Both the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake were strong contenders in the MLS Western Conference last season, finishing as the second and third best teams, respectively. However, the current season paints a different picture, as Real Salt Lake (4-3-9) finds itself near the bottom of the standings, while the LA Galaxy currently holds the unfortunate title of last place among the 15 teams in the conference.
The matchup this Saturday marks the 17th regular season game for the defending MLS Cup champions, who are facing a frustrating season with a stark record of 0-4-12. The Galaxy’s struggles have included a series of close games that have been overshadowed by a disappointing 7-0 defeat, along with multiple own goals and a particularly striking 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City, a game in which Kansas City did not take a single shot on goal.
The urgency for the LA Galaxy to secure a victory this weekend cannot be understated. Shockingly, in the league’s 30th season, no team had expected to be winless after such a lengthy stretch. In comparison, CF Montreal managed to avoid this fate with a victory in their 12th match.
Currently, the Galaxy has accumulated a mere four points from four draws, with their recent 1-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes epitomizing their challenging season — they allowed the game’s only goal after demonstrating strong defensive play for over 70 minutes.
In an earlier encounter this season, Real Salt Lake triumphed over the LA Galaxy with a 2-0 victory, highlighting the Galaxy’s pressing need for offensive improvement to avoid a second consecutive shutout.
Key players for the Galaxy, including Christian Ramirez, Marco Reus, and Diego Fagundez, have contributed to the team’s scoring efforts, although injuries to players like Joeph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec have hindered their overall performance. When on the field, these players can significantly enhance the squad’s capabilities.
Historically, the LA Galaxy has a slight edge over Real Salt Lake in their 64 matchups, boasting 25 victories to RSL’s 22, along with 15 draws. Interestingly, while the Galaxy leads in victories, they have only scored one more goal than their rivals.
Both teams have faced difficulties in generating offense, with Real Salt Lake marginally outperforming the Galaxy with just five more goals scored this season. Diego Luna, of Real Salt Lake, has notably contributed half of the team’s total of 16 goals.
Head coach Greg Vanney’s team has faced challenges on the defensive end, currently holding a league-high tally of 36 goals conceded. There is the possibility that Novak Mićović will start in goal over John McCarthy again this week. The team may also begin the match without Ramirez, but whoever takes the field, the imperative remains the same: the LA Galaxy must secure a win against Real Salt Lake to regain momentum before their season takes a further turn for the worse.
The Galaxy’s starting lineup for the match is set to include: GK Novak Mićović; D Miki Yamane, D Emiro Garcés, D Maya Yoshida (C), D John Nelson; M Edwin Cerrillo, M Marco Reus, M Lucas Sanabria, M Diego Fagundez, M Gabriel Pec, F Joseph Paintsil.
This weekend holds the potential for a turning point for the LA Galaxy, making their upcoming match a crucial moment to rally and snap their winless streak. If they can harness their talent and turn their defensive efforts into offensive opportunities, they might just emerge victorious.