LA Galaxy

Starting XI presented by Modelo: LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes | May 29, 2021

Starting XI LAvSJ
Starting XI presented by Modelo: LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes | May 29, 2021 -

Lineup Notes:

  • The LA Galaxy return to Dignity Health Sports Park for the first edition of this year’s California Clásico live on TUDN and UniMás and head coach Greg Vanney will feature three changes to the starting XI as Sacha Kljestan (very good at soccer), Nick DePuy (also very good at soccer) and Cameron Dunbar (extremely good at soccer) are in the XI in place of Derrick Williams (suspension), Sebastian Lletget (international) and Samuel Grandsir (not 100%).
  • In net is the Englishman Jonathan Bond, who is the most talented soccer-playing J. Bond to ever set foot in Los Angeles, but likely not the most talented secret agent. Bond has emerged as a Best XI candidate in Major League Soccer.
  • On the right is the talented, benevolent and versatile Julian Araujo, one of the league’s brightest young defending talents. Araujo has continued to showcase this year why he is one of the best young defenders in the USMNT pool.
  • Making the start in the middle is Nick DePuy, who slots in for the suspended Derrick Williams. DePuy became a mainstay along the backline last season after standout play with Los Dos in previous years.
  • LA Galaxy veteran Daniel Steres makes another start along the backline after featuring in every previous match this season. The SoCal and Los Dos product is one of the longest-tenured LA Galaxy players.
  • On the left is Jorge Villafana, who is living the Major League Soccer Sueño after returning home to Southern California to play for his local LA Galaxy. Villafana has locked down the left side of defense and provided a veteran presence along the backline.
  • In the middle is Jonathan dos Santos, the Mexico International who has shown this year why he is capable of being one of Major League Soccer’s best central midfielders. JDS will boss the center of the field Saturday.
  • Alongside the Mexican international JDS is the USMNT veteran Sacha Kljestan, another SoCal product who makes his first start of the year. Saturday marks Kljestan’s 253rd start in Major League Soccer.
  • Out wide is the French Designated Player Kevin Cabral, who makes his second-straight start and his third-straight appearance since joining for AS Troyes in France. Cabral will look to bring a versatile and technical dynamic to the Galaxy attack Saturday.
  • On the other side is the LA Galaxy Academy product and local Cameron Dunbar, one of the most promising youth talents to come out of the LA Galaxy Academy. Dunbar makes just his second-ever start in Major League Soccer.
  • Pulling the strings on offense is Efrain Alvarez, the talented teenage Mexico International who makes his fourth start of the season. Alvarez has all the tools to be a top playmaker and will look to create chances vs. SJ.
  • Up top is Chicharito. He scores goals and advocates for mental health and if you are rooting for anything but his success in life, you should reconsider your worldview.


Game Notes:

  • LA are 32-26-16 against San Jose Earthquakes all-time in MLS during regular season play.
  • At home, the Galaxy are 21-8-6 all-time vs. the Earthquakes.
  • Los Angeles is better San Jose.
  • The Galaxy’s last win against San Jose at Dignity Health Sports came on August 29, 2020 with a 3-2 victory with goals from defender Daniel Steres, forward Cristian Pavon and midfielder Sebastian Lletget.
  • The LA Galaxy are 3-0-0 when both scoring the first goal and leading at halftime this season.


Storylines:

  • Can the Galaxy rebound from last weekend’s loss to Portland?
  • Will Chicharito get back on the score sheet?
  • How will Cameron Dunbar fare in his second-ever MLS start?
  • How will Nick DePuy slot into the backline against SJ’s attack?
  • Can Kevin Cabral impress in his home debut start?


Quick hits:


Celine Dion Lyrics – "It's All Coming Back To Me Now"

There were nights when the wind was so cold


That my body froze in bed


If I just listened to it right outside the window


There were days when the sun was so cruel


That all the tears turned to dust


And I just knew my eyes were drying up forever


I finished crying in the instant that you left


And I can't remember where or when or how


And I banished every memory you and I had ever made


But when you touch me like this


And you hold me like that


I just have to admit


That it's all coming back to me


When I touch you like this


And I hold you like that


It's so hard to believe but


It's all coming back to me


It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now


There were moments of gold


And there were flashes of light


There were things I'd never do again


But then they'd always seemed right


There were nights of endless pleasure


It was more than any laws allow


Baby, baby


If I kiss you like this


And if you whisper like that


It was lost long ago


But it's all coming back to me


If you want me like this


And if you need me like that


It was dead long ago


But it's all coming back to me


It's so hard to resist


And it's all coming back to me


I can barely recall


But it's all coming back to me now


But it's all coming back


There were those empty threats and hollow lies


And whenever you tried to hurt me


I just hurt you even worse and so much deeper


There were hours that just went on for days


When alone at last we'd count up all the chances


That were lost to us forever


But you were history with the slamming of the door


And I made myself so strong again somehow


And I never wasted any of my time on you since then


But if I touch you like this


And if you kiss me like that


It was so long ago


But it's all coming back to me


If you touch me like this


And if I kiss you like that


It was gone with the wind


But it's all coming back to me


It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now


There were moments of gold


And there were flashes of light


There were things we'd never do again


But then they'd always seemed right


There were nights of endless pleasure


It was more than all your laws allow


Baby, baby, baby


When you touch me like this


And when you hold me like that


It was gone with the wind


But it's all coming back to me


When you see me like this


And when I see you like that


Then we see what we want to see


All coming back to me


The flesh and the fantasies


All coming back to me


I can barely recall


But it's all coming back to me now


If you forgive me all this


If I forgive you all that


We forgive and forget


And it's all coming back to me


When you see me like this


And when I see you like that


We see just what we want to see


All coming back to me


The flesh and the fantasies


All coming back to me


I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now


(It's all coming back to me now.)


And when you kiss me like this


(It's all coming back to me now.)


And when I touch you like that


(It's all coming back to me now.)


If you do it like this


(It's all coming back to me now.)


And if we...