LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United

Underperforming Los Angeles Galaxy will hope to get back to winning ways when they meet out-of-sorts Minnesota United in a must-win Major League Soccer fixture at Dignity Health Sports Park.

A shocking 2-1 home defeat to USL outfit Sacramento Republic in the US Open Cup last time out poured more misery on LA Galaxy’s sticky patch of form. Greg Vanney’s men have picked up just one win from their five previous MLS outings (D2, L2), allowing eighth-placed Houston Dynamo to reduce the gap to only three points. So Galaxy can ill-afford another slip-up here if they are to retain a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota’s visit to Dignity Health Sports Park bodes well for Galaxy’s bid to dig themselves out of trouble. They’ve gone unbeaten in all four MLS home H2Hs to date (W2, D2), averaging a whopping 2.75 goals per game.

As for Minnesota United, a 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami last time out made it three MLS defeats on the trot. Languishing five points below the Western Conference playoff territory, the ‘Loons’ go into this match-up hoping to beat the odds. But to improve their lacklustre 25% win ratio in away league matches this season (W2, D1, L5), Adrian Heath’s men need to fly out of the traps. A lack of the ‘bounce back’ ability has seen Minnesota go winless in all seven MLS fixtures in which they conceded the opening goal this term (D2, L5).