The rivalry begins here. LAFC and the Galaxy meet for the first time on Saturday in Carson.
When & Where To Watch/Listen
Galaxy vs LAFC, March 31 at 12p PST
TV: FOX
Radio: ESPNLA 710, KFWB 980
LAFC Watch Parties: See full list of participating bar partners with specials for the match.
Opponent Form Guide
Missing several starters, the Galaxy earned a point at Vancouver with a 0-0 draw. They come into the match with a 1-1-1 record.
What The Players Are Saying
Carlos Vela on facing Giovani dos Santos: “When you play against a friend, you work more because after the game, you have to speak with him. So if I lose, I have to hear all the time ‘I’m better, we’re better.’ I prefer to win. I can say, ‘Gio, we are the best in the city.’ And I hope we can have a great game and take the three points.”
Walker Zimmerman on rivalry matches: "I think there’s extra excitement in the stadium. You can feel the energy. So you can use that energy to your advantage and stay motivated. Fans definitely play an impact in keeping you energized. I’m sure there will be a lot of energy on Saturday at StubHub and we just want to get those three points."
Bob Bradley on Zlatan Ibrahimović: "So much has been speculated for so long. I certainly wasn’t surprised. I think it’s great for the league. I think it’s great for Los Angeles. Zlatan is a big player. Huge personality. And so when a player like that comes into the League, then you see it as a big plus."
LAFC Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1): Tyler Miller; Steven Beitashour, Dejan Jakovic, Laurent Ciman, João Moutinho; Benny Feilhaber, Mark-Anthony Kaye; Latif Blessing, Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi; Marco Ureña
What To Watch For
Vela vs The Dos Santos Bros.:Carlos Vela said he wants to have bragging rights over his El Tri teammates. With a goal and two assists in two matches this season, Vela's class has been on display so far in MLS. Both Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos are in a race against time to be fit for the match. But with a matchup of this magnitude, you'd be hard pressed to imagine them not being in the 18 on Saturday.
Dare To Zlatan?: The big Swede arrived late Thursday night and will train with his Galaxy on Friday. How much he'll play on Saturday remains a mystery. Starting the match might be a reach, but a cameo isn't out of the question for Ibrahimović.
Sigi vs Bob: Bob Bradley and Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid have had their fair share of battles in MLS in the past. Going into Saturday the coaches are an even with 8-8-4 on the bench against one another.
