LAFC vs. LA Galaxy | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 6
LAFC vs. LA Galaxy
Banc of California Stadium – Los Angeles
August 22 – 6:00 PM ET

TV: FOX

STREAMING: FOX Sports App in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

It was one of the shock results of the MLS is Back Tournament — LAFC scored four second-half goals en route to a 6-2 rout of the LA Galaxy. It was a scoreline that stunned observers and resulted in Galaxy boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto saying his team quit in the second half. With that as the backdrop, the El Trafico rivals square off once more at Banc of California Stadium on August 22.

LAFC are scary good, as evidenced by their performance in Orlando where they scored 16 goals without reigning Golden Boot winner and MVP Carlos Vela, who remained back in Los Angeles with his pregnant wife. Their tournament run ended with a penalty kick shootout defeat to Orlando City SC and the look of Bob Bradley seething at the conclusion leads us to think LAFC will be raring to go in their restart.

Conversely, the Galaxy, who finished last in their group in Orlando, remain winless in 2020 and have been a labored, misfiring outfit for most of their first five matches, trying out multiple formations and combinations and generally looking like less than the sum of their parts.

After the Galaxy were unbeaten in the first four chapters of arguably the league's fiercest rivalry, LAFC celebrated back-to-back lopsided wins in the last two meetings, including that 6-2 MLS is Back win where Diego Rossi had four goals and an assist.

LAFC

There was a (slight) question about how LAFC would perform in Orlando without Vela, but Rossi assumed the top dog role, winning both MLS is Back Tournament Golden Boot presented by Audi for his seven goals and the MLS is Back Young Player of the Tournament presented by AT&T 5G for 10 combined goals and assists.

Almost lost in Rossi's brilliance was Bradley Wright-Phillips' resurgence. The veteran forward, signed late in the preseason, scored in all three matches of the group stage and again in the quarterfinals.

They'll be without Eduard Atuesta, a key cog in their midfield. The young Colombian is out with a foot injury. Can Francisco Ginella fill the void?

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Eduard Atuesta (M) - right foot injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

LA Galaxy

Cristian Pavon and Jonathan dos Santos, who says he is 35-40 minutes fit, will have to carry the load with star forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez failing to recover from his calf injury in time for the game. It's the same calf injury that kept him out of the matchup at the MLS is Back Tournament.

Although they're shorthanded, the expectations in Carson are always sky-high and being winless through the first five games of the 2020 season and sitting last in the West with two points means the pressure is on Barros Schelotto to right the ship.

The reinforcements are on their way: The Galaxy signed winger Yony Gonzalez on loan from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica and they acquired goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, son of Jurgen Klinsmann, who is sure to push starter David Bingham.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- QUESTIONABLE: Jonathan dos Santos (M) - groin injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Danilo Acosta (D) - ACL injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Javier Hernandez (F) - right calf injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None