LA Galaxy vs Sporting Kansas City: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

LA Galaxy host Sporting Kansas City in MLS this weekend, with both teams enduring contrasting fortunes on the season.

Date: 16/06/24

Kick-off time: 03:30

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park

Both sides reside in the Western Conference and this will be an important fixture for both ends of the table. LA Galaxy are currently fourth in the standings, five points behind first place Real Salt Lake. They have won seven games on the year, and are well in the mix at the top of the table. However, such is the competitiveness of the conference, they will be looking behind them just as much as they will be looking ahead. Minnesota are directly above them level on points, but have two games in hand. They are just three points ahead of Vancouver who sit in fifth, so Galaxy will be desperate to pick up a win to maintain their position.

In contrast, Sporting Kansas City are languishing near the bottom of the standings with 14 points. They have won three times this season but won their first in 11 games last time out to lift them off the bottom into 12th place. Given their form so far, it seems unlikely they can push for a playoff position, though they are just nine points behind the top nine with a game in hand. This means if they can string a few wins together they will be right in the mix.

The hosts have been good in attack, as only one team in the Western Conference has scored more times than them this season. They have scored at least twice in four of their last six games, with midfielder Riqui Puig scoring in each of the last three. He is three behind Dejan Joveljic for goals on the season, as the forward has scored nine for Galaxy. The duo will be confident in adding to their tallies against a defence who have kept just one clean sheet this season.

Since 2022, these two teams have met on five occasions. There has been nothing to split the pair, with them winning just one game each and playing out three draws. Goals have been a huge feature in this matchup with both teams scoring at least twice in four of the five games. They have already played each other once this season, with LA Galaxy coming out on top 3-2 in March. They made an impressive comeback after being 2-0 down at half-time. Goals from Eriq Zavaleta, Joveljic and Marky Delgado helped them seal the dramatic turnaround in the final 20 minutes.

LA Galaxy

Joseph Paintsil and Gaston Brugman missed the last game with hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Their availabilities are in question, but there are no other fitness concerns in the squad.

Sporting Kansas City

A number of Sporting KC players were absent in the last game through injury, including Danny Flores, Logan Ndenbe, Kayden Pierre, Erik Thommy and Remi Walter. Therefore, it remains to be seen if they will be involved in this game.

LA Galaxy

In their last five games, LA Galaxy have won two, drawn two and lost one. It has been an inconsistent stretch for LA as they compete near the top of the standings in the Western Conference. This run started with a 2-2 draw at Minnesota. The hosts went ahead after half an hour through Bongokuhle Hlongwane. Galaxy turned it around in the second half with goals from Dejan Joveljic and Diego Fagundez, but conceded the equaliser to Kervin Arriago with 10 minutes to go.

They followed this with another draw, but were unable to find the back of the net as the game at Charlotte finished 0-0. Galaxy dominated in possession, and restricted their hosts to just two shots on target, but failed to take advantage of their opportunities. They responded well with their first win of the run, a 2-1 victory against Houston Dynamo. They actually went behind as Latif Blessing put Houston in front, but Gabriel Pec equalised on the stroke of half-time. Riqui Puig scored the winner with half an hour to go.

A second win in a row came against FC Dallas, as they beat them 3-1 at home. Joveljic bagged a brace, scoring either side of a Patrickson Delgado equaliser. With a slender lead, they were helped by a red card to Dallas’ Nkosi Tafari, before Puig put the game to bed in stoppage time. Their most recent game was a 2-1 loss at Chicago Fire. Puig opened the scoring from the spot early on, but Hugo Cuypers levelled it. Brian Gutierrez completed the comeback to condemn LA to defeat.

Sporting KC

In their last five games, Sporting Kansas City have won two and lost three. It has been a poor stretch for KC, as they struggle near the bottom of the table. However, this run began with US Open Cup action against USL side FC Tulsa in the Round of 16. They progressed to the next round with a 4-0 win at home. Felipe Hernandez opened the scoring, before Stephen Afrifa doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time. Tulsa had a man sent off shortly after the restart to make their task even harder, as Hernandez and Marinos Tzionis added to the lead.

They returned to league action with a 2-1 loss at Portland Timber. Felipe Mora broke the deadlock shortly into the second half for Portland, but Memo Rodriguez soon found the equaliser. They were not on level terms for long, however, as Evander scored the winner with just over 10 minutes to go. They were on the wrong end of the same scoreline once more the following week as they were defeated at home by the Vancouver Whitecaps. Ryan Gauld scored a brace with a goal in each half for Vancouver, whilst Tzionis pulled one back at the death.

Their woes continued as they lost a third game in a row, this time 3-1 at Minnesota. They fell 3-0 behind as Tani Oluwaseyi, Robin Lod and Kervin Arriaga got on the scoresheet. Johnny Russell pulled one back late, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation. Their most recent game was a home fixture against Seattle Sounders, in which they won 2-1. They fell behind to a Jordan Morris goal before Johnny Russell equalised. The visitors had a man sent off and KC took advantage of the extra player with Alenis Vargas scoring the winner.

Both teams have struggled of late, though LA Galaxy have had a little more success. We expect this trend to continue, especially with Galaxy at home, with Sporting KC’s issues continuing – LA Galaxy 3-1 Sporting KC

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LA Galaxy vs Sporting Kansas City will be available to watch on Apple TV.

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