Official, Formal MLS Game Preview:
It’s Saturday night soccer and if you like:
- Big friendly aliens
- A goalscoring, mental-health supporting, Mexico soccer legend
- Football Clubs in Major League Soccer that condemn European Super Leagues
- Fans back in stadiums watching real life soccer in person
- Blue, white and gold
- Individuals that question the LA authenticity of anything not located near USC’s private-school campus
- Coaches that hate fun nicknames
- Five-time league champions
- Camouflage
Then Dignity Health Sports Park is the place to be this weekend.
It’s 2021. It’s gametime. And you’re feeling like John Travolta with a Saturday Night [Soccer] Fever because it’s time for some soccerball as LA’s only professional men’s soccer team takes on LA’s third professional football team – Rams, Chargers and checks notes the Major League Soccer Football
Team
Club – in an MLS Western Conference clash.
Lineup Notes:
- In net is a league leader in saves as Jonathan Bond makes his third-straight start. England’s second-most famous Bond, Jonathan has shown he can be a top keeper in MLS since joining from West Brom.
- On the right side of the backline is youngster Julian Araujo, making his third-straight start after last weekend playing higher up the pitch. The 2020 LA Galaxy Defender of the Year returns to his right back position where he has excelled.
- In the middle is Daniel Steres, one of the LA Galaxy’s longest-tenured players. The Los Dos product has started in all three matches thus far. He has made 125 appearances so far with the Galaxy.
- Alongside Steres is Derrick Williams, who made his debut last weekend in Seattle. Williams makes his second-straight start since joining from Blackburn Rovers.
- On the left side of the defense is Jorge Villafana, the former MLS Sueño winner who returned to represent his hometown club this season. Villafana has provided poise, leadership and experience along the backline.
- In the center of the field is the youngster Adam Saldana, who gets his third start this season in the team’s fourth match. The teenager and Galaxy Academy product has impressed this year in the lineup and earned Vanney’s trust.
- Bossing the middle of the field is Jonathan dos Santos who will once again captain the side on Saturday. JDS makes his 81st MLS appearance in an LA Galaxy jersey.
- Out wide is the Frenchman Samuel Grandsir, who came within inches of opening his MLS account last Sunday in Seattle. Grandsir is a talented product from France’s AS Monaco.
- Returning to the XI is Da’ Boy Sebastian Lletget, who makes his second start this year. The USMNT regular will tally his 134th MLS appearance with the club.
- Up top is Ethan Zubak, who has provided the Galaxy offense with hustle and energy. Zubak makes his second start of the season.
- MLS’ leading goalscorer, Javier Hernandez, will lead the offense after notching a hat trick in his last appearance at DHSP.
Game Notes:
- The LA Galaxy are 1-0-0 this season at home, with three goals scored and two conceded.
- The LA Galaxy are 4-3-2 (W-D-L) all-time against LAFC, including 3-1-0 (W-D-L) at home.
- LAFC have never held a winning record against the LA Galaxy while exclusively referring to the five-time MLS Cup champions only as “Galaxy”
- Reference: the LA Galaxy play soccer games in the Los Angeles County city of Carson; they previously played soccer games in the Los Angeles County city of Pasadena.
- Additional reference: The LA Football Club play soccer.
- LAFC remain the fourth-most successful proclaimed football team in Dignity Health Sports Park history, trailing only the LA Chargers (NFL), Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL) and San Diego State University (NCAA Mountain West Division) in victories (0) at DHSP. With a victory on Saturday, they would remain the fourth-most successful proclaimed professional football team in stadium history.
- LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez remains in first in MLS goals scored this season with five.
- Hernandez was just the second player in MLS history to have five goals through the season’s first two games, joining Brian Ching, who scored five goals in the first two games in Houston Dynamo club history in 2006.
Storylines:
- How will the Galaxy respond in their second match at Dignity Health Sports Park this season?
- What will the first socially-distant El Tráfico atmosphere feel like?
- How will Ethan Zubak starting up top affect the [LA] Galaxy attack Saturday afternoon?
- What will the return of Adam Saldana yield in the center of the park for the Galaxy?
- How will the Galaxy attack fare against a defense that has allowed just two goals in three games?
- Can the Galaxy defense rebound against the LAFC attack?
Quick Hits:
- Los Dos GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALS: LA Galaxy II earn a resounding 5-0 victory Wednesday night at home: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2021/05/05/highlights-la-galaxy-ii-vs-las-vegas-lights-fc-may-5-2021?autoplay=true
- Bonus – Galaxy fan turned Galaxy goalscorer: https://twitter.com/LAGalaxyII/status/1390404748520562688?s=20
- Match preview: https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2021/05/06/match-preview-presented-echo-outdoor-power-la-galaxy-vs-lafc-may-8-2021
- Two Mexican legends in action this weekend: https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy/status/1390462354031136769?s=20
Lyrics – I Wanna Watch Soccer With Somebody:
Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
I've done alright up 'til now
It's the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls
The loneliness calls
Oh! I wanna dance watch [LA] Galaxy soccer with somebody
I wanna
feel the heat
watch [LA] Galaxy soccer with somebody
Yeah! I wanna
dance
watch [LA] Galaxy soccer with somebody
With somebody who loves me
