Lineup Notes:
- In net is England’s second-most famous J. Bond of all time: Jonathan Bond. He is having an MLS Best XI season and has been snubbed as the starting GK in the MLS All-Star Game.
- On the right is Julian Araujo, who tallied two assists in his 50th MLS regular-season appearance for the Galaxy in a 4-1 win over the Timbers last Friday.
- Playing in the center of defense is Séga Coulibaly, who returns to the starting lineup for the first time since starting and playing 40 minutes against Sporting KC on July 4.
- Alongside Coulibaly is Derrick Williams, who has notched two assists in seven appearances (7 starts) in his first season with the Galaxy.
- On the left is MLS veteran Jorge Villafaña, who has locked down the left back spot for the LA Galaxy this season, making 16 starts, tied with Bond as the only two players to start every match this season.
- In the middle of the park is Adam Saldaña, who earns his fifth start of the season.
- Partnering in midfield with Saldaña is Rayan Raveloson (RYE-un RUH-vell-oh-SUN), who has tallied four goals in six games played (6 starts) since making his debut for the Galaxy on July 4.
- Out wide is Efrain Alvarez, who makes his first start for the Galaxy since making two appearances for Mexico in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- Creating in midfield is Sacha Kljestan, who ranks second on the team in chances created (18).
- On the other side of the attack is Frenchman Samuel Grandsir, who tallied his first career goal for LA in a 4-1 win over Portland on July 30.
- Starting up top is Kévin Cabral, who registered his first career goal for the club in the 3-1 win over FC Dallas on July 7.
Game Notes:
- The LA Galaxy are 9-6-1 (28 pts) this season, sitting in third place in the Western Conference standings.
- The Galaxy’s nine wins this season ranks tied for the second most in MLS in 2021.
- The Galaxy sit in fourth place in the Supporters Shield race, behind the New England Revolution (36 points), Seattle Sounders FC (32 points) and Sporting KC (30 points).
- Wednesday’s match marks the 44th MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Real Salt Lake, with the Galaxy leading the series 18-15-10.
- In its last five meetings against RSL dating back to April 28, 2019, LA holds a 3-1-1 record.
- In 22 regular-season home contests vs. Real Salt Lake, the Galaxy hold a 13-7-2 record.
- LA is unbeaten in its last four matches played at home against RSL (3-0-1), dating back to Sept. 30, 2017.
- In the first meeting between the two sides this season, LA battled back to earn a 2-2 draw on the road against RSL on July 21.
- In eight matches played at home in 2021, the Galaxy are 6-2-0, scoring 16 goals and conceding nine.·
- The Galaxy are 5-2-0 in seven matches played in the Community kit in 2021.
- LA is 4-4-1 in nine matches played in its primary kit this season.
- The Galaxy rank fourth in the league in goals scored (27) this season.
- Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 2-2-2 record in six MLS regular-season games managed against Real Salt Lake 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 (94). Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes ranks second (88), while Philadelphia’s Jim Curtain ranks third (83). Orlando’s Oscar Pareja (81) ranks fourth, while Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer rounds out the top five (76).
- Rayan Raveloson ranks second on the team with four goals scored in six games played (6 starts) in 2021.
- Since making his debut on July 4, Raveloson’s four goals scored is tied for first in the league.
- Raveloson’s three headed goals ranks tied for third in MLS.
- Dating back to his LA Galaxy debut on July 4, Raveloson ranks tied for first in the league in goals scored (4).
- Jonathan Bond leads all MLS goalkeepers in wins (9) during the 2021 campaign, and ranks second in the league in saves (64).
- In his last five appearances dating back to July 7, Victor Vázquez has tallied two goals and two assists.
- In seven matches played dating back to June 26, Samuel Grandsir has tallied one goal and four assists.
- Across 12 seasons played in MLS (2006-10, 2015-16) Sacha Kljestan has made 295 regular-season appearances (260 starts), ranking eighth all-time in league history in assists (96) and adding 41 goals.
- Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ranks tied for second in MLS in goals scored (10), behind only Seattle Sounders FC forward Raúl Ruidíaz (11).
- Chicharito ranks tied for 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 (1.29).
- Julian Araujo tallied two assists in the 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on July 30.
- Araujo’s first career two-assist performance was in a 2-0 win over LAFC on Aug. 22, 2020.
- Araujo is tied for the team-lead in assists (4) with Grandsir.
- Sebastian Lletget started and played in the United States Men’s National Team 1-0 win over Mexico in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup final on Aug. 1.·
- Lletget is one of three players on the USMNT roster to have played in and won both the 2021 Concacaf Nations League and the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- Notably, Lletget has played in 12 of the USMNT’s 13 matches across all competitions in 2021.
- Bond, Grandsir, Kljestan and Jorge Villafaña are the only four Galaxy players play in every match this season (16).
- Bond and Villafaña are the only two LA players to start every match this year (16).
Storylines:
- Can the Galaxy continue their strong form at Dignity Health Sports Park?
- Will Rayan Raveloson continue adding in goals from midfield?
- The Galaxy welcome back their guys that played in the Gold Cup. [Efrain Alvarez (Mexico), Oniel Fisher (Jamaica), Sebastian Lletget (United States)]
- Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Julian Araujo selected for 2021 MLS All Star-Game.
Quick hits:
- Match Preview: https://www.lagalaxy.com/news/match-preview-presented-by-echo-outdoor-power-la-galaxy-vs-real-salt-lake-august
- Team of the Week presented by Audi: FC Dallas continue renaissance in Week 16: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/team-of-the-week-presented-by-audi-fc-dallas-continue-renaissance-in-week-16
- Five standout teenagers in MLS this season — by the numbers: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/five-standout-teenagers-in-mls-this-season-by-the-numbers
- Power Rankings: NYCFC, LA Galaxy on the rise after Week 16: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/power-rankings-colorado-nycfc-on-the-rise-after-week-16
