Best Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker:
In a showdown between two MLS giants in the early hours of Thursday, LA Galaxy will welcome New York City to Los Angeles.
LA Galaxy
Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to winning ways last weekend as they secured an action-packed 4-2 victory against Sporting KC, LA Galaxy have continued to receive a string of plaudits since opening up the 2024 campaign. Cruising their way to a play-off ticket in the Western Conference, Greg Vanney’s men have won three of their previous four MLS appearances. Signing off May with a 3-1 romp against FC Dallas, the California-based outfit will also be excited by their extended purple patch on home soil. Winning all of their last four straight showdowns at Dignity Health Sports Park by an aggregate score of 9-4, LA Galaxy have also collected 16 points from their previous six MLS appearances in front of their own supporters.
Team News
Still dealing with a recent knock and not making a single MLS appearance since opening June, LA Galaxy are once again expected to be without 31-year-old midfielder Gaston Brugman here. However, finding the net in a cameo appearance against Sporting KC last weekend, former Genk star Joseph Paintsil looks set to make a first start since May 16th.
Notching four goals in his previous six MLS appearances, one-time Eintracht Frankfurt starlet Dejan Joveljic will spearhead Vanney’s charge in the early hours of Thursday.
New York City
As for the visitors, watching their stellar purple patch come to an abrupt end last weekend as they eventually fell to an action-packed 3-2 defeat at home against Columbus, New York will be seeking an immediate response here. However, still winning each of their other five MLS appearances over the past six weeks, the Sky Blues are storming their way to a play-off spot in the Eastern Conference. Remarkably suffering just a single defeat from any of their previous five trips to California, Nick Cushing’s men have continued to gain a reputation or their success away from the Yankee Stadium. Last seen on their travels collecting an eye-catching 1-0 victory against New England, the Sky Blues have won all of their previous three MLS matchups on their travels by an aggregate score of 6-3.
Team News
Shown a first-half red card against Columbus last weekend, Slovenian defender Mitja Ilenic will miss out through suspension in California. Yet to make a single appearance across any competition since opening up the 2024 campaign, New York will once again be without the services of academy graduate Rio Hope-Gund in the early hours of Thursday.
Opening June with a stellar hat-trick against San Jose and now notching four goals in as many MLS appearances, Costa Rica international Alonso Martinez will once again play a leading role here.
Key Factors to Consider
