The Los Angeles Galaxy can increase their lead atop the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS) when they host Atlanta United on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
With eight regular-season matches remaining, the Galaxy are two points clear of Los Angeles FC, defeating the Portland Timbers in their previous league fixture last month (3-2), while the Five Stripes are a point above the Eastern Conference playoff line after beating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in their last domestic affair.
Match preview
© Reuters
After exiting the Leagues Cup in the round of 32 against the Seattle Sounders (3-1), the focus for LA shifts to the domestic campaign, as they aim for home-field advantage throughout the post-season.
LAFC will have three games in hand on them following this fixture, while Real Salt Lake, who are third, have played one fewer match than the Galaxy, trailing them by five points in the table.
Greg Vanney's men have won three successive league contests at Dignity Health Sports Park, claiming the joint-most victories domestically at home in MLS this year (nine).
A victory on Saturday would give them 52 points, their highest total since Vanney took charge in 2021, while also equalling their previous high from 2016.
Throughout the competition, the Galaxy have been deadly in the attacking third at home, scoring three or more goals six times in Carson, while they have not been held off the scoresheet at Dignity Health Sports Park all season.
LA are unbeaten in their previous four regular-season home games versus Eastern Conference opponents since losing 1-0 to Charlotte FC in May 2023.
© Imago
Atlanta United have nine matches remaining to try to salvage what has been, by all accounts, a disappointing campaign, given their high standards.
Over the past few domestic seasons, the Five Stripes have been among the highest-spending teams in the league, but that has not translated to much success in 2024, suffering 11 domestic defeats, two more than a year ago.
Under interim boss Rob Valentino, the Five Stripes have only claimed one victory away from home in this competition (1-0 over DC United), losing their last three MLS encounters played outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
That said, they are on a two-game unbeaten run in MLS play and have a chance to match their longest winning run of the regular season this weekend.
The Five Stripes have claimed seven points in the league this season when conceding the opening goal but have not won from a losing position as the visitors all year.
They have won three of their four meetings all-time against the Galaxy, failing to concede in each of those contests, though Atlanta lost their previous visit to Dignity Health Sports Park in 2022 (2-0).
Team News
© Reuters
In their Leagues Cup defeat versus Seattle, the Galaxy were missing their leading goalscorer, Dejan Joveljic, due to a hamstring strain, Julian Aude is dealing with a groin issue and Gaston Brugman is questionable because of a knee injury.
Last Thursday, they officially signed former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus through until the 2026 campaign, sending Charlotte FC over £300,000 worth of General Allocation Money to acquire his Discovery Priority, with that money to be split across this season and 2025.
Gabriel Pec, Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil all found the back of the net in their previous domestic encounter against the Timbers, lifting them to a narrow victory.
In their previous encounter at the Leagues Cup against Santos Laguna, Edwin Mosquera was back on the field for Atlanta for the first time since sustaining a knee injury, replacing Tristan Muyumba in the second half.
Their big summer transfer signing, Aleksei Miranchuk, trained for the first time with his new club this week, while Dax McCarty recently announced he will retire at the end of this campaign.
Stian Rode Gregersen scored a second-half brace in the Five Stripes match against Columbus last month to earn a come-from-behind victory.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Yamane, Caceres, Yoshida, Nelson; Delgado, Cerrillo; Pec, Puig, Berry; Paintsil
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Rode Gregersen, Williams, Hernandez; Firmino, Fortune, Slisz; Lobzhanidze, Thiare, Wolff
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 Atlanta United
All season long, the Galaxy's attacking depth has carried them through, and we do not expect that to change this weekend against an Atlanta side that have been unstable at the back throughout the campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
