This is, without a doubt, the biggest match of the season. While we always seem to say that whenever LAFC goes up against their bitter rivals, LA Galaxy, this time it carries far more weight. Despite the black & gold securing their first-ever MLS Cup last season, and with the Galaxy not having seen the success they are used to in recent years, the match tonight still has ‘battle for Los Angeles’ energy in a massive way.
Tomorrow we wear black. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/F4itrz8sa2
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 4, 2023
This is the match that was supposed to open the season, but inclement weather caused the match to be postponed. In all honesty, as exciting as it would have been for the defending champions to open up their campaign against their rivals, the build-up leading to today has made this match even more meaningful. LAFC are in the middle of a strange stretch. They haven’t slipped from the top of the standings, but they also have lost seven matches since the end of May, when they were eliminated from USOC competition by, you guessed it, this LA Galaxy side.
Tonight, the teams take their rivalry to center stage Los Angeles, playing in front of an expected record-breaking crowd in the famous Rose Bowl Stadium. To say this is a match about revenge would be wrong, this rivalry is past all that. This match will be about LAFC trying to re-establish themselves as the undoubted kings of LA, while getting back to much-needed winning ways.
Injuries
LAFC: OUT- Aaron Long (international duty), Sergi Palencia (lower extremity), Jesus Murillo (lower extremity), Maxime Crepeau (leg).
LA Galaxy: OUT- Javier “Chicharito Hernandez (torn ACL), Memo Rodriguez (thigh), Martin Caceres (avulsion fracture)
How To Watch
Tonight’s match is set to kickoff at 7:30pm PT from Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena,CA. The match will be broadcast live, for free, on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. You can also listen in via radio broadcast in both English and Spanish at 710AM ESPNLA | 980AM LA Mera Mera , respectively.