LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 18
LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Dignity Heath Sports Park – Carson
October 14 – 10:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: Spectrum SportsNet, NBC Sports California

One of the league's most storied and heated rivalries is played out for the fourth time this season when the LA Galaxy host the San Jose Earthquakes in the latest edition of the Cali Clasico at Dignity Health Sports Park.

While the Galaxy (4W-8L-3D) have the all-time edge, the teams enter the 73rd regular season meeting with the Earthquakes (5W-7L-5D) winning three of their last four games, while LA have lost five in a row in six matches without a win. 

The Galaxy won the lone meeting this year in Carson, rallying for a 3-2 victory August 29, while the Quakes returned the favor with a 2-1 win Oct. 3 after a 0-0 draw in the two games at Earthquakes Stadium.

LA Galaxy

The LA Galaxy's Week 17 match against the Colorado Rapids scheduled for Saturday at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park was postponed after one new confirmed positive case of COVID-19 among the Rapids player pool. It is the fourth Rapids game that has been postponed since the first set of positive tests were returned for players and staff on Sept. 23. The Rapids had originally returned to training on Monday, but then had their Wednesday game against LAFC postponed after one new confirmed positive case in the team staff.

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • QUESTIONABLE: Danilo Acosta (M) - ACL injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Perry Kitchen (M)
• International duty:  Jonathan Dos Santos (M), Rolf Feltscher (D)

San Jose Earthquakes

The Quakes season-high three-match winning streak was snapped Sunday by the red-hot Portland Timbers, who won 3-0 Sunday at Providence Park. Now it's a short turnaround to take on a rested Galaxy side.

“It’s difficult. Having lost before, I said it was always difficult. During our victories, I still said it was difficult," Matias Almeyda said after the match. "Today, we have to remind the players like we have in the past, there are ways to move forward. Tonight, the rival was superior, they had many youngsters who fought hard until the end. We will now head home, rest, and see how the team is doing tomorrow. The day after, we shall see how tired they are. We know the Galaxy will be well-rested since their last game was postponed. It will be a benefit to them, but we will try to play that match to the best of our abilities.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Casey Walls (D) - thigh injury
  • OUT: Danny Hoesen (F) - thigh injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty:  Guram Kashia (D), Vako (M), Marcos Lopez (D)

Series Matchup at Galaxy

• Galaxy: 21 wins, 64 goals
• Earthquakes: 7 wins, 44 goals
• 6 draws

Officials

• Referee: Alex Chilowicz
• Assistant Referees: Jason White, Kevin Lock
• 4th Official: Ramy Touchan
• VAR: Ricardo Salazar