Noelle Matthews
- LA Galaxy v LAFC
- Sunday, April 16, 16:30 EST
- Dignity Health Sports Park
One of the fiercest rivalries in MLS is renewed this weekend as LAFC takes on LA Galaxy and the reigning MLS champion can sink its rival at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Who do Bettors Favor?
The odds at the best-rated online sportsbooks show us that bettors favor LAFC in this latest renewal of El Trafico. The reigning MLS Cup champion is available at odds as low as +130 for this game, while the home team is rated at +200 and the underdog here is the draw, priced at around +260.
| Galaxy v LAFC |  |  |
| LA Galaxy | +200 | +200 |
| Draw | +262 | +255 |
| LAFC | +135 | +130 |
Galaxy Yet to Win
LA Galaxy’s 3-0 defeat in Houston at the weekend means that it is remarkably one of only two teams in MLS that has yet to win a game in the new season. That represents a dramatic decline from the standards of early last season and leaves head coach Greg Vanney with a huge headache.
There is no doubting the array of attacking talent in the Galaxy squad, but the team has failed to turn chances and field position into goals. In fact, it has scored only three goals in six games, a miserable return for such a strong squad, and Galaxy fans are not likely to remain patient for much longer.
Another remarkable stat is that Galaxy has secured the highest possession rate in MLS at over 58% yet has earned only three points and is 12th in the table, eight points behind LAFC. Fortunately for Vanney and his team, a game against its city rivals provides a great opportunity to close the gap.
LAFC in Touch in the West
LAFC has had a tough schedule to negotiate over the opening weeks of the season, but the positive results have continued to flow and the Black and Gold is continuing to challenge on two fronts.
The team is already through to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League and is in touch in third place in the Western Conference, two points behind leader Seattle Sounders, with a game in hand. The team hit a sticky patch a few games ago, recording back-to-back goalless draws, but that problem appears to have been resolved and LAFC has now won three games in a row by a 3-0 score.
Steve Cherundolo’s team beat Vancouver 3-0 home and away in the Champions League and last weekend recorded an impressive 3-0 win over Austin in MLS.
The extra games may eventually catch up with the reigning champions but there are no signs that fatigue is a problem at the moment, and with confidence high, the players will be looking forward to this one.
MTS MLS Betting Head-to-Head
Although LAFC only joined MLS as recently as 2018, this matchup has quickly become one of the biggest rivalries in the league and the head-to-head record shows that it has been entertaining from the start.
The two teams met for the first time early in the 2018 season and put on a show for LA soccer fans, with LA Galaxy fighting back from 3-0 down to win 4-3, with the winner coming in injury time.
The two teams played twice more that season, and both games were drawn. LAFC failed to win either of the regular season games in 2019, but it did secure a famous playoff win in October of that year, leading Galaxy 2-0 and 3-2 before eventually winning 5-3.
Overall, Galaxy has the edge, with 7 wins to LAFC’s 5, but LAFC has had the better of recent meetings, beating Galaxy 3-2 in the last regular season meeting and once again defeating its city rivals in the Western Conference playoff semi-finals, last October.
MLS Betting Team News
The team news for LA Galaxy is good, as the team only has one absentee listed for this game. Jonathan Bond is still out with a shoulder problem, so Jonathan Klinsmann will again deputize in goal. Javier Hernandez came on in the second half against Houston, after his recovery from a hamstring problem. and assuming he suffered no recurrence of the problem, is likely to start here.
LAFC also has a second-string goalkeeper as John McCarthy replaces Maxime Crepeau who is still out with a broken leg. Left-wing star Christian Torres has missed four games with a leg injury and is still not available, so Kwadwo Opoku is likely to start on the left, while center-back Tony Leone is doubtful.
MTS MLS Betting Picks
If ever there was a game in which LA Galaxy fans would want their team to return to form it would be this one, but I can’t see that happening this weekend. This is a highly accomplished LAFC team that will have nothing to fear in this game, and Galaxy’s inability to find the net will likely cost it dearly once again. It may be a more competitive game than people expect, but LAFC is the best pick to win it.
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