The pressure is on for the LA Galaxy, and the Zlatan Ibrahimovic honeymoon period is just about over.
The Swedish star made an incredible impact on his MLS debut, scoring twice in the second half in a memorable 4-3 comeback win over Los Angeles FC on March 31.
Since then, however, the Galaxy have lost four of five games, including a current three-match losing streak that has also coincided with a three-game goalless streak for Ibrahimovic.
The Galaxy look to right the ship on Saturday afternoon at FC Dallas, who are enjoying a solid start to the season that has seen them lose just once in eight matches.
| Game | FC Dallas vs LA Galaxy |
| Date | Saturday, May 12 |
| Time | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Stream (Canada only) | DAZN |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
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Squads & Team News
| Position | FC Dallas players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Gonzalez, Maurer, Zobeck |
| Defenders | Cannon, Cano, Figueroa, Hedges, Nedyalkov, Reaves, Ziegler |
| Midfielders | Acosta, Barrios, Diaz, Gruezo, Hayes, Hollingshead, Lamah, Mosquera, Pomykal, Servania, Ulloa |
| Forwards | Atuahene, Akindele, Ferreira, Colman, Reid, Reynolds, Urruti |
Jesse Gonzalez has returned from a finger injury, but Jimmy Maurer appears to be the man in goal for now. Kellyn Acosta made his first appearance of 2018 last weekend and could be set for his first start of the season in this match.
Potential starting XI: Maurer; Nedyalkov, Ziegler, Hedges, Cannon; Lamah, Acosta, Hayes, Barrios; Urruti, Mosquera
| Position | LA Galaxy players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Bingham, Sylvestre, Vom Steeg |
| Defenders | Arellano, Ciani, Cole, Feltscher, Hilliard-Arce, Klimenta, Romney, Skjelvik, Steres |
| Midfielders | Alessandrini, Alvarez, Boateng, Carrasco, J. dos Santos, Husidic, Kitchen, Lletget, Pedro |
| Forwards | G. dos Santos, Ibrahimovic, Jamieson IV, Kamara, Lassiter, Pontius |
Jonathan dos Santos returned from injury off the bench last weekend and should be in line to start at FCD.
Potential starting XI: Bingham; Cole, Skjelvik, Ciani, Romney; Kitchen, J. dos Santos; Alessandrini, G. dos Santos, Kamara; Ibrahimovic
Game Preview
Though he has been productive in his six-game MLS career, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been far from a silver bullet for the LA Galaxy.
The 36-year-old has three goals and three assists with the Galaxy, but Sigi Schmid's side has lost four of the six matches that Ibrahimovic has featured in.
The good news for LA is that they are in a Western Conference where only three of the 12 teams have more wins than defeats in the 2018 season thus far.
One of those teams is FC Dallas, which managed an encouraging 1-1 draw at the Galaxy's crosstown rival Los Angeles FC last weekend.
Defense has been the foundation of FCD's success in 2018, with Oscar Pareja's men conceding a league-low seven goals so far.
The back line has surprisingly been anchored by Jimmy Maurer, who has become the team's starter in goal after signing from the second-division New York Cosmos in the offseason.
Maurer, along with his defensive teammates, will need another solid performance to slow down Ibrahimovic and Co. on Saturday at Toyota Stadium.
