Galaxy looking for Clasico revenge

Andy Williams saw a shot go off the face of the bar in the 70th minute -- and they now hold the longest shutout streak in MLS this season at 422 minutes.

Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop kept the team the same as the one that defeated the New York Red Bulls 1-0 at home on July 4.

Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Tyrone Marshall, Troy Roberts - Quavas Kirk (Cobi Jones 46), Nathan Sturgis (Paulo Nagamura 75), Peter Vagenas, Josh Gardner (Marc Burch 80) - Landon Donovan, Herculez Gomez. [Substitutes Not Used: Benjamin Benditson, Steve Cronin, Alan Gordon, John Wolyniec]

"Obviously we are happy with the result. It went back to the three games ago when we were looking to get some points and we got them," Yallop said. "We're very happy with the effort from the team. Obviously we are really pleased that we won a home game and played well for the fans. All around it was a good week for us."

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Fatigue definitely seemed to play a factor in the opening half. A total of four shots were generated in the opening half, none on target, in what was nothing short of a sluggish performance by both teams.

"We've played a lot of games in a short amount of time so it was expected. I tried to let them rest as much as I could this week, but in the real game you have got to put the effort in," Yallop said. "Defensively we tried hard but didn't use the ball that well in the first half, but we still created some stuff."

The Galaxy also had to deal with a different tactical scheme from Real. "They man-marked Landon [Donovan], which made it difficult for us to get anything that creative going, but still I thought we had some good chances to create," Yallop said. "I said at halftime that we have got to keep going and step up the pace a bit. It looked like they were trying to sneak a win in rather than playing to come out and win it. I said 'Let's keep grinding away, we'll get our chances and when we get them, let's take them.'"

The Galaxy now holds the longest shutout streak in MLS this season at 422 minutes. The streak dates back to the 28th minute of their road game against New York three weeks ago, and includes four consecutive clean sheets. Ironically, the Galaxy have the longest offensive scoreless streak in MLS this season, at 525 minutes.

"I think it's a big psychological boost for sure," said center back Tyrone Marshall. "It gives us a lot more confidence in our play, especially for the guys in the back. We were trying to move the ball quick and not hold the ball in dangerous situations. The confidence is very high and we are trying to play in the team concept and get the ball forward and move it around. The confidence is there and with the shutouts come wins, the shutout is just the cherry on the top of the cake."

The Galaxy still don't feel as if they've turned the corner, however. "I don't think we are overconfident by any means," Kevin Hartman said. "I think the fact that we were in pretty horrible shape for the past three months is something that is still fresh in everybody's mind. The fact that we were able to get three wins in a row like this is huge for us."

On Wednesday, the Galaxy lost 1-0 to Mexico's CD Necaxa in a friendly at The Home Depot Center. An 11th-minute goal from Kleber Boas proved to be difference, as he scissored home a saved shot from Mario Lopez.