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Major League Soccer | Gameweek 33
Sep 19, 2021 at 1am UK
National Sports Center
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Minnesota Utd
3 - 0
LA Galaxy

Reynoso (4', 20'), Finlay (66')
Hayes (82')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Araujo (50')

Preview: Minnesota United vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Minnesota United vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Minnesota United and Los Angeles Galaxy, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Minnesota United are continuing their quest to break into the top seven in the Western Conference, currently sitting just two points behind Los Angeles FC with a game in hand on their playoff rivals.

Sunday's visitors to the Allianz Field, Los Angeles Galaxy, are seven points clear of Minnesota, but recent form has prevented Greg Vanney's side from keeping up with league leaders Sporting Kansas City.


Match preview

Minnesota United have had two challenging fixtures prior to this clash with LA Galaxy, having had to travel to the Western Conference's top two teams, Seattle Sounders and Sporting KC.

Adrian Heath's side lost 1-0 to the Sounders, but last time out, their defence was broken four times by Sporting KC, who dominated the game with the away side not managing a single shot on target.

That game was settled before half time, as Minnesota went into the break 3-0 down, and Cameron Duke scored a fourth for the home side to seal a comfortable win for the table toppers.

Thursday's result was the first time Minnesota have conceded four goals in one game since the opening day of this season and it was the seventh time this year that the team have failed to score.

Heath's team have scored 24 goals in their 23 MLS matches this campaign, whereas the teams in the playoff positions have all scored more than 30 times, but United's defence is stronger than the four teams above them, suggesting that they will need to rely on clean sheets to secure a top-seven finish.

LA Galaxy enter this fixture having not recorded a victory since the middle of August, with their last win coming against Sunday's hosts, courtesy of Kevin Cabral's 43rd-minute strike, in a game that was settled by that single goal.

That last meeting between these two sides was dominated by Minnesota, who recorded six shots on target, but Vanney's team secured the three points with the only shot on target that they managed on the day.

Galaxy have drawn their last three matches, with their most recent point coming in a 1-1 draw with 12th-placed Houston Dynamo, as Javier Hernandez equalised in the second half with his first goal since the end of June after a period on the sidelines due to injury.

If LA Galaxy had managed to pick up four more points from their last two games, which both ended in 1-1 draws, then they would only be four points behind the league leaders, and it is these recent draws that have slowed down Galaxy's chase for the Western Conference title.

Vanney's side have conceded 22 goals away from home this season, but Minnesota are the lowest scorers at home which could give LA Galaxy the chance to prevent that away stat from getting any worse.

Minnesota United Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L

Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • D

Team News

One of the only positives to come out of the 4-0 defeat to Sporting KC for Minnesota was the return of top goalscorer Robin Lod, who had been out of action for over a month due to injury, and he is likely to make his return to the starting lineup this weekend.

There are other attacking concerns for Heath, though, with Emanuel Reynoso, Juan Agudelo, Justin McMaster and Niko Hansen all unavailable for this clash with Galaxy as they continue their recoveries from injury.

With Lod expected to start on Sunday, Fanendo Adi is likely to drop down to the bench and Adrien Hunou, who has played as the lone striker, could play deeper in an attacking midfield role.

Hernandez is certain to lead the line for the visitors on Sunday, with Cabral and Samuel Grandsir alongside him providing some width for LA Galaxy.

Jonathan Klinsmann made his second start of the season last time out against Houston, and the goalkeeper could retain his place between the posts ahead of Jonathan Bond, especially after a strong performance during their last meeting with Minnesota.

Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
Miller; Gasper, Dibassy, Boxall, Metanire; Trapp, Alonso; Fragapane, Hunuo, Finlay; Lod

Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Klinsmann; Hamalainen, Steres, Coulibaly, Araujo; Vazquez, Ravelson, Dos Santos; Grandsir, Hernandez, Cabral


We say: Minnesota United 1-2 Los Angeles Galaxy

Galaxy only needed to find one more goal in their last three games to turn a draw into three points, and with Hernandez back on the scoresheet last time out, his form may be what the team have been missing, but that can be resolved this weekend.

Minnesota will be keen to end their losing run before the playoff positions run away from them, but the 4-0 defeat last time out may have damaged some confidence, while LA Galaxy will know that they are closing in on turning those draws into victories.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data




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Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
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