Match Preview: The Ultimate El Trafico Preview

We'll make sure you're well-informed heading into Saturday's derby match at BMO Stadium

Photo Credit: LA Galaxy

The 21st edition and final El Trafico of the regular season is upon us. Despite the LA Galaxy and LAFC's results since the MLS season returned, we know form doesn’t matter for derby matches like this. 

With both teams winning once in this matchup in league play, Saturday’s game will be the rubber match to determine who wins the season series for the battle of LA.

The LA Galaxy is coming off a 2-2 draw versus St. Louis City SC. Greg Vanney’s men came back from a two-goal deficit to collect a point at home for the second game in a row. The LA Galaxy has lost only one match in league play since May 31 as they remain one of the most in-form teams in the league. LA is currently undefeated in four straight games following the Leagues Cup break. 

The Galaxy wants to win the regular season series against LAFC, especially at their home. "Regardless of the points, it's super important. For bragging rights. I mean, the LA rivalry is huge,” said Tyler Boyd following Thursday’s training session "It's important that we get the 3 points, but [El Trafico], it's an exciting one."

LAFC, on the other hand, is on their third three-game skid in four months, dating back to their crushing Concacaf Champions League final loss to Club León. For context, LAFC had just three losing streaks of three or more games in their previous five MLS seasons (since joining the league in 2018). Quite frankly, the Black and Gold haven’t looked like the same team since falling at the final hurdle of their biggest goal. Prior to that fateful CCL final, they had lost just three of twenty matches in all competitions. Since then, they’ve lost eleven of twenty.

All that said, "the best moment to change these last results,” LAFC fullback Sergi Palencia adeptly summed up the team’s mentality, “[is] against Galaxy in front of our crowd, our people." 

They’ll get that chance against on Saturday night, but make no mistake about it, they’ll be meeting a prepared and motivated Galaxy team.

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This preview was done with the help of my former Striker colleague, Justin Ruderman. Be sure to subscribe to his Substack, LAFC Today, to support local soccer journalism in our city. Justin is the top LAFC beat writer and provides great analysis and perspective about the beautiful game. If you can’t subscribe, at least follow him on X (@JustinRuderman_) to stay in the loop of his coverage.