Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 9/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Kicking off their challenging four-day stint in Los Angeles, FC Dallas will face Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday before clashing with Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
Currently sitting 12th in the Western Conference after 13 games, the visitors are in need of points. Meanwhile, the hosts are enjoying a strong season, positioned third in the standings with 25 points from 15 MLS matches.
LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy have shown significant improvement this season, currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference with 25 points from their opening 15 fixtures. This marks a stark contrast to their struggles in recent years, where they missed the MLS Cup play-offs in five of the last seven seasons. Historically one of the most successful teams in MLS, with a record five MLS Cups, the Galaxy have failed to meet those high standards lately.
Last season was particularly disappointing for LA Galaxy, as they finished 26th overall and second from bottom in the Western Conference, their worst performance since finishing last and claiming the MLS Wooden Spoon in 2017. However, this season has seen a marked turnaround. With six wins from their first 15 matches, they have already won just two fewer games than they did in the entirety of the previous season, and they are only 11 points shy of last year’s total with 19 fewer games played.
Greg Vanney’s team ended a troubling five-match winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Houston Dynamo in their last outing. They will be eager to build on this momentum and secure another three points against a Dallas side struggling with injuries and inconsistent form.
Team News
Should there be no new injury setbacks, the hosts will enter this match with just one player unavailable for selection. Joseph Paintsil, who has excelled in his debut campaign at the Galaxy with four goals and four assists in 13 matches, will be sidelined for the third game in a row due to a hamstring injury, expected to keep him out until next month.
FC Dallas
Having secured consecutive MLS Cup play-off spots in recent seasons, FC Dallas will be far from satisfied with their current 12th-place standing. They began the season with a promising 2-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes but then endured a dismal run, failing to win in their next seven matches, five of which ended in defeats.
A 2-0 win against Houston Dynamo in the first leg of the Texan derby appears to have reinvigorated Nico Estevez’s side. Since then, they have lost only one of their last seven matches, securing four victories in that period. Despite this turnaround, Estevez will be particularly disappointed with their last outing against Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake. Dallas squandered a three-goal lead, eventually drawing 3-3 after a dramatic 98th-minute equalizer from the Claret and Cobalt.
While the final result was frustrating, Dallas can draw confidence from their ability to compete with the top team in the conference as they prepare to face third-placed LA Galaxy. Historically, Dallas have been dominant in this fixture, going unbeaten in the last six meetings with five victories. Their last defeat to the Galaxy came in July 2021.
Team News
FC Dallas will face a significant challenge as they head into their clash with LA Galaxy without five key players. Alan Velasco and Geovane Jesus are both sidelined with cruciate ligament injuries. Additionally, last season’s top scorer, Jesus Ferreira, is out due to an injury of his own, as are Amet Korca and Paxton Pomykal.
Conclusion
Dallas may have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, remaining unbeaten with five wins in their last six encounters, but LA Galaxy’s strong start to the campaign positions them as the favorites for this meeting.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 9/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet
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