Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Major League Soccer clash between Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Fresh from a second loss in three matches last time out, Los Angeles Galaxy play host to Colorado Rapids at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Thursday.
The away side, meanwhile, head to California seeking to continue their recent resurgence which has seen them go unbeaten in six of seven matches leading up to this one.
Match preview
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Los Angeles Galaxy were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat against FC Dallas when the teams squared off at the Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
Petar Musa‘s opener just shy of the half-hour mark saw Greg Vanney‘s men head into the locker room with work to do before Logan Farrington sealed the deal 10 minutes into the second period.
As a result, Los Angelinos remain third in the Western Conference of the MLS table, albeit level on points with leaders Los Angeles FC and second-placed Real Salt Lake.
On the horizon next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have been beaten in just one of the last 13 editions of this fixture since 2018.
Having picked up five wins from their most recent six home involvements, Thursday’s hosts have been in swashbuckling form in front of their fans and will be confident of getting the job done here.
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Colorado Rapids could not make it three wins on the spin as they were held to a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sunday.
Chris Armas‘s men conceded a late first-half strike from Lewis Morgan and needed a stroke of luck to level the game through Sean Nealis‘s own goal.
With 38 points picked up from 24 matches so far, The Pids sit fourth in the Western Conference standings, five points shy of their next opponents.
Currently on a run of four defeats from their last five matches away from home, Thursday’s visitors will be wary of suffering another loss on enemy territory.
Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:
Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:
Team News
Los Angeles Galaxy duo Jonathan Perez and Dejan Joveljic are both nursing hamstring problems and will not play any part in this one.
Julian Aude also misses out for the hosts through a groin injury, while Gaston Brugman is yet to fully recuperate from a damaged knee.
Colorado’s Moise Bombito made a deep run with Canada into the latter stages of the recently-concluded Copa America and is not expected to feature here.
Daniel Chacon and Jackson Travis are also unavailable for the visitors through knee and groin injuries respectively, but the latter is closing in on a return to action.
Djordje Mihailovic, who has scored eight times in his last nine matches, is certainly a big miss here due to his participation in the Olympic games for the United States.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Nelson, Yoshida, Neal, Yamane; Cerrillo, Delgado; Fagundez, Puig, Pec; Paintsil
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Maxso, Vines; Ronan, Larraz; Fernandez, Bassett, Cabral; Navarro
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 Colorado Rapids
With two of the MLS’ highest-scoring teams set to go head to head, we are expecting an exciting contest decorated by goals. That said, we are also tipping the home side to carry the day at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.