Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - prediction, team news, lineups

Vancouver Whitecaps prepare for the visit of Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday as they look to avoid a fifth consecutive league defeat.

On the other hand, the away side will hope to arrest their current slump on the road, as they have lost both of their last two games away from home.

Match preview

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Vancouver Whitecaps suffered a fourth loss on the bounce as they were beaten 3-1 by Real Salt Lake at the Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday.

Croatian midfielder Damil Kreilach put in a man-of-the-match performance, scoring in both halves to put Marc Dos Santos's men to the sword.

The Blue-and-White have picked up only seven points from their eight league games to date, so it is no surprise to see them bottom but one in the Western Conference at the moment.

Next up for them is a crucial clash against a LA Galaxy side who they have overcome in three of the last four meetings between the teams.

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Los Angeles Galaxy were defeated at home for the first time this campaign after a 2-1 victory for Seattle Sounders when the sides met on Sunday.

Sacha Kljestan's 21st-minute penalty put Greg Vanney's men ahead, before goals in either half from Yeimar Gomez and Raul Ruidiaz turned the match on its head.

The Galaxy missed out on an opportunity to move into second place in the Western Conference as a result of that defeat, but they remain just two points adrift of Kansas City with two games in hand.

Thursday's visitors followed up each of their first two losses with all three points in the subsequent game, and they will want to keep that trend going.

Team News

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Los Angeles Galaxy's Jalen Neal still awaits his first outing of the campaign as he remains sidelined with a foot injury.

Derrick Williams will serve the last of his three-game suspension in this one following his red card against Portland Timbers on May 22.

Vancouver's Tosaint Ricketts could be recalled back into the starting XI as he has scored in each of his last two starts against Thursday's opponents.

The defensive duo of Bruno Gaspar and Jakob Nerwinski are down with knee injuries, rendering them unavailable for the home side.

Christian Gutierrez is also a doubt for the contest after he was hauled off with a minor injury in the 84th minute last time out.

Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Teibert, Rose, Godoy, Brown; Alexandre, Baldisimo, Bikel; Caicedo, White, Dajome

Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Bond; Villafana, Coulibaly, DePuy, Araujo; Lletget, Vazquez, Kljestan; Alvarez, Hernandez, Cabral

We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 1-2 Los Angeles Galaxy

The home team have been on a downward spiral in recent weeks and as a result, we are backing the visitors to emerge triumphant, albeit by a narrow margin.