The league's newest rivalry is set to begin in earnest on Saturday.
Los Angeles FC visits the LA Galaxy in the first edition of what many are dubbing "El Trafico," a nod to the infamous congestion so many experience on Los Angeles highways.
Bob Bradley's expansion LAFC are off to a perfect start, winning their first two games in style. A third consecutive victory would set an early marker to the rest of the league, and to their crosstown foes.
Coming off a disappointing 2017 the Galaxy are looking to hold serve, and will have their newest marquee addition Zlatan Ibrahimovic available for a possible high-profile debut.
| Game | LA Galaxy vs. LAFC |
| Date | Saturday, March 31 |
| Time | 3 p.m. ET |
| Stream (Canada only) | DAZN (one-month free trial) |
LIVE STREAM
Watch LA Galaxy vs. LAFC live and on-demand with DAZN (one-month free trial)
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SQUADS & TEAM NEWS
| 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, Joao Pedro |
| Forwards | G. dos Santos, Ibrahimovic, Jamieson IV, Kamara, Lassiter, Pontius |
The Galaxy enter the match with plenty of injury issues. Both Dos Santos brothers are questionable after missing out on Mexico duty over the international break, while Romain Alessandrini and Michael Ciani look likely to miss out. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available, however, after signing with the Galaxy last week.
Potential starting XI: Bingham; Feltscher, Steres, Skjelvik, Cole; Boateng, Carrasco, Kitchen, Lletget, Pontius; Kamara
| Position | LAFC players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Lopez, Lyon, Miller |
| Defenders | Beitashour, Blackmon, Ciman, Zimmerman, Gaber, Harvey, Jakovic, Moutinho |
| Midfielders | Atuesta, Feilhaber, Horta, Kaye, Kovar, Mallace, Murphy, Calderon, Formica |
| Forwards | Blessing, Brewer, Pacheco, Vela, Rossi, Urena |
Bob Bradley has a mostly healthy squad to choose from, but Omar Gaber was injured on international duty with Egypt and is likely to miss out. New signing Eduard Atuesta will be in the 18 and is likely to play a part, but the game could come too soon for the club's newest designated player, Andre Horta.
Potential starting XI: Miller; Beitashour, Ciman, Zimmerman, Moutinho; Kaye, Feilhaber; Rossi, Vela, Blessing; Urena
GAME PREVIEW
Major League Soccer's newest rivalry kicks off on Saturday, and the Galaxy made sure there would be even more intrigue with their newest addition.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been brought into the fold and though the timing may be a coincidence, it does feel fitting that the Swedish striker is set to make his debut against LAFC.
Ibrahimovic hasn't played a competitive match since December, so he'll likely begin on the bench. It would be a surprise, though, if he does not feature in some capacity.
Though the former Manchester United striker will be available, the match doesn't come at a good time for the Galaxy, who enter the game shorthanded.
Both Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos are nursing hamstring injuries while last season's team MVP Romain Alessandrini is likely to miss out, also due to a hamstring issue.
In contrast, LAFC is relatively healthy and enters the match well rested, having last played on March 10 – a 5-1 demolition of Real Salt Lake.
That was one of two season-opening wins for Bob Bradley's side, who appear poised to make a bigger impact than the average expansion team.
A win at the team's crosstown rival on Saturday would go even further toward supporting that theory, and lay down a marker as to who owns Los Angeles.
