LA Galaxy vs. LAFC Prediction, Preview and Odds - 10/3/21

LA Galaxy vs. LAFC

In the battle for La La Land, LAFC face off with the L.A. Galaxy with each team not in good form.

LAFC has lost three in a row and this comes after a three-match win streak. The team is in the ninth spot in the Western Conference and they need to make up a few points to get in the playoff picture. They have a goal differential of -1 and their defense has been struggling as of late.

The Galaxy have also lost three in a row and they are winless in their last eight MLS matches. They club has fallen to the sixth spot in the West and are only one point clear of Minnesota and five points clear of LAFC. They have a goal differential of -6 and their attack has been less than stellar in their last several matches to say the least.

The Galaxy beat LAFC in the first meeting and in the last one on August 29th they played to a 3-3 draw.

Two, Yet Again

In their last match LAFC was at home and suffered their third straight loss falling to Portland 2-1 and it was the third straight match they conceded two goals. Not only that but they were swept by the Timbers in the three-match season series losing every match 2-1. In the last loss to Portland Daniel Musovski scored the lone goal and they lost despite winning the time of possession battle (56% to 44%), having more shots (14-9), and having more shots on target (4-2). LAFC gave up the game-winning goal on a defensive breakdown in the midfield where they have had issues as of late.

Diego Rossi and Cristian Arango are tied for the team lead with six goals apiece but Rossi is now with Fenerbahce in the Turkish league and Arango had four goals in three matches but has not tickled the twine in the last two. José Cifuentes and Carlos Vela have scored five goals apiece and Eduard Atuesta leads the club with seven assists. LAFC has dealt with many injuries this season and Vela was recently added to the list of players out and MFs Atuesta and Brian Rodriguez are both listed as questionable.

Scoring Helps

The L.A. Galaxy were on the road in their last match losing to Real Salt Lake 2-1 and the team was shut out in their previous two matches. In their last eight matches they have not scored more than one goal in seven of them including their last five. In the loss to Real it was a tough one to take, as they gave up the game-winning goal five minutes into injury time in the second half. Javier Hernández scored the lone goal in the loss and like LAFC’s last match they lost even though they won time of possession (60% to 40%), had more shots (20-12), and had more shots on target (5-4).

Hernández leads the club with 12 goals and he has two of them in his last four matches. Rayan Raveloson and Kevin Cabral have combined for nine goals and Julian Araujo is the team leader with five assists. MF Derek Williams is listed as questionable for this match.

Pick: L.A. Galaxy +150

Neither club has been in good form as of late with each losing their last three matches. The L.A. Galaxy have to hold on to make the playoffs while LAFC has some ground to make up to get there. These teams played to a 3-3 draw in the last time facing each other and I see some goals being scored in this one. The Galaxy have struggled on the attack as of late with only one goal in their last three matches. However, they will break out of their scoring slump in this match facing an LAFC team that has given up two goals in each of their last three matches. LAFC has had issues with midfield defensive breakdowns and the Galaxy are solid in that area of the pitch and will take advantage of that. I see a close match in this Western Conference affair but the Galaxy will come out on top scoring multiple goals for the first time in five matches.

Total: Over 2.5 goals

I am leaning towards the Over in this match even though the Galaxy have only scored one goal in their last three matches. They have not scored more than one goal in five straight since playing to a 3-3 draw with LAFC. Both of the matches between these teams have gone Over and the third one will as well. LAFC has conceded two goals in their last three matches and seven of their last eight matches have gone Over 2.5 goals. The Galaxy will take advantage of a slumping LAFC defense and score multiple goals and while LAFC will not shut out it adds up to an Over pick in this match.