LA Galaxy vs. LAFC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 10
LA Galaxy vs. LAFC
Dignity Heath Sports Park – Carson
September 6 – 10:00 PM ET

TV: UniMás, TUDN,  TSN2

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: YouTube TV [LA region only] , Spectrum SportsNet

The latest edition of El Trafico closed out the slate in Week 10 and it sees both the LA Galaxy and LAFC coming off big midweek victories. 

The Galaxy have won three straight games, including a 3-2 victory over the Portland Timbers at Providence Park Wednesday night, while LAFC avoided a first-ever three-match winless streak with an emphatic 5-1 home triumph over the San Jose Earthquakes.

This is the third meeting between the rivals this year, with the Galaxy's first-ever win at Banc of California Stadium on August 22 the starting point for their winning streak. LAFC are looking to do the same in Carson where the Galaxy have won two of the three all-time meetings with the teams playing to a 1-1 draw in August, 2018 in the other contest.

LA Galaxy

Still without Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and with Jona dos Santos working his way back to full match fitness, the Galaxy are riding high on a three-match winning streak after defeating the Timbers, 3-2, Wednesday night. Cristian Pavon has taken a starring role, Efrain Alvarez came up with a big first MLS goal agains the Timbers and there's a possibility Chicharito makes his Trafico debut Sunday night.

"I think the team has kept playing well, and now we are getting better results, and this will give us confidence," Guillermo Barros Schelotto said. "The level for everyone is getting higher and then the team will play much better as we get better results for that reason. I think we have now gained more confidence and it makes you feel like [our goals are achievable], that anything is possible. I think that it’s really good for us and the team is showing it on the field and in every game. I hope that the team can keep in that way for a long time.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • QUESTIONABLE: Danilo Acosta (M) - ACL injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Javier Hernandez (F) - right calf injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

LAFC

After conceding a total of five goals in consecutive defeats, LAFC picked up a much-needed confidence boost with a 5-1 win over the Earthquakes Wednesday at the Banc. Diego Rossi got back to his scoring ways with a brace, extending his lead in the race for the Golden Boot presented by Audi with his eighth and ninth goals of the season.

"Obviously it always means a lot. It has so much importance to our fans," Bradley said of El Trafico. "I was very clear after (the last match) I just can't think we were ourselves and didn't play with enough intensity. Galaxy is on a little bit of a good run so we look forward to going to their stadium and being at our best and really having the right kind of mentality to win a big match."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Carlos Vela (F) - Grade 2 MLS sprain
  • OUT: Eduard Atuesta (M) - right foot injury
  • OUT: Danilo Silva (D) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at Galaxy

• Galaxy: 2 wins, 8 goals
• LAFC: 0 wins, 6 goals
• 1 draw

Officials

• Referee: Allen Chapman
• Assistant Referees: Andrew Bigelow, Frank Anderson
• 4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
• VAR: Ricardo Salazar