA Galaxy return Saturday against Colorado Rapids: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/chicharito-set-for-la-galaxy-return-saturday-against-colorado-rapids
- MLS notebook: Colorado Rapids-LA Galaxy tilt could be huge in wild Western Conference playoff race: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2021/09/09/mls-notebook-western-conference-playoff-race-could-get-wild/5781435001/
- NOTEBOOK: GALAXY, AND CHICHARITO, BACK IN ACTION AGAINST COLORADO: http://cornerofthegalaxy.com/2021/09/09/notebook-galaxy-and-chicharito-back-in-action-against-colorado/
