LAFC vs LA Galaxy Bet Builder Tips, Best Bets, Stats, Predictions

The marquee match of the latest round of matches in MLS is the second ‘El Trafico’ of the season as Los Angeles FC host LA Galaxy.

We can be fairly sure that the Galaxy won’t be defending their title successfully this season with them now 14 points from the playoffs with 11 games left, so their role now is get ready for Leagues Cup and spoil a few parties.

This is one party they would love to spoil while LAFC will love nothing more than to pour salt into the open wounds of what has been a terrible campaign for the Galaxy.

We don’t need to think this one through too much. This is a fixture littered with goals. The last 10 meetings have contained at least three goals, including the 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture, while prior to that run we had scores of 3-3, 6-2, 5-3, 3-3, 3-2 and 4-3.

When these two rivals meet they just go at each other and with LAFC missing their best defender in Aaron Long who is done for the season, there is nothing to think the goals will dry up here.

If there is one man who will be looking forward to the derby clash then it is Denis Bouanga. The Los Angeles FC forward is one of the better attackers in MLS and his goals record certainly gets padded against LA Galaxy.

He has scored eight goals against the Galaxy, including goals in each of his last five outings against them. In fact, he has scored six times in his last five against the Californian rivals so he’ll be licking his lips ahead of this contest.

Bouanga heads into the game having scored in four of the last five MLS matches for LAFC and he gets to go up against a Galaxy defence here who are the fourth worst in MLS for xG conceded.

Galaxy just conceded twice to the lowest scorers in MLS in Austin in midweek and recent history will tell us that the Gabon international has a good chance of adding to his excellent ‘El Trafico’ record here.

Los Angeles Galaxy have picked up in recent weeks compared to where they were earlier in the season and a lot of the reason for that is the impact that Marco Reus is starting to have on the side.

With the flying wingers Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec back to stretch the play, the German can get in the pockets and make things happen and you would imagine plenty of good things that the Galaxy do here will come through him.

Reus scored both of the goals in the reverse meeting between these two so he knows how to impress against this LAFC defence.

The German playmaker has had a shot on target in two of his last four matches and he will be on all the set plays around the box which could present an opportunity for a comfortable shot on target.

Reus will be a key man here and could play the false nine role as Galaxy look to spring on the counter so a shot on target from him is expected.

We will complete the bet builder for ‘El Trafico’ with the Los Angeles FC full-back Ryan Hollingshead to commit a foul.

When these two met earlier in the season he committed a season high four fouls in the match and that isn’t a surprise because the danger in this LA Galaxy side comes in their speedy and tricky wingers Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec.

If Hollingshead is utilised on the left he will face the trickery of Pec whose Brazilian style is natural for drawing fouls whereas if he is on the right then he’ll be directly up against the electric pace of Paintsil.

Either way, Hollingshead is going to have to be foot perfect not to commit a foul in this match and when you consider that he averages 1.02 fouls committed per 90 in MLS we only need him to reach his average for this to land.

Throw in the rivalry and the need for LAFC to win this game at all costs and the likelihood of that foul being committed strengthens further.