LA Galaxyvs.St Louis City

The reigning MLS Cup champions are pointless after two league fixtures, losing 2-1 to the Vancouver Whitecaps last weekend, while St Louis played to a 0-0 draw with San Diego FC in their previous match.

Match preview

The championship hangover appears to be looming over the Galaxy early into the 2025 season, with this team currently on a three-match losing run across all competitions.

In 2024, the Galaxy led the Western Conference in goals during the regular season (69) but have only found the back of the net once in MLS so far this year.

Another defeat this weekend would mark the first time Greg Vanney will have lost his opening three matches of a domestic campaign since he became their manager ahead of the 2021 season.

Last year, LA did not lose a single MLS affair at Dignity Health Sports Park, and this weekend they are in danger of suffering consecutive domestic defeats there for the first time since April 2023 (two).

Los Angeles have lost four of their last five regular season affairs when conceding the opening goal, with their only victory during that run coming at the Colorado Rapids last October (3-1).

They won four of their final five regular season affairs when scoring in the second half, something they have yet to do in the competition this year.

Olof Mellberg has yet to lose a match in this competition since taking charge of St Louis City, though they rarely looked threatening in their two draws.

The Swedish coach has not seen his side find the back of the net this season, firing just two efforts on target against an expansion San Diego side last week.

They did earn back-to-back MLS clean sheets for the fourth time in club history though and could collect three straight shutouts this weekend for the first time.

Since their final regular-season away contest in 2023, St. Louis have won just one of their previous 19 away matches in this competition, beating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 last September.

St Louis City failed to win six league contests last season away from home when scoring first, accounting for 14 points dropped.

They have never lost to the Galaxy in four prior meetings with them in this competition, squandering a 2-0 advantage at Dignity Health Sports Park in 2023 (2-2 draw) and letting a 3-1 lead slip away at that same venue last year (3-3 draw).

Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:

Los Angeles Galaxy form (all competitions):

St Louis City Major League Soccer form:

Team News

Last Sunday against the Caps, LA were missing Miki Yamane, Joseph Paintsil and Matheus Nascimento due to thigh issues, Riqui Puig sat out with a knee injury and Mauricio Cuevas was sidelined because of a hamstring strain.

Zanka and Harbor Miller made their MLS debuts last weekend, while Isaiah Parente made his first appearance for LA in the 2025 season.

Gabriel Pec had their first goal of the season a week ago, courtesy of a nice assist from teammate Miguel Berry, six minutes before the end of the opening half.

In their draw with San Diego, St Louis did not have Jayden Reid available due to a sore foot, Timo Baumgartl was an unused substitute as he was dealing with an illness, while Joakim Nilsson was recovering from a knee problem.

An ankle issue kept Jake Girdwood-Reich off the field on matchday two, and Rasmus Alm was out as he recovers from a sore hip.

Conrad Wallem started for the first time in his MLS career last week, Celio Pompeu made his first appearance for this team since June 2024 and Roman Burki recorded his 17th career MLS clean sheet.

Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:

Micovic; Garces, Zanka, Yoshida, Aude; Pec, Cerrillo, Fagundez; Reus; Ramirez, Berry

St Louis City possible starting lineup:

Burki; Hiebert, Kessler, Horn; Totland, Watts, Lowen, Pompeu; Klauss; Becher, Teuchert

We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 St Louis City

Early into 2025, it seems the Galaxy are really missing Puig's creativity, but facing a passive St Louis side should enable them to take more risks going forward and eventually find that moment of brilliance.

Written by

Joel Lefevre

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