LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 22
LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake
Dignity Heath Sports Park – Carson
November 1 – 10:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: Spectrum SportsNet, KMYU

Interim manager Dominic Kinnear will try to steer the LA Galaxy out of their doldrums Sunday night at Dignity Heath Sports Park against a Real Salt Lake squad also fighting to move above the playoff line in the Western Conference.

The Galaxy (5W-11L-3D) are last in the West at 0.95 points per game following a stunning 5-2 defeat against the Portland Timbers Wednesday night at Providence Park. It was Guillermo Barros Schelotto's last game in charge of the club as he was relieved of his duties less than 24 hours later. Real Salt Lake (5W-8L-7D) are coming off a 2-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes and have won just once in their last seven matches.

This is the second regular season meeting, with RSL coming away with a 2-0 win over the Galaxy at Rio Tinto Stadium Sept. 23. Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach struck for second half goals in the win.

LA Galaxy

The Galaxy conceded three times inside the opening half hour and fell to the Timbers 5-2 at Providence Park Wednesday, making it eight losses in the last nine games, a defeat that prompted a coaching change announced on Thursday.

“Based on results, we have decided to go in a different direction,” LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese said in a club statement. “The LA Galaxy is a club that is built on winning on the field and being representative of the championship mentality and pedigree that you expect in Los Angeles. As a club, we have a collective responsibility and we all must share the blame for the club’s current standing. I take responsibility for the poor results and believe that we can find the right way forward for this team and our club.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- QUESTIONABLE: Danilo Acosta (M) - ACL injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Javier Hernandez (M) - hamstring injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Nick DePuy (D)
International duty: None

Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake have picked a bad time for an offensive slump as it's now two consecutive matches without a goal following a 2-0 loss to the Earthquakes in a Western Conference playoff line six-pointer Wednesday night. It was also the second straight match where the Claret-and-Cobalt misfired on a number of shot attempts.

With Sporting KC looming on Decision Day presented by AT&T, anything less than a win against the Galaxy would be devastating.

“We have to play to win. What else can I tell the guys? It’s LA Galaxy," Freddy Juarez said after the match. "You want to go there to win, just like we wanted to win tonight. It just has to be better in all aspects. Individually and as a collective, we have to be a little bit sharper and have a little bit more pride.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Giuseppe Rossi (F) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Chris Garcia (F) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: Aaron Herrera (D)
Suspended after next caution: Kyle Beckerman (M), Pablo Ruiz (M), Donny Toia (D)
International duty: None