Lineup Notes:
- Starting in goal is Jonathan Bond. The Englishman has tallied 92 saves and three shutouts in 23 games played in his first season with LA.
- 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 fourth in the league in tackles won (42).
- Playing in the heart of defense is Séga Coulibaly, who has started 10 consecutive matches dating back to Aug. 4.
- Next to Coulibaly is Nick DePuy, who makes his makes his first appearance since starting and playing 60 minutes against the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 20.
- Playing at left back is Niko Hämäläinen, who has made seven appearances (6 starts) for the Galaxy since joining on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
- Captaining the Galaxy is Jonathan dos Santos, who has tallied one goal in 18 games played (14 starts) during the 2021 campaign.
- Playing next to Dos Santos is Madagascar international Rayan Raveloson, who has tallied one goal in two games played (2 starts) against Real Salt Lake during the 2021 campaign.
- On the left side of the attack is Samuel Grandsir, who has tallied two goals and four assists in 26 games played (20 starts) in his first season for the Galaxy.
- Playing as the No. 10 is Sebastian Lletget, who earlier today was named to the U.S. Men’s National Team for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. Lletget has registered one goal and four assists in 18 games played (16 starts) for LA.
- On the opposite wing is Efrain Álvarez, who has tallied two goals and two assists in 18 appearances (11 starts) during the 2021 campaign.
- Making his 15th appearance (14th start) of the year is Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who ranks first on the team with 11 goals scored.
Game Notes:
- The LA Galaxy are 11-10-5 (38 pts) this season, sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
- Wednesday’s match marks the 45th MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Real Salt Lake, with the Galaxy leading the series 19-15-10.
- In two meetings between the Galaxy and RSL in 2021, LA leads the series 1-0-1.
- The last time the two clubs met, the Galaxy earned a 1-0 shutout victory behind Efrain Alvarez’s game-winning goal against RSL at Dignity Health Sports Park on Aug. 4.
- In the first meeting between LA and RSL this season, Victor Vazquez and Rayan Raveloson tallied goals in a 2-2 draw on the road on July 21.
- In its last six meetings against RSL dating back to April 28, 2019, LA holds a 4-1-1 record.
- In 13 games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, the Galaxy hold a 4-6-3 record.
- The Galaxy rank tied for 11th in the league in goals scored (37).
- As a team, the Galaxy have scored six headed goals.
- LA has tallied three goals from outside the box.
- The Galaxy have registered 34 goals scored inside the box this season.
- Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ranks tied for ninth in MLS in goals scored (11) in 14 appearances during the 2021 campaign.
- Chicharito ranks second in MLS in goals per 90 minutes played (0.87) with a minimum of 500 minutes played, behind only D.C. United’s Ola Kamara (1.21).
- In eight games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, Chicharito has tallied five goals.
- Julian Araujo has appeared in a career-high 25 games played (25 starts) for LA, ranking first on the team in assists (6) during the 2021 campaign.
- In five matches played on the road with LA, Dejan Joveljić has notched two goals and one assist.
- Sebastian Lletget is the club’s active leader with 150 regular-season games played (126 starts), adding 21 goals and 26 assists for the Galaxy.
- Lletget became the 13th player in the club’s 26-year history to appear in 150 league matches.
- Kévin Cabral notched the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over the Loons on Aug. 14, 2021.
- Rayan Raveloson’s ranks tied for fourth in the league in headed goals (3) this year.
- Jonathan dos Santos has played in 97 games (85 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy since joining the club in 2017.
- Amongst all MLS goalkeepers, Jonathan Bond ranks tied for fifth in wins (10) and ranks third in saves (92) 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 the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 11.
- Samuel Grandsir is the only player on the roster to appear in every match this season (26).
- Grandsir ranks tied for third in the league this season in shots that have hit the woodwork (4).
- Victor Vazquez leads the team with 46 chances created in 21 games played.
- Jorge Villafaña has played in 209 MLS regular-season matches since making his professional debut in 2007.
- In seven 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 138 career regular-season appearances (127 starts).
- Adam Saldaña has made 17 appearances (5 starts) in his first season with the Galaxy.
- Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 3-2-2 record in seven 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 (96). Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes ranks second (92), while Philadelphia’s Jim Curtain ranks third (87). Orlando’s Oscar Pareja (83) ranks fourth, while Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer rounds out the top five (81).
- With two more wins, Greg Vanney (98-78-53, .544) 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.
Storylines:
- Can the Galaxy snap their seven-match winless run?
- Will LA stay unbeaten against RSL during the 2021 campaign (1-0-1)?
- Will Julian Araujo continue to impress in defense?
- Can Chicharito continue knocking in goals for the Galaxy?
Quick hits:
- LA Galaxy feeling pressure as winless run continues: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/there-are-alarm-bells-la-galaxy-feeling-pressure-as-winless-run-continues
- Dos Santos says Galaxy aren’t panicking: http://cornerofthegalaxy.com/2021/09/27/dos-santos-says-galaxy-arent-panicking/
