When the LA Galaxy and LAFC meet, it has become one of the premier rivalries in Major League Soccer. From goals to starpower to top notch fanbases, El Trafico has had so many moments, but in recent seasons it has missed a critical factor by not having major stakes. This season, with the Galaxy rising to the top of the Western Conference, that changes. Both sides are separated by only four points in the race to get home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
With the arrival of Olivier Giroud and Marco Reus during the summer transfer window, both teams have flexed their ability to sign global stars but it has been that second tier of player which has made them successful this season. Denis Bouanga and Riqui Puig are both having MVP caliber seasons pacing their attacks and now they’ll meet with a rivalry on the line. LAFC won the last meeting between these teams, but historically, that doesn’t tell much about how the clash will go.
Here are our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
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How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, Sep. 14 | Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Dignity Health Sports Park — Carson, California
- Live stream: MLS Season pass
- Odds: LA Galaxy +165; Draw +260; LAFC +145
Storylines
LA Galaxy: Julian Aude and Martin Caceres will miss the match but with Puig’s return and Joseph Paintsil coming back from international duty, it will provide a chance to see how Greg Vanney lines up his loaded attack. With multiple stars at each position, it’s a good problem for a manager to have but it can make knowing what your best team is quite hard.
LAFC: Giroud may have arrived, but this is still Bouanga’s attack for the black and gold. Always one to come up big in big games, Bouanga has 16 goals and eight assists in league play. If the Galaxy focus too much on him that’s when Mateusz Bogusz can pop up. The midfielder has been in a more advanced role for LAFC and he has thrived. Having Bouanga allows other attackers to have more freedom but it’s still up to them to succeed with that freedom.
Prediction
These sides will split the season series with the Galaxy taking car of business at home. Pick: LA Galaxy 3, LAFC 2
KVSP