The Los Angeles Galaxy will try to maintain their place atop the Western Conference standings when they host an Atlanta United side fighting for its playoff lives on Saturday night in Carson, Calif.
The Galaxy (14-5-7, 49 points) are coming off a break of more than two weeks following their round of 32 exit from the Leagues Cup in a 3-1 defeat to the Seattle Sounders.
But they resume the league campaign with a two-point lead over LAFC, with a chance to expand their advantage while their intracity rivals play in Sunday’s Leagues Cup final.
Finishing first in the West would give the Galaxy home-field advantage in the MLS Cup playoffs, though LAFC currently have two matches in hand.
“You want to get results,” manager Greg Vanney said of the stretch run. “You want to be entering the playoffs in the best possible position. You want to be entering the playoffs with momentum and confidence.”
There’s an outside chance team-leading scorer Dejan Joveljic (12 goals) could return from an injury that has kept him sidelined since early July, Vanney said. Longtime German national team and Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus could make his Galaxy debut after completing his transfer earlier this month.
Atlanta (7-11-7, 28 points) currently holds the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot by a single point, and after a disappointing group stage exit in the Leagues Cup, it’s still targeting a postseason run.
But interim coach Rob Valentino admits it could be tempting to hurry new attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk after completing his signing from Italy’s Atalanta.
“It’s a tricky one,” Valentino said. “There’s a plan in place and we’ll follow that, but also we’re trying to win games and he’s aware of that. So he’s understanding of everything. There’s a lot of communication going on.”
Atlanta drew NYCFC and defeated Columbus in two home matches prior to the tournament break, but is still trying to replace a significant chunk of its attacking production after the departures of Giorgos Giakoumakis and Thiago Almada. That duo combined for 11 of Atlanta’s 35 goals this season.
Miranchuk was a fringe regular throughout four seasons in Serie A, but registered double-digit goal involvements in two of his final three full seasons in Russia before his move to Italy.
–Field Level Media