Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Brian Rowe; Bradley Diallo, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; João Pedro, Rafael Garcia; Romain Alessandrini, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng; Gyasi Zardes.

Bench

Jon Kempin, Nathan Smith, Dave Romney, Jaime Villarreal, Raul Mendiola, Jack McInerney, Bradford Jamieson IV.

Lineup notes

• The LA Galaxy will play their third-straight road contest on Saturday afternoon in their first California Clásico of the season.
• Head Coach Curt Onalfo will play again play a 4-2-3-1 formation on Sunday, making two changes to the Starting XI from last weekend’s match as defender Bradley Diallo returns to the lineup following a one-game suspension and midfielder Rafa Garcia fills in for the injured Baggio Husidic.
• In net, goalkeeper Brian Rowe will make his 52^nd appearance for the Galaxy and seventh-straight start in net. In recent weeks, he has been arguably the top goalkeeper in MLS, making a highlight-reel of saves last weekend vs. Minnesota. Last year, he was among MLS’ best in goal, going 12-5-14 with a 1.07 GAA.
• On the right, defender the French Bradley Diallo will make the start, marking the fifth of his career. The former LA Galaxy II standout had been in strong form before receiving a second yellow card two weeks ago against NYRB.
• In the center of the defense, Daniel Steres, a fellow LA Galaxy II product, will start his 12^th contest of the year. He is one of three players to start in each game (João Pedro, Romain Alessandrini). Since the beginning of the 2016 season, Steres has made 40 starts, the most of any LA Galaxy player.
• He’s big, he’s bald, he’s beautiful. He’s Jelle Van Damme, one of the best defenders in MLS, and he’s coming off two of his best performances in the previous two games. He has established himself as one of MLS’ best since joining the league in 2016.
• On the left, the ageless competitor Ashley Cole makes his ninth start of the year and the 34^th of his MLS career. Cole continues to prove the doubters wrong by remaining one of the top left backs in MLS.
• In the center of the midfield, the always-reliable Rafael Garcia will slide into central midfield in place of the injured Baggio Husidic. Garcia, who has been with the Galaxy since 2012 and made 10 previous starts. He filled in early last week for Husidic and put in an incredibly-strong performance.
• The young and talented Portuguese midfielder João Pedro makes the start alongside Garcia, marking his 12^th of the season. In recent weeks, he has flashed his skill that made him one of the top young midfielders in Portugal’s top division.
• On the left, it’s Romain Alessandrini. There is no other player in MLS that is playing so well on the road. He has five goals and three assists in road contests this year. He has two goals and three assists in his last three matches overall.
• Pulling the strings on offense, Giovani dos Santos will occupy the #10 role in the center of the field. Gio has scored in three-straight games for the Galaxy and looks to be finding his top form, especially after a ridiculous goal scored against Minnesota United FC.
• On the left, the my-goodness-he’s-so-short-but-my-goodness-he’s-so-fast Emmanuel Boateng will again make the start, his ninth of the season. Boateng has tallied three goals and seven assists and ran faster than a bunch of other players since joining LA last year Boateng.
• Up top, the Hawthorne, California hero and recent college graduate Gyasi Zardes makes the start in just his seventh start of the season. Including the Galaxy’s preseason games this year, Zardes has played among the fewest minutes of any Galaxy player this year. He’ll look to get going Sunday.

Game notes

• The LA Galaxy have the best road record in MLS, going 3-2-0 on the season, scoring 10 goals and allowing nine.
• The Galaxy are 29-20-14 all-time against the San Jose, going 10-15-8 in away matches.
• The Galaxy went unbeaten in three contests with the Earthquakes in 2016, most recently a 1-1 draw at Stanford Stadium in the Galaxy’s only away match against San Jose last year.
• It will be the LA’s second-ever MLS match at Avaya Stadium, a venue SJ is unbeaten at in 2017. The Galaxy’s first contest there came on Aug. 28, 2015, when the Galaxy fell 1-0.
• The Earthquakes enter the match after turning in one of their best results of the season: a 1-0 road win over FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium.
• Romain Alessandrini has tallied five goals and three assists in four road matches this season, scoring or assisting in each road game so far this season.
• Alessandrini, Steres and Pedro are the only players to have started each game of the 2017 season.

Storylines:

• Can the Galaxy carry momentum from two-straight road wins into Saturday’s contest?
• Will Alessandrini and Giovani dos Santos continue their strong form?
• Can Gyasi Zardes find the net Sunday?
• How will João Pedro and Rafael Garcia fare in the midfield Saturday?
• Can Brian Rowe continue to make outrageous saves?
• If you could be either a star professional soccer player for the San Jose Earthquakes or a water boy for the LA Galaxy, how cold would you make the water each day?

Quick Hits

• Match preview
• WATCH: Giovani dos Santos teamed up with Omaze to give a lucky fan a chance for an awesome day, all to benefit CHLA
• Five great goals against San Jose
• Giovani dos Santos makes mad beats with Nortec Collective
• This is really cool. Gyasi Zardes graduates from CSUDH

Journey – Faithfully (1983)

Touchline run

Into the midnight sun

The ball goes round and round

It’s on my mind

Restless hearts

Sleep alone tonight

Sendin' all my love

Along the sideline

They say that the road

Ain't no place to start a family

Right down the line

It's been you and me

And lovin' a soccer man

Ain't always what it's supposed to be

Oh soccer, you stand by me

I'm forever yours, faithfully

- Journey