Dos Santos: 'Amazing' for LA derby to headline MLS restart

Marc Dos Santos is relishing the chance to restart Los Angeles FC's MLS campaign with a derby clash against the LA Galaxy.

El Trafico headlines the first six fixtures after MLS' World Cup break.

LAFC beat the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in their last outing before the hiatus, while the Galaxy drew 1-1 with the Houston Dynamo.

There are just four points separating the Galaxy, who sit ninth in the Western Conference, and LAFC, who are fifth.

And Dos Santos could not think of a better occasion to get back into action.

"If you have to choose a game to get started again, it's this game," he said.

"An LAFC-LA Galaxy game is not just any other game. If both teams compete for first place or last place, it's still a big game.

"It's the biggest rivalry in MLS, and I say that after I was involved in Montreal-Toronto, Vancouver-Seattle, Vancouver-Portland. I saw the other rivalries. 

"Galaxy-LAFC is the number one in the league, and it's amazing to start right away with that."

Galaxy coach Greg Vanney echoed Dos Santos' thoughts.

Vanney said: "It's a hell of a way to get started.

"I don't know that either team will be the perfect version of themselves coming off such a long break, but it won't change the emotion and the competitive spirit that's going to be in this game for both the fans and the players and everybody else around it."

The Galaxy have won 10 of the 26 meetings between these teams.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Joseph Paintsil

Paintsil scored the Galaxy's lone goal in its last match before the break. 

At least one of Paintsil, Marco Reus or Gabriel Pec, who has since moved to Cruzeiro in Brazil, has been involved in each of the Galaxy's last 12 regular-season goals dating back to mid-April.

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Bouanga has scored eight goals in eight regular-season meetings against the Galaxy, including scoring in each of the last six.

The last player to score in seven straight league meetings against a single opponent was Raul Ruidiaz, who did so against the Galaxy from 2019 to 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

After losing two of their previous 23 away matches in all competitions, LAFC lost their final three road matches before the break.

In fact, LAFC have managed to win just one of their last eight on the road in all competitions.

The Galaxy's last three matches before the break were a loss, followed by a win, followed by a draw.

Through 15 matches this season, the Galaxy have had the same result in consecutive matches only once, losing to the Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City in successive games in March.

Both meetings between these rivals were drawn last year. Both teams scored at least two goals in 14 of the 26 all-time meetings between the sides in all competitions, with only four total clean sheets in those games.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 33.4%

Draw – 25.7%

LAFC – 40.9%