LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo will be eager to return to winning ways when they face off at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
Matchday 15 of the 2024 MLS season will kick off this weekend with all fixtures completing within a three-hour span. The action in the latest round of fixtures will culminate at the Dignity Health Sports Park, where LA Galaxy will host Houston Dynamo.
LA Galaxy began the 2024 MLS season with a six-match unbeaten run to rise to the top of the Western Conference Standings. However, they have won only two of their subsequent eight fixtures to drop to fourth on the table, six points behind the table-topping Real Salt Lake.
As for the Houston Dynamo, they have blown hot and cold throughout the first three months of the 2024 season. A run of four wins in five games had taken them up to fourth in the Western Conference standings. However, Ben Olsen’s men have managed only one victory in their last six outings to drop to eighth on the table.
The reverse fixture last season ended all square, with LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo playing out a goalless stalemate. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
LA Galaxy
Greg Vanney does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Houston Dynamo, the LA Galaxy manager will be bereft of the services of only one first-team player.
Joseph Painstil is the only absentee, with the Ghanaian winger recovering from a hamstring injury. Novak Micovic will take his usual spot between the sticks, with LA Galaxy lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against Houston Dynamo. The backline should feature Miki Yamane, Maya Yoshida, Jalen Neal, and Julian Aude.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Marco Delgado, Edwin Cerrillo, and Riqui Puig. The trio will look to keep things tight, with Puig and Delgado providing the creative impetus. Finally, Dejan Joveljic will lead the line for the home side, with Gabriel Pec and Diego Fagundez being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Micovic; Yamane, Yoshida, Neal, Aude; Delgado, Cerrillo, Puig; Fagundez, Joveljic, Pec
Houston Dynamo
Unlike his counterpart in the LA Galaxy dugout, Ben Olsen has a few pressing issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the Dignity Health Sports Park. The Houston Dynamo will be without four first-team players this weekend.
Sebastian Ferreira (lower body) and Nelson Quinones (knee) remain in the treatment room due to their respective issues. In addition, Olsen is sweating over the fitness of Daniel Steres (hip) and Franco Escobar (lower body).
Houston Dynamo will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against LA Galaxy, with Steve Clark taking his spot between the sticks. The backline should feature Griffin Dorsey, Erik Sviatchenko, Micael, and Daniel Steres.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Artur and captain Hector Herrera in the double pivot. Amine Bassi will reprise the no. 10 role, with Adalberto Carrasquilla and Ibrahim Aliyu being the two wide attackers. Finally, Gabriel Segal will spearhead the Houston Dynamo attack this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Clark; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Steres; Herrera, Artur; Carrasquilla, Bassi, Aliyu; Segal
Ways to Watch
Key Stats
- LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo have faced off 41 times thus far, with the Galaxy having the superior head-to-head record with 16 wins (D11 L14).
- LA Galaxy are unbeaten at home in their last five MLS matches, winning two and recording three draws.
- However, Greg Vanney’s men have drawn six of their ten most recent home matches.
- Houston Dynamo have blown hot and cold in recent away games, winning three and drawing three of their last six MLS games on the road.
Player to Watch
Riqui Puig
After failing to become a regular at FC Barcelona, Puig took the shocking decision to move to MLS by joining LA Galaxy. Since then, he has witnessed a gradual rise in stature, becoming a regular in the middle of the park for the Los Angeles-based club.
The 24-year-old has started the 2024 season well, chipping in with three goals and five assists in 13 MLS outings thus far. The Spaniard has seen his market value soar, and he will be eager to produce a game-changing performance to guide LA Galaxy back to winning ways.
Prediction
LA Galaxy 2-1 Houston Dynamo
Both teams have blown hot and cold in the last few weeks, struggling to rack up the wins. The hosts were once on top of the Western Conference standings but have fallen to the fourth spot due to the recent five-match winless run.
On the other hand, Houston Dynamo’s away form is nothing to write home about, with the away side struggling to go on a winning run on the road. The nerves should be visible this weekend, with the match going down the wire. However, Greg Vanney’s men should extend their unbeaten run at home, clinching a narrow 2-1 win over Ben Olsen and his charges.
