St. Louis City is set to face off against the Los Angeles Galaxy in a crucial Major League Soccer match on Saturday at Energizer Park, as both teams occupy the bottom spots in the MLS Western Conference. St. Louis City, currently sitting in 14th place after a 2-1 loss to the Portland Timbers last weekend, is eager to break a streak of dropped points, having failed to secure a win after taking the lead in five matches this season.
Despite their struggles, St. Louis has found some success at home, earning nine out of their 14 points at Energizer Park. The team is hoping to achieve consecutive home victories, a feat they haven’t accomplished since the end of last season. Historically, they have performed well against the Galaxy, remaining unbeaten in their previous five encounters, including a 2-1 victory in this fixture last year.
Conversely, the Los Angeles Galaxy, who recently secured their first win of the season against Real Salt Lake, are in dire need of a turnaround as they aim for a postseason spot. Currently, they are 15 points behind the playoff line. While their win at home marked a moment of hope, they will need to break a six-match losing streak on the road to gain momentum. Additionally, the Galaxy have not been able to capitalize on their early leads, dropping eight points from winning positions this season.
In terms of team news, St. Louis will be without Rasmus Alm and Joakim Nilsson due to injuries. On the Galaxy side, Marco Reus is still sidelined with a hamstring strain, and Riqui Puig continues his recovery from a serious injury. The Galaxy will rely on the recent contributions from players like Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil as they aim to build on their recent victory.
Predictions for the match favor St. Louis City, albeit slightly, with data suggesting a 44.6% chance of victory for them compared to 31.1% for the Galaxy. However, given the Galaxy’s recent win, they may enter this match with renewed confidence.
This matchup represents a vital opportunity for both clubs to gain ground in the tightly contested Western Conference. With both teams desperate for points, it promises to be an exciting showdown in St. Louis.