MLS
Can LAFC get first road win over LA Galaxy in an MLS regular season?
Los Angeles FC are in much better form than Los Angeles Galaxy, but head to a stadium where they have never won in the MLS regular season.
Major League Soccer witnesses another edition of ‘El Trafico’ on Sunday, as Los Angeles Galaxy host Los Angeles FC in the teams’ first meeting of the 2023 regular season. The city rivals were due to face off on the opening weekend of the MLS campaign in February, but that matchday-one clash was postponed due to bad weather, and has been rescheduled for 4 July.
LAFC undefeated this season, Galaxy yet to win
The sides head into this weekend’s match-up at Dignity Health Sports Park on opposing runs of form. LAFC remain unbeaten in MLS this season, and this week booked their place in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League, completing a 6-0 aggregate win over Vancouver Whitecaps. The Galaxy, on the other hand, are winless in MLS and in desperate need of three points.
LAFC sit third in the Western Conference with 14 points, having accrued four wins and two draws. The Galaxy, meanwhile, are second bottom in the West, their record of three draws and three defeats leaving them with just three points.
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LAFC’s poor regular-season record at Galaxy
As Greg Vanney’s men bid to pick up their first victory of the campaign, they will look to make the most of their home advantage - and history suggests they can. Dignity Health Sports Park has not been a happy hunting ground for LAFC since they joined MLS in 2018; indeed, the Black and Gold are yet to claim a regular-season win on the road against the Galaxy.
In seven games away to the five-time MLS champions in the regular season, LAFC have drawn two and lost five. What’s more, the Galaxy have tended to score plenty of goals at home to their near neighbours: they have hit the net at least twice in five of those seven encounters.
Vela out to break El Trafico scoring record
LAFC will look to star striker Carlos Vela to help them end their barren run at the Galaxy. The Mexican will also be out to break Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s record goal haul in El Trafico. Vela is currently level with the former Galaxy star on eight goals in the fixture, so he will overtake the Swede if he finds the target on Sunday.