The Los Angeles Galaxy look like they could win their sixth MLS Cup this season. The Galaxy are the most storied program in league history, and they have the second-most points...
- Date & Time
- May 4th, 2019 2:00pm
- Location
- Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
- Media Coverage
- ESPN
- Teams
New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
MLS Opening Odds
It’s been a disappointing season thus far for the Red Bulls. NYRB were able to make it to the Champions League Quarterfinals, but they were crushed by Santos Laguna there, and they are just 2-2-4 in MLS play. We haven’t seen a lot of offense out of this team, as the Red Bulls have just nine goals through eight matches, and that has hurt them consistently throughout the year. NYRB have lost three of their four matches by a score line of 1-0, but last week they turned that against FC Cincinnati to win 1-0.
The Galaxy have won all six of their home games this season, but it’s been a different story on the road. They are 1-1-1 outside of the City of Angels, and they had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Minnesota United last Wednesday. The story for the Galaxy this season has been a marked improvement in defense. This team missed out on the playoffs last year after allowing a whopping 64 goals (nearly two a game), and the Galaxy have conceded just eight goals in nine matches this year.
Injury Report
NYRB are unlikely to have midfielder Florian Valot for the rest of the season. Valot tore his ACL for the second time in less than nine months in March, and if he returns it won’t be until around September. Bradley Wright-Phillips missed the last game because of a muscle strain, and he might miss this week’s tilt too.
Midfielder Perry Kitchen will be sidelined for the visitors because of a foot injury. The Galaxy will also start life without star midfielder Romain Alessandrini in earnest now. Alessandrini has been one of the team’s best attacking options over the last two seasons, but he suffered a torn meniscus in late April and won’t return for four months. Defender Julian Araujo is questionable because of a foot injury.
Los Angeles Galaxy Player to Watch
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had a fantastic season for the Galaxy. Ibra set the league ablaze shortly after coming over to the MLS last season, and he has 30 goals in 34 career matches. He is set to go down as one of the greatest goal scorers of all time. While he doesn’t have the pace he used to have, he is one of the best on ball strikers in the league and his touch is still sublime.
New York Red Bulls Player to Watch
Luis Robles has been one of the best goalkeepers in the league since coming to NYRB in 2012. Robles has been a constant presence in net, and he was named the best goalkeeper in the league just a few seasons ago. He picked up his first clean sheet of the season last week, and Robles is out to build on that going forward.
New York Red Bulls vs Los Angeles Galaxy Betting Prediction
Winning on the road is tough in the MLS, but I like what we have seen from the Galaxy in defense. NYRB have not proven they can score with regularity, so I’ll take the visitors here.
