Two teams in highly contrasting forms of late face off at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday as Los Angeles Galaxy entertain the challenge of Colorado Rapids.
The hosts are currently on a run of one win from their last nine matches, while the away side have gone seven games since their last defeat.
Match preview
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Los Angeles Galaxy were beaten for the fourth time in five outings with a 2-0 loss against Orlando City at the Exploria Stadium on Sunday morning.
Greg Vanney's men fell behind to Ercan Kara's opener seven minutes shy of half time before Facundo Torres put the result beyond doubt just shy of the hour mark.
Off the back of a rough start to the season, the Galaxy remain bottom but one in the Western Conference of the MLS table, six points adrift of the final playoff spot.
Up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have been beaten just once in the last 10 meetings between the teams across all competitions stretching back to 2018.
However, that solitary defeat did come in the most recent encounter back in September, when Sunday's hosts cruised to a routine 4-1 triumph after racing to a three-goal lead inside the opening 30 minutes.
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Colorado Rapids battled hard to secure a share of the spoils against Vancouver Whitecaps in the sides' goalless stalemate at BC Place on Sunday.
Robin Fraser's men were under the cosh for large spells of the contest but nearly stole all three points late in the game, only for Diego Rubio to fluff his lines from 12 yards.
Picking up nine points from their opening 10 matches, the Pids sit 12th in the Western Conference, but things are looking up once again after a rough start to the campaign.
Having recorded clean sheets in two of their most recent three away outings leading up to Sunday's affair, the visitors will be confident of keeping their hosts at bay en route to securing a positive result.
Team News
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Jonathan Bond has not featured for Los Angeles Galaxy since March due to a knee injury, meaning that Jonathan Klinsmann will retain his place between the sticks.
This weekend's hosts will also be without the services of defender Chris Mavinga, who has missed the last two games due to a muscle problem.
Twenty-three-year-old Riqui Puig is expected to return to the starting XI having served a one-match suspension against Orlando City last time out.
Moise Bombito remains unavailable for Colorado Rapids due to a long-term knee injury, while Braian Galvan continues to nurse a groin injury.
Jack Price is currently facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, and he is still a considerable way off making a return to action.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Klinsmann; Calegari, Neal, Caceres, Aude; Boyd, Delgado, Brugman, Puig; Joveljic, Chicharito
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Wilson, Maxso, Abubakar; Beitashour, Ronan, Max, Rosenberry; Nicholson, Rubio; Barrios
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 Colorado Rapids
Only Sporting Kansas City have scored fewer goals than this weekend's opponents in the entire division, so we are expecting a low-scoring affair. That said, we are also tipping the hosts to just about come away with all three points in the end.
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