In what is a clash of two struggling sides, LA Galaxy will host Houston Dynamo in their gameweek eight Major League Soccer fixture this weekend at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
Los Angeles Galaxy, who are without a win, are confined to the bottom of the Western Conference standings with two points from seven matches, while the visiting side will be looking for their second win of the season.
Match preview
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After winning the 2024 MLS Cup and scoring with reckless abandon on their way to claiming the trophy, only a few could have predicted a poor start to the 2025 regular season for the champions.
Seven matches into the new season, Greg Vanney's team are without a win, making them one of three sides without a victory in the current campaign, along with CF Montreal and Toronto FC, as well as the worst start to the season by any defending champion in MLS history.
Worse still, their run in the CONCACAF Champions Cup came to an end after falling to a 3-2 defeat to Mexican outfit Tigres UANL in the quarter-final on Wednesday.
Their latest result now leaves the Los Galacticos winless in six matches across all competitions for the first time since February 2024.
While the hosts are in all kinds of trouble, they will take some inspiration from being unbeaten against the visitors in their last two league meetings at the Dignity Health Sports Park, winning one and drawing the other.
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Despite making it to the first round of the playoff in the previous campaign, the visitors have endured a poor start to the season, losing four and drawing two matches in their first six fixtures.
However, they managed to end their six-game winless run when they saw off Los Angeles FC 1-0 in their last league outing.
After both sides wasted several gilt-edged chances in the first 45 minutes, Jack McGlynn's solo effort in the 57th minute ensured all the points for La Naranja.
Sitting 13th in the West with the joint-worst defensive record after conceding 11 goals, the visitors will aim to claim back-to-back victories for the first time in the current campaign and their second win on the bounce against the hosts.
Going into this fixture, the visiting side can draw confidence from their 2-1 triumph in their last meeting, but their poor scoring record, which has seen them net only five this term and one in their last six away fixtures, poses a challenge.
Team News
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LAFC were without Marco Reus against Real Salt Lake because of a knee issue, while Maya Yoshida sat out due to a hamstring injury.
Riqui Puig will miss this encounter, as he is currently recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
For the visitors, James Maurer is out with a knee issue, meaning he will not be in consideration for the clash at the weekend.
Since making a switch to Houston Dynamo on March 11, Duane Holmes has not featured for the visitors due to a broken leg, which has kept him on the sidelines.
Lawrence Ennali and Nelson Quinones are both sidelined for the visiting side due to knee injuries, with neither of them close to a return.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Jorgensen, Garces, Yamane, Nelson; Parente, Cerrillo, Fagundez; Pec, Paintsil, Ramirez
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Gillingham; Escobar, Awodesu, Sviatchenko, Dorsey; Urso, Artur; Kowalczyk, Bassi, McGlynn; Ponce
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 Houston Dynamo
Despite earning their first victory in their last outing, the lack of firepower in Ben Olsen's team could limit them against the hosts. Therefore, we expect LA Galaxy to earn a narrow 1-0 win to record their first victory of the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
