LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps will lock horns at the Dignity Health Sports Park in a Western Conference MLS encounter. The two teams have shown contrasting form this season and sit on opposite sides of the conference standings.
Defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy have found it hard to replicate their form from last season, where they finished second in the West. They played out a 1-1 draw in their last game against the San Jose Earthquakes and are currently bottom of the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles-based team have managed just one league win this campaign and have lost six of their last 10 games. Greg Vanney’s men also have the worst defensive record of any team in the MLS this season, having conceded a league-high 42 goals.
Meanwhile, the Vancouver Whitecaps are having a solid campaign this season and sit second in the Western Conference table. The Canadian side have picked up 11 wins this term, just two less than they did throughout last season.
Jesper Sorensen's men are coming off a 1-0 victory at Los Angeles FC in their previous MLS fixture. That result means they are now unbeaten in eight of their last 10 away matches in all competitions. However, the visitors have been a bit unconvincing at the back, failing to keep a clean sheet in four of their last five away matches.
How the bookies view it: Slight edge for Vancouver
The Vancouver Whitecaps hold a slight edge among the bookies with a win valued at 11/8 with BoyleSports. LA Galaxy are considered outsiders at 6/4 while a draw is set at 5/2.
Head to head: Whitecaps have recent edge
LA Galaxy have the upper hand historically in this fixture, but recent matches have favoured Vancouver Whitecaps. The visitors are unbeaten in eight of the last 12 meetings, picking up six wins in that run, including a 2-1 home win in the reverse fixture.
Players to watch: Eyes on Sabbbi
Emmanuel Sabbi was on target last time out and could be the one to watch for Vancouver Whitecaps in the absence of top scorer Brian White. With Daniel Rios providing support, the visitors can produce over 1.5 goals for a fifth straight game (Away Team over 1.5 goals – Evens with BoyleSports).
Marco Reus scored his fourth goal of the season in the draw with San Jose Earthquakes and could be worth keeping an eye on for the LA Galaxy. Gabriel Pec also has three goals and both men can ensure the hosts produce over 0.5 goals – valued at 2/9.
Probable line-ups
The LA Galaxy should go with the bulk of the team that drew with the San Jose Earthquakes last time out. Reus is expected to start in midfield while Carlos Garces should continue at the back.
Vancouver Whitecaps are without White and Sebastian Berhalter, who are on international duty while Sam Adekugbe, Ryan Gauld and Andres Cubas are out injured. Rios and Sabbi should feature in attack, with Ranko Veselinovic set to retain his place in defence.
LA Galaxy: Micovic, Yamane, Jorgensen, Yoshida, Nelson, Sanabria, Cerrillo, Pec, Reus, Fagundez, Ramirez
Vancouver Whitecaps: Takaoka, Laborda, Blackmon, Veselinovic, Johnson, Vite, Priso, Badwal, Ocampo, Sabbi, Rios
Anything else catch the eye?
Two of the last three matches between LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps have produced over 3.5 goals – available at 13/8 by BoyleSports, who are also offering 8/13 for over 2.5 goals.
LA Galaxy have gone behind in four of their last five matches, while Vancouver Whitecaps opened the scoring in the reverse fixture (Vancouver Whitecaps to score first – 10/11). Three of the last four matches between both teams have produced more goals after the break (Second Half most goals – 20/21).
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