The Seattle Sounders are hosting the LA Galaxy on Saturday in their first meeting of the season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 12:55 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FOX and FOX Deportes.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 1090 KJR AM and El Rey 1360AM.
2022 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 0-2-0 (0 points, 14th West), Galaxy: 2-0-0 (6 points, 2nd West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders met last November in the penultimate match of the MLS season and played to a 1-1 draw at Lumen Field. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández opened the scoring for the visitors in the 19th minute before a Raúl Ruidíaz penalty in the 51st minute equalized to split the points.
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Grab your seats for Sounders vs. Galaxy at Lumen Field this weekend!
TALE OF TWO STARTS: Seattle and LA have played four total 1-0 matches to start the MLS season, with the Sounders dropping both to Nashville and Real Salt Lake, while the Galaxy earned wins over NYCFC and newcomers Charlotte FC.
CCL MOMENTUM: The Sounders will look to ride some positive play from their commanding 3-0 opening leg victory over Liga MX’s Club León on Tuesday in the quarterfinal round of Concacaf Champions League. Seattle will take on León in Mexico next Thursday (5:30 p.m. PT) in Leg Two.
FORWARD QUESTION MARKS: Ruidíaz and fellow striker Will Bruin have still yet to feature in MLS, as both are battling injuries. Veteran Fredy Montero recorded a brace and went 80+ minutes in the win over León midweek, and it’ll like be either him or Sam Adeniran getting the nod up front this weekend.
DEFENSIVE BATTLE: The Sounders and Galaxy have played seven combined matches in MLS and CCL play and have allowed a total of two goals. Seattle has three clean sheets in as many CCL matches, while the Galaxy have posted back-to-back shutouts to open their MLS campaign.
SCHMETZER VS. VANNEY: Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer and Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney are no strangers to one another. They faced off in three MLS Cups in 2016, ’17 and ’19 with Schmetzer earning the 2-1 edge over Vanney’s Toronto FC. Vanney, a former Galaxy defender in his playing days, is in his second season at the helm in Los Angeles.
NEW DEFENDER DEPTH: The Galaxy signed veteran defender Eriq Zavaleta on Thursday. Zavaleta, who previously played for Vanney in Toronto for the last seven seasons, is a former Sounder as well. He made five appearances in two years in Seattle in 2013 and ’14 after the Sounders selected him in the first round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft out of Indiana. Zavaleta is also international teammates on El Salvador with Sounders defender Alex Roldan.
LEERDAM RETURNS: Speaking of former Sounders, defender Kelvin Leerdam makes his first return to Lumen Field since leaving after the 2020 season. The 31-year-old defender spent three-and-a-half seasons in Seattle where he helped the club win 2019 MLS Cup, notably scoring the opening goal. He spent 2021 at Inter Miami.
BRAZILIAN BUMP: The Galaxy acquired Brazilian winger Douglas Costa this past offseason as a Designated Player. The 31-year-old joined from Grêmio in his native Brazil, but he spent significant time at global powers Bayern Munich and Juventus. He also has 31 caps for the Brazilian national team.
