Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Unbeaten in their five Major League Soccer matches so far, Los Angeles entertain the challenge of Seattle Sounders at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.
On the other hand, the away side head into this weekend’s encounter aiming to pick up a first win and get their season up and running at the fifth time of asking.
Match preview
© Reuters
Los Angeles Galaxy snapped a run of consecutive stalemates with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday.
Greg Vanney‘s men went into the interval trailing by two following strikes from Nemanja Radoja and William Agada before strikes from Eriq Zavaleta, Dejan Joveljic and Marco Delgado turned the game on its head.
Consequently, the Galaxy have moved up to second place in the Western Conference of the MLS table, just one point shy of leaders Minnesota United.
Up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have lost just one of the last 13 editions of this fixture dating back to 2019.
Having won only one of their last 10 home matches either side of the new year, Sunday’s hosts now go in search of a what would be a rare triumph in front of their fans.
© Reuters
Seattle Sounders came away empty-handed from a thrilling encounter against San Jose Earthquakes which ended 3-2 at the PayPal Park on Sunday.
After going behind to first-half strikes from Vitor Costa and Cristian Espinoza, Brian Schmetzer‘s men rallied in the second half and restore parity through Raul Ruidiaz and Danny Musovski before Jeremy Ebobisse struck an 87th-minute winner.
With just two points picked up from their four league matches so far, The Sounders currently sit bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Off the back of four straight away defeats by a combined score of 10-4 leading up to Sunday, the visitors have work to do at both ends of the pitch if they are to avoid defeat here.
Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:
Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:
Team News
LA Galaxy’s Jalen Neal is ruled out of this weekend’s encounter with an abdominal injury which has seen him fail to feature since late July.
Thirty-six-year-old Martin Caceres is eligible to play a part in this one after serving a one-game suspension in the win over Sporting Kansas.
Seattle Sounders trio Braudilio Rodrigues, Reed Baker-Whiting and Pedro de la Vega are all unavailable due to hamstring injuries, while Joao Paulo misses out with a hip problem.
North Macedonian Danny Musovski could be rewarded with a rare start here having come off the bench to good effect for the visitors last time out.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Aude, Yoshida, Zavaleta, Yamane; Puig, Cerrillo, Delgado; Paintsil, Joveljic, Gabriel
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; Nouhou, Ragen, Gomez, A.Roldan; C.Roldan, Leyva, Kitahara, Teves; Morris, Ruidiaz
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 Seattle Sounders
Los Angeles Galaxy have made a fine start to the season but their home form offers some encouragement to Seattle Sounders. Nonetheless, we are backing the hosts to secure maximum points at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.