Lineup Notes:
- Making his third start of the season is Jonathan Klinsmann. In his first start of the 2021 campaign, Klinsmann tallied six saves in a 1-0 road win over Minnesota United FC on Aug. 14, earning him a spot on the MLS Team of the Week for Week 19.
- Julian Araujo, one of the best right backs in MLS, gets the start. Araujo ranks second in the league in assists (6) amongst all defenders and ranks tied for fourth in the league in tackles won (39).
- Playing in the heart of defense is Séga Coulibaly, who has started eight consecutive matches dating back to Aug. 4.
- Next to Coulibaly is Daniel Steres, who tallied an assist against the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 11, earning a spot on the MLS Team of the Week.
- Playing at left back is Niko Hämäläinen, who has made five appearances (5 starts) for the Galaxy since joining the club on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
- Captaining the Galaxy is Sacha Kljestan, who ranks second on the team with 27 chances created.
- Playing next to Kljestan is Rayan Raveloson, who ranks second on the team with five goals in 13 games played (13 starts).
- Playing as part of the three-man midfield is Sebastian Lletget, who has notched two goals and one assist in four regular-season games played (3 starts) against Minnesota
- Starting at right wing is Kévin Cabral, who has registered four goals and one assist in his first season in LA.
- Opposite Cabral is Samuel Grandsir, who tallied a goal in the 1-1 draw against Colorado on Sept. 11. Grandsir is the only Galaxy player to appear in every match (24) this season.
- Dejan Joveljić makes his fifth start of the season for LA. Since joining the club in August, Joveljić has notched two goals and two assists in six games played (4 starts).
Game Notes:
- The LA Galaxy are 11-8-5 (38 pts) this season, sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
- Saturday’s match marks the eighth all-time MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Minnesota, with the Galaxy holding an unbeaten record against the Loons (5-0-2).
- In four all-time regular-season road matches at Minnesota, the Galaxy hold a 3-0-1 record.
- The last time the two clubs squared off in Minnesota, the Galaxy earned a 1-0 shutout over the Loons at Allianz Field on Aug. 14, 2021.
- In four all-time road contests against Minnesota United, LA holds a 3-0-1 record.
- In 11 games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, the Galaxy hold a 4-4-3 record.
- In its last three road matches played dating back to Aug. 14, LA holds an unbeaten record (1-0-2)
- In his LA Galaxy debut, Dejan Joveljić tallied the game-winning assist in a 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC on Aug. 14, 2021.
- Kévin Cabral notched the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over the Loons on Aug. 14, 2021.
- Dating back to a 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on July 30, the LA Galaxy hold a 3-2-4 record.
- Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 3-1-0 record in four MLS regular-season games managed against Minnesota 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 (93), 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 (80).
- With two more wins, Greg Vanney (98-76-53, .548) will become the 11th coach in MLS history to win 100 career MLS regular-season games.
- Seventeen different players have made their Galaxy debut this season under Head Coach Greg Vanney.
- Sebastian Lletget is the club’s active leader with 148 regular-season games played (124 starts), adding 21 goals and 26 assists for the Galaxy.
- Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ranks tied for sixth in MLS in goals scored (11).
- Chicharito ranks second in MLS in goals per 90 minutes played (0.97) with a minimum of 500 minutes played, behind only D.C. United’s Ola Kamara (1.39).
- In six games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, Chicharito has tallied five goals.
- Rayan Raveloson’s ranks tied for fourth in the league in headed goals (3) this year.
- Amongst all MLS goalkeepers, Jonathan Bond ranks tied for fourth in wins (10) and ranks third in saves (89) during the 2021 campaign.
- Sacha Kljestan became the 49th player in league history to appear in 300 MLS regular-season games with his appearance against Colorado on Sept. 11.
- Samuel Grandsir ranks tied for third in the league this season in shots that have hit the woodwork (4).
- Jonathan Klinsmann has made six career regular-season appearances for LA, posting two shutouts and holding 2-3-1 record.
- In six appearances off the bench this season, Efrain Alvarez has tallied one goal and one assist.
- Daniel Steres is the Galaxy’s second-longest tenured player with 136 career regular-season appearances (125 starts).
Storylines:
- Can the Galaxy continue their three-match unbeaten run on the road (1-0-2)?
- Can Dejan Joveljić keep up his impressive form since joining the Galaxy (2 goals and 2 assists in 6 games played)?
- Can Chicharito continue knocking in goals for the Galaxy?
Quick hits:
- 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
- Galaxy visits Minnesota United amid 5-game winless skid: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/09/17/galaxy-visits-minnesota-united-amid-5-game-winless-skid/
- Match Preview presented by ECHO Outdoor Power: Minnesota United FC vs. LA Galaxy | September 18, 2021: https://www.lagalaxy.com/news/match-preview-presented-by-echo-outdoor-power-minnesota-united-fc-vs-la-galaxy-s
- HERNANDEZ, JOVELJIC COULD BE A DYNAMIC DUO FOR GALAXY: http://cornerofthegalaxy.com/2021/09/16/hernandez-joveljic-could-be-a-dynamic-duo-for-galaxy/
