The Seattle Sounders travel to Los Angeles on Sunday to take on the LA Galaxy. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 1090 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2020 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 6-3-3 (21 points, 1st West), Galaxy: 4-5-3 (15 points, 10th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LWWLD, LA: LLDWW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 8-10-10 all time against the Galaxy, including a 3-6-5 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle was supposed to play LA on Aug. 26, but like other clubs around Major League Soccer, opted to postpone the match as an act of solidarity with national protests. Prior to last month’s postponement, the Sounders defeated the Galaxy in a 4-3 thriller on Sept. 1, 2019. Seattle went up 2-0 in the second half, conceded twice, then traded goals before Cristian Roldan scored an 89th-minute winner to secure all three points.
RUIDÍAZ SUSPENDED: The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended forward Raúl Ruidíaz for Sunday’s match for violent conduct during Seattle’s loss to Portland midweek.
WILD, WILD WEST: Just six points separate the Sounders in first place and the Galaxy in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. All in, 11 of the 12 teams are within six points.
GET BACK TO SCORING WAYS: The Sounders will look to brush off their 1-0 loss to the rival Portland Timbers and get back on the score sheet. Wednesday was the first time in 10 matches Seattle had been shut out, a rare off night for an attack that is tied for second in MLS with 26 goals scored through 12 matches.
DOGGED DEFENSE: Despite the loss on Wednesday, the Sounders still boast a defensive record that’s tied for third in MLS, having only allowed 11 goals in 12 matches. Led by a center back rotation of Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Xavier Arreaga and Shane O’Neill, the Sounders have been strong all season and continues to give themselves opportunities to win games.
GALAXY COME DOWN TO EARTH: LA looked like world-beaters after the MLS is Back tournament, winning four consecutive matches, including two over rival LAFC. But the Galaxy have only taken one point from their last three matches, punctuated by a 2-0 road defeat at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.
KICHAN COOKING: In the extended injury absence of Chicharito, Cristian “Kichan” Pavon has been the Galaxy’s, and one of Major League Soccer’s, best players this season. The 24-year-old Argentine international winger has six goals and four assists in 11 matches and has the pace and technical ability to glide past defenders. He is currently at LA on loan from Argentine giants Boca Juniors, the same club from where the Sounders signed Nicolás Lodeiro.
STARS RETURN: Speaking of Chicharito, LA’s big-money offseason signing made his first start on Wednesday since July 13, going 80 minutes without recording a shot on goal in LA’s loss. So far, he’s scored just once in 339 minutes with his new club. Fellow Designated Player Jonathan Dos Santos also returned to the starting lineup in Utah, going 73 minutes in his first start since March 7.
