El Tráfico: Five memorable matches between LAFC and LA Galaxy

Los Angeles. Few cities in the world are so accustomed to the glitz and the glamour, the spell-binding and the show-stopping, as LA. Known around the world as the home of Hollywood, the city’s blockbuster reputation has extended to the soccer field, where its two MLS teams reignite their rivalry this weekend.

LA Galaxy were the dominant force for the first two decades of MLS, picking up a record five championships and lifting the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2000. Even now, ten years on from their most recent MLS Cup, the Galaxy remain the league’s most decorated team. What they have lost, however, is top spot in their own city. LAFC joined the league in 2018 and wasted little time in rising prominence, winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2019 and again in 2022, going on to lift MLS Cup in the latter. They reached another final in 2023 and are expected to challenge once again this year.

LAFC take on LA Galaxy at BMO Stadium on Saturday evening in the the first El Tráfico clash of the season. The hosts will be looking to reiterate their status as LA’s No. 1 team but the Galaxy have made a fast start to 2024 and currently sit atop the Western Conference, yet to lose a single game.

Ahead of Saturday’s El Tráfico, we take a look back at the top five previous meetings between LAFC and LA Galaxy...

March 31, 2018 - First MLS meeting

Where else could we start? The first edition of El Tráfico set the tone for future meetings with a dizzying, dramatic comeback victory for LA Galaxy. Los Angeles is no stranger to stars but the debut of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the legendary Swedish striker known simply as ‘Zlatan’, exceeded all expectations.

LAFC had taken a commanding 3-0 lead, helped by two brilliant Carlos Vela goals, before Zlatan inspired his new team to a come-from-behind win over their city rivals. His first was a thumping volley from 40 yards, the second - an injury-time header - secured a famous win and wrote his name into MLS folklore.

July 20, 2019 - Zlatan hat-trick sinks LAFC

Yep, him again. A thrilling opening chapter of the El Tráfico rivalry was followed up by two draws in 2018 but the big Swede was once again in inimitable form for their first meeting the following year.

Again, Carlos Vela scored twice for LAFC but the gravitational pull of Zlatan’s vast personality proved too great as he dragged his team to another win. The Galaxy talisman scored a curling volley, a towering header and a 25-yard piledriver to record the first hat-trick in El Tráfico history and extend LAFC’s wait for a derby day win. They would not, however, be made to wait much longer.

October 25, 2019 - LAFC pick up first derby win

Every single derby game holds special importance in the hearts and minds of supporters, but the October 2019 meeting - the first post-season El Tráfico - took things to another level. LAFC headed into their sixth meeting with the Galaxy without a single derby victory to their name, knowing that they needed to overcome their neighbours to reach their first-ever Western Conference final.

Once again, the on-field action was thrilling with eight goals spread across 90 pulsating minutes. LAFC surged to a 2-0 lead but were pegged back by a resilient LA Galaxy side, desperate to avoid defeat against the noisy neighbours. But a second-half brace from substitute Valentin Diomade edged LACF back ahead and secured a famous 5-3 victory for the rising force in the West.

October 21, 2022 - New MLS force rises to prominence

If LAFC’s 2019 derby win turned the tables, they were flipped upside down in 2022 as the young upstarts beat the Galaxy en route to their inaugural MLS Cup triumph. In a tense, testy encounter at BMO Stadium LAFC twice led through Denis Bouanga but were pegged back by goals from the Galaxy.

The game, another Western Conference semi-final, appeared to be heading for extra time before Cristian Arango struck in the third minute of additional time to secure a dramatic victory and send the home crowd into ecstasy.

July 5, 2023 - MLS record-breakers

As you will have probably gathered, El Tráfico means fireworks. On their second meeting of 2023, played on July 4, the derby’s pyrotechnical nature got particularly literal. The 20th edition of the Los Angeles derby was held on Independence Day at Pasadena’s vast Rose Bowl and it drew an MLS-record crowd.

On that warm Tuesday evening, 82,110 supporters packed into the venue of the 1994 World Cup final to watch Los Angeles’ two sides go head-to-head. The Galaxy were struggling through an underwhelming 2023 campaign and came into the game off the back of four straight draws in MLS. But while LAFC were the stronger, more complete team across the season it was Galaxy that came out on top thanks to a second-half winner from Riqui Puig.

Speaking after that statement victory in front of the largest crowd in MLS history, Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney could barely contain his pride: “For me, personally, to be back in the Rose Bowl, to take a second and realize just how far the league has come and the level of the two teams — the competition, the quality of the players on the field, all that — it was just incredible.”

It was a return to the glory days for LA Galaxy, to a time when they were the undoubted stars of MLS, capable of drawing the gaze of soccer fans across the nation. They may not have returned to that celestial status just yet, but, with an unbeaten start to the season and the noisy neighbours in their sights, it is the Galaxy who are in the ascendency in the city of angels.