LA Galaxy

Starting XI presented by Modelo: LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes | August 20, 2021

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Lineup Notes:

  • In net is England’s second-most famous J. Bond of all time: Jonathan Bond. He has made 19 appearances (19 starts) in 1,710 minutes of action in 2021.
  • On the right is Julian Araujo, who was named to the 2021 MLS All-Star Game. Araujo is tied for the team-lead in assists (4) in 19 regular-season appearances (19 starts) in 2021.
  • Playing in the center of defense is Séga Coulibaly, who has started four consecutive matches dating back to Aug. 4.
  • Alongside Coulibaly is Nick DePuy, who makes his first start since a 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on July 30.
  • On the left is Niko Hämäläinen (hahm-uh-LINE-en), who has started an played 90 minutes in two consecutive matches since signing on loan from QPR on Aug. 6.
  • In midfield is Sebastian Lletget, who will play in his 145th regular-season game for the Galaxy.
  • Playing as the holding midfielder is Rayan Raveloson (RYE-un RUH-vell-oh-SUN), who has been one of the best mid-season additions in MLS this season.
  • Closing out the three-man midfield is Sacha Kljestan, who has tallied three goals and four assists in 19 games played (10 starts) this year.
  • Playing on the right wing is Efrain Alvarez, who has registered two game-winning goals in nine starts for LA this season.
  • On the opposite wing is Kévin Cabral, who has notched three goals and an assist in 15 games played (14 starts) in his first year with the club.
  • Starting up top is Dejan Joveljić (day-YAHN YO-vul-ITCH), who tallied an assist in his LA Galaxy debut in the win over the Loons on Aug. 14.

Game Notes:

  • The LA Galaxy are 11-7-2 (35 pts) this season, sitting in third place in the Western Conference standings.
  • The Galaxy’s 11 wins this season ranks tied for the second most in MLS in 2021 with Sporting KC and Seattle Sounders FC.
  • The Galaxy (35 points) sit in fourth place in the Supporters Shield race, behind the New England Revolution (46 points), Seattle Sounders FC (39) and Sporting KC (38).
  • Following a loss during the 2021 campaign, the Galaxy are 5-0-1, outscoring their opponents 14-6.
  • In its last five league matches played dating back to a 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on July 30, LA is 3-1-1.
  • In 11 games played at home in 2021, the Galaxy are 7-3-1, having scored 19 goals, conceded 12 and posted three shutouts for a +7 goal differential at Dignity Health Sports Park.
  • LA is 5-5-2 in 12 matches played in its primary kit this season.
  • The Galaxy are 8-2-0 in 10 matches played in their Community Kit in 2021.
  • The Galaxy rank tied for sixth in the league in goals scored (31) this season.
  • Friday’s match marks the 77th all-time MLS regular-season meeting between the Galaxy and the Earthquakes with LA leading the series 34-26-16.
  • Friday’s meeting between the two sides marks the third matchup between LA and San Jose in 2021, with the Galaxy holding an unbeaten record (2-0-0).
  • In 36 regular-season home meetings against San Jose, the Galaxy hold a 22-8-6 record.
  • Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 4-2-2 record in eight MLS regular-season games managed against San Jose during his time as a manager in MLS (2014-Present).
  • In 22 career MLS regular-season games played (21 starts) against San Jose, Vanney tallied two goals and one assist.
  • 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 (81) ranks fourth, while Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer rounds out the top five (78).
  • With two more wins, Greg Vanney (98-75-50, .552) will become the 11th coach in MLS history to win 100 career MLS regular-season games.
  • Through 20 games played in 2021, the Galaxy are 11-7-2 with 31 goals scored and 30 goals allowed (+1 GD)
  • Through 20 games played in 2020, LA held a record of 6-11-3 with 26 goals scored and 42 goals allowed (-16 GD).
  • Seventeen different players have made their Galaxy debut this season under Head Coach Greg Vanney.
  • Rayan Raveloson ranks second on the team with five goals scored in 10 games played (10 starts) in his first season with LA.
  • Raveloson ranks tied for fourth in the league in headed goals this year (3).
  • In 13 career regular-season games played (11 starts) against San Jose, Sebastian Lletget has tallied three goals and one assist.
  • Lletget was one of four players on the USMNT this year to win both the Concacaf Nations League and the Gold Cup.
  • Lletget has played in 12 of the USMNT’s 13 matches across all competitions in 2021
  • Amongst all MLS goalkeepers, Jonathan Bond ranks tied for first in wins (10) and ranks second in saves (74) during the 2021 campaign.
  • In his first career appearance against San Jose, Bond tallied 12 saves in a 1-0 win on May 29. The performance earned Bond the MLS Player of the Week for Week 7.
  • Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ranks fifth in MLS in goals scored (10).
  • 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 (1.36).
  • Across 12 seasons played in MLS (2006-10, 2015-16) Sacha Kljestan has made 298 regular-season appearances (262 starts), ranking eighth all-time in league history in assists (97) and adding 41 goals.
  • With his next two appearances, Kljestan will become the 48th player in league history to appear in 300 MLS regular-season games.
  • Samuel Grandsir is the only two Galaxy player to play in every match this season (19).
  • Grandsir is tied for third in the league in shots hitting the woodwork (4).
  • Julian Araujo’s four assists during the 2021 campaign is a new career-high.
  • Jonathan Klinsmann was named to the MLS Team of the Week after tying a career-high with six saves and posting a shutout in his first start of 2021 in a 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC on Aug. 14.

Storylines:

  • Will LA continue to their strong play at Dignity Health Sports Park (7-3-1) this year?
  • Can Rayan Raveloson continue to bang in goals from midfield?
  • New boys Dejan Joveljić and Niko Hämäläinen have played twice since making their debut in a win over Minnesota on Aug. 14.
  • LA Galaxy’s young players continue to contribute as six players aged 22 or younger saw the field in the win over Minnesota on Aug. 14 (Efrain Alvarez – 19, Julian Araujo – 20, Cameron Dunbar – 18, Kévin Cabral – 22, Dejan Joveljić – 22, Adam Saldaña – 19).
  • Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Julian Araujo selected for 2021 MLS All Star-Game.

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