Match Preview: LA Galaxy optimistic ahead of Champions League quarterfinal match with Santos Laguna

CARSON, Calif. – To say the LA Galaxy face a daunting task in the CONCACAF Champions League this season, starting with Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup with Santos Laguna (7 pm PT/ FS1) at StubHub Center, would be an accurate assessment. And for good reason.

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History in this competition certainly is not on their side. Mexican clubs, for example, have won all seven of the CCL tournaments in the current format. They have won 12 of their 14 quarterfinal/knockout-round series and hold an impressive 32-2-8 record in CCL matches in Mexico.

Only one American club has ever reached the final in this event. Real Salt Lake accomplished that feat in 2010 but lost to Monterrey on aggregate.

Galaxy players, however, sounded optimistic about their chances in this two-leg series. The rematch is set for March 1 at Estadio Corona in Torreon, Mexico.

“I’ve seen images of Santos,” Belgian center back Jelle Van Damme said. “I think we all know what we’re waiting for. We’ll be ready for it.”

The Galaxy are not even a month into their preseason, but Santos Laguna are seven games into their regular season and are tied for seventh with Cruz Azul and Club Tijuana in Liga MX. They also have a three-game winless streak that includes last Sunday’s 1-1 tie with Pumas UNAM in Mexico City.

The Galaxy’s Robbie Keane acknowledged their opponent has an edge in form and match fitness but was hopeful the infusion of veterans such as left back Ashley Cole, Van Damme and defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong could make a difference for the five-time MLS Cup champions.

“Do they have an advantage on us? Of course they do,” Keane said of Santos Laguna. “I’ve said since day one of preseason the schedule the way it is … for an MLS team to go and win CONCACAF certainly is going to be difficult, but if anyone has a chance it’s certainly us.”

Galaxy goalkeeper Dan Kennedy said he was happy Wednesday’s match finally was here. It’s been the unending focus of preseason preparations, despite the fact the regular-season opener against D.C. United is less than two weeks away (March 6 at StubHub Center).

“You show up in mid-January for preseason and you have a lot of hard work in front of you and it’s all for the start of the season,” he said. “For us it’s Wednesday. The time for talking is behind us.

“I think we’re ready. We came in early to prepare for this. I certainly think we’re ready to play competitive matches.”

Arena said both teams appear to be “pretty evenly matched,” although he acknowledged Santos Laguna may have an edge in already having started its regular season.

“But we’re pretty confident with the group we’re going to put on the field,” he said.

Arena also praised Santos Laguna striker Djaniny and particularly goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin, who Arena called “outstanding” and said “will be difficult to beat.”

Wednesday’s opponent features at least one familiar face in defender Jorge Villafana, who played the last two seasons with the Portland Timbers before being sold to Santos Laguna.

Kennedy said “it’s gonna be cool” facing his good friend and former teammate at Chivas USA.

“For me the last two seasons with Portland he’s been one of the best left backs in the league,” Kennedy said. “I’m happy for him and the success he’s had. He’s a really good friend of mine and I’m always rooting for him, but it will be strange playing against him in StubHub Center in different uniforms.

“I look forward to it. He’s a gamer; I’ve always believed that. He’s got a real good skill set for the game and is a real complete player. I’m happy for him.”

The new look LA Galaxy will take the field for the first time in a competitive match on Wednesday, when they open their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Liga MX side Santos Laguna at StubHub Center.

There’s no doubting the Galaxy’s talent. The question is whether or not that talent will come together quickly enough for LA to knock off Santos. Bruce Arena drastically remade his roster this winter, with longtime Galaxy stalwarts Omar Gonzalez and Juninho moving to Mexico and European veterans Nigel de Jong, Ashley Cole and Jelle Van Damme and longtime MLS goalkeeper Dan Kennedy arriving in LA. Those four will need to work cohesively with Robbie Keane, 2015 additions Steven Gerrard and Giovani dos Santos and the rest of LA’s roster if the Galaxy are to advance to the tournament semifinals for the second time in club history.  

Santos, who brought in defender Jorge Villafana from the Timbers following Portland’s win in MLS Cup in December, haven’t been great in Liga MX this season. They’re currently in ninth-place in the league with 10 points through seven games, and are winless in their last three. They’re also dealing with a tight turnaround as they traveled to Mexico City to face Pumas UNAM in league play on Sunday afternoon before heading to the States to take on LA. 

Team Notes

• LA Galaxy:Can the reloaded Galaxy find CCL glory?
• Santos Laguna:Will Santos make a third run to the final?

Pick 'Em

"The Galaxy are in transition mode but the talent on the field should be enough to defeat a Santos Laguna side that is not one of the best we’ve seen in CCL." -- Ben Baer

"My gut tells me I’m not winning this pick. But my mind tells me, all the defensive reinforcements the Galaxy brought in over the offseason have not jelled well yet." -- Diego Pinzon

CCL News & Analysis

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• How to watch and follow the CCL quarterfinals
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• What is the CCL and why does it matter?
• Best Galaxy ever? Arena thrilled as "outstanding" de Jong joins up
• Analyst: Cole, Van Damme and the overhaul of the LA Galaxy