LA Galaxy vs New York City FC

Dignity Health Sports Park is the venue as LA Galaxy and New York City FC go head-to-head in a Major League Soccer classic.

Determined to return to the MLS playoffs after a scandalous 2023 campaign, LA Galaxy took another step toward securing a qualification spot in the Western Conference with an overwhelming 4-2 home triumph against Sporting Kansas City at the weekend. Greg Vanney’s men have hit red-hot form ahead of this fixture, tallying three wins across their last four MLS matches (L1) whilst bagging 2+ goals in each success. If that’s not encouraging enough, they’re one of only two sides in the west yet to lose a home league game in 2024 (W5, D3), including three victories on the trot by an aggregate score of 9-4. New York’s upcoming visit to Los Angeles might flip the script, at least given Galaxy’s dismal run of losing two of their last three home league H2Hs via an identical 2-0 scoreline (W1).

Meanwhile, New York spurned a halftime lead in an action-packed 3-2 home loss to Columbus Crew last weekend. In doing so, they relinquished a superb five-game winning MLS streak. But despite that setback, the visitors are still well-positioned to qualify for the playoffs, sitting 4th in the Eastern Conference, a whopping ten points clear of 10th-placed DC United. Though New York’s away record this season reads indifferently (W3, D1, L3), all three victories have come on their last three MLS travels. Despite hitting the ground running on the road following an abysmal start (D1, L3), Nick Cushing’s men have struggled for conviction, with each of their three away triumphs yielding a narrow one-goal margin. Considering the form and stature of their upcoming hosts, there’s no doubt they’d sign in for another slender win ahead of the kick-off.