Colorado Rapids LA Galaxy Preview

PREVIEW – Well, let’s try this again, shall we? After the postponement of Wednesday’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps due to lightning, the Colorado Rapids have now shifted their focus to Saturday night, where they will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Galaxy have been wildly inconsistent this season, and sit 13th in the West, just one point above the last placed Rapids.

The Galaxy are the most successful team in MLS history, and were a thorn in the Rapids’ side for years. Known for attracting some of the biggest names the league has ever seen, such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, and Robbie Keane, LA’ recruitment policy seems to no longer be paying dividends.

Former world class players still adorn the roster, including legendary Mexican striker Chicharito, tricky Brazilian winger Douglas Costa, and the seasoned Uruguayan center back Martin Cáceres. These types of signings have led to other less glamorous areas of the roster being neglected.

Goals have been a major concern for a team seemingly built through an offensive lens, as the top scorers are Tyler Boyd, Martin Cáceres, and Dejan Joveljić, all tied on a whopping two goals. Los Angeles’ 16 goals scored are the fourth fewest out of any side in the MLS, with only Inter Miami, Minnesota United, and Colorado having scored less. 

Los Angeles has missed the playoffs in four of the last six seasons, a feat that would have been unfathomable at the beginning of the 2010s. The Galaxy enter Saturday night fresh off of a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Sporting Kansas City, in which an Alan Pulido brace denied them a victory. Much like the Rapids, LA must start putting results together immediately if they are to have any chance at making the postseason. 

LA Galaxy Injury Report:

Head coach Greg Vanney must find a way to endure the loss of his talisman forward, Chicharito, after the 35 year old Mexican striker suffered a torn ACL, which some fear may end his career. Although a player of Chicharito’s quality is always a major loss, his one goal on the season is hardly irreplaceable.

Cáceres will be out, having sustained an avulsion fracture on Wednesday night. Also listed as out on the injury report are defender Séga Coulibaly and midfielder Memo Rodriguez. 

Colorado Rapids Injury Report:

Before the eventual postponement of the Vancouver game, there was a sense of excitement among Rapids’ fans as Diego Rubio was deemed fit enough to start on the bench, having been out of action since May 13 against the Philadelphia Union. Of course, the suspensions will carry over, so Lalas Abubakar and Braian Galván are still unavailable. Bryan Acosta is also out, as he is with the Honduran national team at the Concacaf Gold Cup, as is Moïse Bombito.

“It depends on if we let it affect us. It’s got to be a mental thing to let it go and focus on this next game and go for it”, Sam Nicholson told Burgundy Wave after Friday training when asked about how Wednesday’s postponed game could affect them tomorrow.

A Chance to Escape:

The Rapids have had the Galaxy’s number as of late, with only one loss in the eight matchups under Robin Fraser. Colorado’s marquee victory of 2023 came against the Galaxy in Los Angeles back in May, where Kévin Cabral, Connor Ronan, and Lalas Abubakar saw them emerge as 3-1 victors. If the Rapids were to continue this trend and finally break their duck at home, they could surpass the Galaxy and take hold of 13th place in the Western Conference.

Photo Credit: John Babiak.

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