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Starting XI

David Bingham; Dave Romney, Michael Ciani, Jorgen Skjelvik, Ashley Cole ©; Perry Kitchen, Servando Carrasco; Chris Pontius, Sebastian Lletget, Ola Kamara; Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Bench

Justin Vom Steeg, Daniel Steres, Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Joao Pedro, Ariel Lassiter, Bradford Jamieson IV, Emmanuel Boateng.

Lineup Notes

It’s a return home Saturday night as the LA Galaxy host Real Salt Lake in the first clash this season between the two Western Conference sides in the 15^th anniversary of StubHub Center.
Head Coach Sigi Schmid will move Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ola Kamara back into the starting lineup after not featuring in the XI last weekend in Portland.
In net, David Bingham will continue between the pipes in what is his 15^th start of the season, having played every minute in net for the Galaxy in his first year with the club. He is the most famous David B that hasn’t been featured as People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in previous years.
David Romney will continue to play in the backline for the Galaxy, this time on the right side as the versatile defender makes his seventh start of the season. In all, Romney has made 39 MLS starts.
In the center of defense is Frenchman Michael Ciani, who has established himself in the starting lineup with a string of solid performances. It will mark his 15^th start with the club.
On the left, the ageless Ashley Cole makes his 66^th start in Major League Soccer after joining the club before the start of the 2016 season. Cole has continued to be a steady presence in defense despite his 37 years of life.
In the center of the field, Perry Kitchen will make his 15^th start of the season after starting in each of the Galaxy’s 14 MLS games this year. Kitchen has been a crucial piece of Galaxy this year, doing all the dirty work in the center of the field.
Alongside Kitchen is Servando Carrasco in the center of the field, as Serva will be asked to slow down RSL and help the Galaxy maintain possession and discipline in the middle of the field. With 81 previous MLS starts, Carrasco is among the most experienced MLS players in the side.
Out wide on the right, the midfielder with the best first name in Major League Soccer, Chris Pontius gets his second-straight start after scoring the Galaxy’s only goal last weekend on the road against Portland.
Pulling the strings on offense is Sebastian Lletget, who has featured primarily in the center of the field this year. Lletget has tallied nine goals and 11 assists in his MLS career.
Norwegian attacker Ola Kamara will jump straight back into the starting XI after returning earlier this week from international duty with Norway. Kamara has been in fine form before departing, with five goals bagged this year.
Up top is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a striker who has scored and won a lot.

Game Notes

LA Galaxy are 14-13-9 all-time against Real Salt Lake and are 10-7-2 in home matches against Salt Lake.
LA Galaxy went 1-1-1 against Real Salt Lake last season, and drew 1-1 in their last matchup at StubHub Center. Bradford Jamieson IV scored the opening goal in that contest.
This year at home, the Galaxy have gone 3-4-0, scoring 11 goals while allowing 14.
This year on the road, RSL has gone 1-5-1 while scoring five goals and allowing 17.
David Bingham, Jorgen Skjelvik and Perry Kitchen – all three added in the offseason – are the only three players to start in every MLS match for the Galaxy this season.
Yellow card watch:
- SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Perry Kitchen
- SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Michael Ciani ... RSL: Marcelo Silva
LA Absences: Jonathan dos Santos, Giovani dos Santos (MEX), Efrain Alvarez (MEX U-17), Romain Alessandrini (precautionary/lower body injury)

Storylines

Can the Galaxy go into the World Cup break with a victory?
How will Ola Kamara and Zlatan being back in the XI affect the match?
Will Emmanuel Boateng, who has historically dominated RSL, bag a goal off the bench?
Can the Galaxy backline hold RSL to a shutout?

Quick Hits

Barry White Lyrics

My first, the last, my everything

And the answer to all my dreams

You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star

My kind of wonderful, that's what you are

I know there's only, only one like you

There's no way they could have made two

You're all I'm living for, your love I'll keep forevermore

First, you're the last, my everything

And with you I've found so many things

A love so new, only you could bring

Can't you see it's you? You make me feel this way (Can't you see it's you?)

You're like a first morning dew on a brand new day

I see so many ways that I

Can love you 'til the day I die

You're my reality, yet I'm lost in a dream

You're the first, the last, my everything

I know there's only, only one like you

There's no way they could have made two

Girl, you're my reality, but I'm lost in a dream

You're the first, you're the last, my everything

You and me babe is you

Barry White (1974)

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Starting XI presented by Modelo: LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake | June 9, 2018