LAFC vs LA Galaxy: Who is the favorite to win the El Tráfico in the 2022 MLS playoffs?
The two MLS sides from the City of Angels meet-up in Thursday night’s Western Conference final at the Banc of California Stadium.
The fixture that jumps off the page from the Western and Eastern Conference MLS play-off games is undoubtedly the LA derby as the ‘black and gold’ of LAFC face five-time MLS Cup winners Galaxy.
Along with Philadelphia Union in the east, Steve Cherundolo’s side are very much the ‘team to beat’ this season after his men scooped the 2022 Supporters Shield winning 21 games in the regular season and ending up as Conference winners with an 11 point advantage over second placed Austin FC.
The Galaxy are unbeaten in five and come into Thursday’s semi-final after a tough play-off game on Saturday where a solitary goal from Araujo was enough to see the side from LA advance.
History favours the Galaxy
When it come to local ‘bragging rights’, Galaxy fans hold the upper hand with their side having won six of the thirteen meetings in MLS regular season. Five games have ended in a draw with the ‘black and gold’ only managing two derby wins in the league.
There have been three other meetings between the Los Angeles giants with the Galaxy edging out the ‘black and gold’ in a recent US Open Cup clash. When it comes to post season meetings, LAFC can point to their win in the 2018 season play-off game and the Banc of California based side also secured victory over the Galaxy during the MLS is Back mini-competition staged in Florida during the pandemic affected 2020 season.
LAFC-LA Galaxy: past five meetings
July 2022: LAFC 3-2 LA Galaxy
May 2022: LA Galaxy 3-1 LAFC (US Open Cup)
April 2022: LA Galaxy 2-1 LAFC
Oct. 2021: LA Galaxy 1-1 LAFC
August 2021: LAFC 3-3 LA Galaxy
LAFC-LA Galaxy: AS USA prediction
There’s traditionally little to choose between the Los Angeles giants in these ‘El Trafico’ encounters despite the Galaxy’s historical superiority with recent games very close fought contests, generally being decided by a single goal.
Both Chicharito (Galaxy) and Arango (LAFC) are in rich scoring veins but with the passionate support of the home crowd at a packed Banc of California Stadium, we feel that the ‘black and gold’ will offer too much for their neighbours from Carson and advance with a 2-1 win.